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Africa Personal Strength, Personal Beauty: Personal Adornment of the Peoples of Africa An introduction to the art of adornment in many different African cultures. Students will examine how adornment and clothing reveal a person’s status, personality, and customs. This suitcase contains Maasai and Egyptian collars, a papyrus painting, a Ndebele doll, a Fante shrine sculpture, a comb, Kente, Adire and Bakuba cloths, transparencies, and a curriculum guide.

American Art* SAM’s new American Art Suitcase will feature works of art in the Museum’s collection that explore the diversity of early Americans and builds on themes explored in the special exhibition Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness: American Art 1660-1893 from the Yale University Art Gallery. The suitcase will include an educator resource guide, replications of artworks and cultural items that students can touch, historical images, and materials for a hands-on art activity.

Ancient Cultures* Bridging Ancient Cultures Explore the diverse cultures and artistic traditions of the ancient world, including Mexico, the Mediterranean region, India and China. This suitcase includes replicas of ancient art objects, background information, questions to consider, suggested activities, a CD of images of works in the Seattle Art Museum’s permanent collection, and Washington State curriculum connections.

Book Arts A Historical Look at Books and Writing The technology of writing tools and materials from a variety of cultures is explored accompanied by examples of different alphabets and scripts. A discussion of essential questions: Why was writing invented? How have people from different cultures preserved their best stories, thoughts, and ideas over time? What is a book? Artifacts include: Contemporary Artists Books, an Asian Scroll, Different Forms of Script, a Cuneiform Tablet Facsimile, Egyptian Hieroglyphs Facsimile, Mayan Aztec Codex Facsimile, various writing implements and materials (parchment, papyrus, Amate, etc.), letterpress type books on different alphabets/scripts., etc.

China Scholars, Merchants, and Ladies of the Court: People and Arts of Traditional China Introduce your students to three important characters in Chinese art. The roles of the scholar, merchant, and court lady reveal a context for the art objects. This suitcase contains shadow puppets, a basket, embroidery panels, painted scrolls ,a calligraphy set, rice and dragon bowls, transparencies, and curriculum guide.

Games* A Competitive Spirit: Images of Games and Play in Art Investigate the relationship between play, games, and art making. This suitcase contains overhead transparencies of eight lesson plans and a teacher’s guide. The cultures represented include ancient Mayan, Japanese, Liberian and Northwest Coast Native American.

India* Ganesh and Family: Arts and Games of India Compare images of Ganesh, the elephant-headed deity of India, created in different media. Try out several different traditional board and card games from India. Includes books, CD-ROM version of an Indian epic, transparencies of Indian sculptures at Seattle Art Museum, and a teacher guide with activities.

Japan Tea in Japan: A Window into the Arts Explore Japanese culture by handling various objects associated with the tea ceremony. This suitcase contains a hanging scroll, kimono, tea and calligraphy sets, lacquer trays, curriculum guide, and transparencies that describe the importance of this social and cultural event.

Korea* Explore the Daily Lifestyles of a Korean Family Imagine and learn about everyday life in Korea. This suitcase contains objects typically found in a Korean home, including clothing, toys, masks, and other household items. Books, pamphlets and postcards provide images and descriptions of Korean culture. Hands-on activities include puzzles and games.

Modern Art* Art of Our Time: Twentieth Century American Art Examine the art of a period characterized by great technological and social change. Students explore formal and expressive elements of the art. Activities vary according to grade level. This suitcase contains four large reproductions, felt boards, felt pieces for four artworks, art palettes, postcards, colored pencils, view finders, slides, and a curriculum guide.

Northwest Coast Native America Values to Live By: A Presentation on Important Life Lessons as Told by Northwest Coast Elders Examine the values of the Northwest Coast peoples, passed on by elders with different tribal affiliations, and relate these values to artwork by contemporary Northwest Coast artists. This suitcase contains a cattail mat, a button blanket, a hand-painted drum, a carved mask, a basket, a wool blanket robe, a video, prints and a curriculum guide.

Philippines* (currently being updated, not available until Fall 2009) Woven in Spirit: Traditional Textiles from the Philippines This “mini suitcase” is filled with textiles from the three major regions of the Philippines: Visayas, Luzon, and Mindanao. This suitcase contains a Maranao Langkits bag, an Illongot blouse, a Malong (dress), North Luzon Kalinga tapis (skirt), an Illongot barkcloth, a Mindanao blouse, a Mangyan blouse and tapis, a yo-yo, and teacher guide.

*On loan from Seattle Asian Art Museum Teacher Resource Center

Reserving Art Suitcases Art Suitcases may be reserved for a two-week period. Contact Nancy Bell at 425-257-7372.