Highsmith, Carol M. La Antorcha de la Amistad (Spanish for "The Torch of Friendship"), a monumental abstract sculpture in downtown San Antonio, Texas. 2014. Photograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2014633120/.
After listening to a picturebook, students will be guided to look closely at the sculpture in the picture and discuss what it makes them think of. Once their ideas are shared, the teacher will tell the students the name of the sculpture and discuss if that changes or enhances their understanding of what the artist created. They will be invited to create their own drawing or sculpture that symbolizes an abstract feeling or idea. Students will write or give an oral description of their artwork.
Located at the heart of San Antonio, La Antorcha de Amistad, or The Torch of Friendship, is a sculpture by Mexican artist Sebastian. It was gifted to the city by a group of Mexican entrepreneurs in 2002 to symbolize the strong ties between San Antonio and Mexico.
Source: https://events.getcreativesanantonio.com/public-art/torch-of-friendship-antorcha-de-amistad/
Source: : https://events.getcreativesanantonio.com/public-art/torch-of-friendship-antorcha-de-amistad/
- How does the sculpture La Antorcha de Amistad symbolize San Antonio’s relationship with Mexico?
- What do characteristics like the size, color, and placement of the sculpture lead the viewer to think about the artist’s creation?
- How does looking at this sculpture help us better understand the relationship between Mexico and San Antonio? How can looking at art, particularly abstract art, help us understand our relationship to the world around us?
ELA Standard
2.7.E. Response skills. Interact with sources in meaningful ways such as illustrating or writing.
Social Studies Standard
2.11. Citizenship. The student understands important symbols, customs, and celebrations that represent American beliefs and principles that contribute to our national identity.
Students read a wide range of literature from many periods in many genres to build an understanding of the many dimensions (e.g., philosophical, ethical, aesthetic) of human experience.
- Students will listen to the story Invisible Things by Andy J. Pizza and Sophie Miller. While reading, take a closer look at some of the “invisible things” and have students discuss how the shapes, colors, and characteristics the illustrators used are connected to the feelings or ideas they are supposed to represent.
- Brainstorm with students other feelings or ideas in the world that we cannot see.
- Explain that San Antonio has a sculpture that could very easily be included in the Invisible Things book. Without sharing the name of the sculpture, have students take a close look at La Antorcha de Amistad. Discuss the features of the sculpture. Guiding questions could include:
- How does the color make you feel? What do you think it might symbolize?
- What do you think the size or the placement of the sculpture might mean?
- Do you think the shape represents something?
- After giving students the chance to give their own interpretations, share with them the history of the sculpture and why it was gifted to San Antonio.
- Does knowing the history and name of the sculpture change what you think it symbolizes? How or how not?
- Using the brainstorming list from earlier, have students choose their own feeling or idea and create a drawing or clay sculpture to represent it. They can name their artwork and write and/or orally present to the class a short description about what their piece represents.
Highsmith, Carol M. The sculpture "Companion (Passing Through)," by the artist KAWS (Brian Donnelly) at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Texas. 2012. Photograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2013650780/.