ROMARE BEARDEN – GALLERY WALK
"The art of Romare Bearden was the art of a large and generous spirit that defined not
only the character of black American life, but also its conscience.”
-August Wilson
Today we will spend some time participating in a gallery walk of Romare Bearden’s
collages. Bearden was an extremely influential American artist, writer, and social activist
during the 20th century and heavily influenced August Wilson. Think about possible
connections between the collages, Fences, and even society today. Keep your eyes and
minds open – enjoy!
MOONLIGHT PRELUDE, 1987
1. Look deeply at the collage for 1 minute. Record your first impressions.
2. Describe the collage in detail. What do you see? What questions do you have?
Think about the figures (people & animals), setting, and objects
3. Think about what you have observed. What is the symbolism of the train? In order to
think deeply about this question, consider the people in the collage. Who are they? Where
are they positioned? What does this tell you about who might be aboard the train?
THE DOVE, 1964
1. Look deeply at the collage for 1 minute. Record your first impressions.
2. Describe the collage in detail. In particular, where does this scene take place?
3. What is the effect of the fragmented people? All of the faces and eyes are looking
away from the viewer. Why do you think Bearden chose to do this?
4. What is the mood of this collage? Refer to at least two aspects of the collage as
evidence.
5. Locate the dove. What do doves represent? How does the dove connect to the collage’s
message?
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PITTSBURGH MEMORIES, 1984
1. Look deeply at the collage for 1 minute. Record your first impressions.
2. Describe the different scenes taking place in the collage. What is happening “inside”
and “outside”? What do these scenes tell you about the collage’s setting?
3. There is a different mood “inside” and “outside.” What artistic techniques help create
this difference? What message do you suppose the artist is trying to convey?
4. Return to the collage and examine the two faces looking out of the windows. Why do
you think they were included in the collage? What do you think they add to the collage’s
message?
MYSTERIES, 1964
1. Look deeply at the collage for 1 minute. Record your first impressions.
2. Describe one theme in this collage? Refer to at least two aspects of the collage as
evidence.
3. In your opinion, what is surprising or mysterious about the collage? Explain.
4. In this piece, the faces and eyes are looking directly at the viewer. What effect does
this have on the viewer? Why do you think we are being “looked at”?
MILL HAND’S LUNCH BUCKET, 1978
1. Look deeply at the collage for 1 minute. Record your first impressions.
2. Describe the colors in the collage. Why do you think Bearden chose the colors he did?
What effect does this technique have on the collage as a whole?
3. Describe the people in this scene. What kinds of emotions are they communicating?
4. What do the people in this scene do for work? Think about clues in the foreground
(front), background (backdrop), and title.
5. Reflect on your observations and identify a theme in this collage. Explain.
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PERSONAL REFLECTION

Stand by the collage that you feel is the most moving, powerful, or exquisite. Why
did you choose this piece? Explain.
ROMARE BEARDEN AND FENCES

August Wilson was heavily influenced by Romare Bearden’s art, and there are many
similar themes and messages in their respective works.

Identify a theme, message, or scene in any of Bearden’s collages that reminds you of
a theme, message, or scene in Fences. Using evidence from the collage and evidence
from the text, explain this connection and analysis in your own words.
HOMEWORK?

Collage is an artistic medium with many layers and complexities. How would you
depict the complexities of Fences in a collage of your own creation?
Introduction of collage project.
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