Right about now I'm sure many of you are dreaming up an escape, journey or a trip! If you close your eyes where would you go and how would you get there? Would you want to travel alone or take someone with you?
Meet Martin Ramirez. He was a Mexican artist who immigrated to the United States when he was thirty years old in 1925. Like many families, he hoped to find a better paying job to support his wife and four children, who remained in Mexico. For a period he worked for the Railroad and provided for his family. Sadly he lost his job and became homeless. He was arrested one day by the police because he was behaving strangely and did not want to talk to anyone.
Martin was examined by doctors who diagnosed him as catatonic schizophrenic meaning that sometimes he stopped talking or responding to other people. He lived in a hospitals in California for the rest of his adult life. I find this heartbreaking because he was separated from his family. He also didn't have a Spanish speaking translator present during some of his doctors visits which likely resulted in him being incorrectly diagnosed. Martin also tried to escape the hospital three times but was taken back against his will.
Martin didn't have an art room or even special art materials to work with. He sometimes used the paper that doctors put on examining tables for patients to draw on. The paper was delicate but large. You can tell that Martin enjoyed making large works and extending them on multiple pieces of paper. Some of his drawings were as long as 15 feet.
Crayons were inexpensive and something they had available at the hospital. Martin was very clever and invented his own way of painting with crayon wax. He make his own paint by letting crayons melt on a hot radiator and swirling the soft wax together in a bowl. He took the end of a wooden matchstick to paint with since he didn't have a paint brush. Anywhere he could find paper he took it. Sometimes he would use his own spit mixed with oatmeal or potato starch to glue sheets of paper together. Talk about being resourceful!
Where do you think this tunnel leads to? Would you be brave enough to go inside?
Historically, people with mental illness weren't always treated well or had people to stand up for them. He didn't have anyone there to speak to in Spanish. The doctors said he couldn't talk but it is possible that Martin stopped talking to the doctors because he was angry about being held against his will. A psychiatrist named Tarmo Pasto came to visit Martin and learn about his art. American pop artist Wayne Thiebaud came to visit and Martin spoke to him in Spanish. The men encourage Martin to keep drawing and painting and also archived (saved) his drawings. Today his work is very valuable and has been exhibited in museums and galleries all over the world.
Sail away! Planes, trains, cars, buses, helicopters and horses- how would you prefer to travel?
Activities:
1. Think of where you would want to escape and how you would get there. What mode of transportation would you use (plane, train, car, bus, horse, bike, skateboard etc.)
2. Find a large piece of paper to draw on. Be creative! Reuse packaging from Amazon or Walmart. Get some brown paper bags from the grocery store and glue or tape them together to make a supersize drawing.
My daughters saved this long piece of paper that was rolled up in a package from Amazon. Flatten it out on the floor or a table and you have a really long piece of paper!
3. Draw some roads or tunnels. Draw your mode of transportation and add some color. you can also add obstacles or people hidden in your work.
I drew some tunnels and my three year old Dorothy colored them in. We talked about places we wish we could go. She told me she wanted to visit her friends, school, her grandparents and New York City. Get your family to help you color! It can be fun and relaxing while you listen to music or a podcast or while you're on a Zoomchat/Facetime.
4. Discussion- It's hard being stuck at home. Art is a good way to express your feelings and sadness when you feel trapped. Martin Ramirez was separated from his family. While it's hard being with your family it might be easier than being alone in a hospital. What are some of your feelings about missing the end of the school year?
5. Think about what you have done to make another artist (at home or in your classroom) feel proud of their work and get excited about painting and drawing. Everyone needs encouragement and love. Draw a picture for someone you know and text or email them a photo of it. You can also put a drawing in the mail for someone who needs some cheering up!
Stay strong and keep drawing! Be sure to share some of your photos with me on Classdojo.
Love, Mrs. Thaden