Professional Documents
Culture Documents
7 8 G1reading
7 8 G1reading
BY V E R O N I C A MAYER
years in Constantinople researching the liked to "smear""smearing" with technique. "Reviewers discussed the
(raditional patterns an<l colors of Asian the hands is a primary impulse, a way flowing lines and dreamlike forms which
iiiginaking while teaching history "on of having fun and of learning. So. I gavefinger-paintingsabstract qualities...
location" to young sailors. She took her went about the task of compounding They also emphasized the simplicity of
si udents to historic places and the class a suitable medium with which they the material and its power as a means of
played games on ancient history and could smear to their heart's content emotional release" (Stankiewicz, 1984,
made recreations of battles. (Telfer, n.d.). without damaging results. (Shaw, p. 21).
1947, p. 5)
Shaw decided to remain in Europe and The materials forfinger-paintingwere
opened a school in 1923 for British and Shaw named this medium "finger- an important part of the Shaw Finger-
;\merican children, aged 5 through 12, in paint," butfinger-paintingwas not a new Painting method. Shaw experimented for
Rome, Italy. She believed that education technique. Finger-paintings were found in a long time trying tofindformulas for
should be eryoyable. Her philosophy of Etruscan tombs in France and in Pompeii. finger-paints. In the early 1930s, Shaw
education was based on the fact that In addition, the Chinese painter Chung started to make the paint in a small
children learn from playful sensory Isao painted with this technique in the factory in New York with the aid of her
experiences with simple materials and year 750 (Bedford Betts, 1963). However, assistants. The demand forfingerpaint
playing games of their own invention. finger-painting did not become well- grew, and in 19)36 she contracted with
Shaw also introduced the dictation known in America until 1932 when Shaw Binney and Smith to manufacture the
method using a dictaphone with her returned and took a posit ion as an art paint. In addition, many manufactur-er-s
students in order to encourage creative teacher at the Dalton School in New York, began to make similar products (Bedford
wTiting. She took dictation from stories one of many progressive schools that Betts, 1963). Homemade recipes for
created by 5 and 6 year old students and supported art education (Stankiewicz, makingfinger-paintappeared in art book
then published children's stories as 1984). At the same time, she also opened activities from the 1940s to the 1960s.
hooks, like 00'erings ofOff'sprhig, The the Shaw Finger-paint Studio ;md began to The colors in the fmger-paints are
Old Shoe, aiuniieSerond Old Shoe travel around the country conducting
made from earth pigments.
demonstrations based on her methods.
(Telfer, n.d.). Shaw began to experiment Immediately when you say this you
ThefirstAmerican exhibition of finger-
with finger painting in 1929, trying to explain that earth pigments are non-
paintings by children was held in a
foster children's expressions and experi- toxic. They will not hurt your skin
Manhattan Art Gallery in 1933. The new
ences in a visual way (Stankiewicz, 1984). medium was an innovation that even if you have hives or anything
It all began, in the most natiu-al way impressed critics as well as arlists (Telfer, else. The pigments will not hurt your
in the world, with a little boy at the n.d.). As a consequence, Shaw began to skin if water does not hurt it. They
school who smeared the bathroom publish books about her finger-painting are perminent colors. (Shaw, 1966,
wall with iodine. All the children p.125)
1889 1914 1919 1923 1929 1932 1933 1936 1937 1939 1940 1945
born in service opened special returned first Binney book started
North with th ( school paint to the American & Smith Shaw her work
Carolina Y.M.C.A in Rome, was United finger- manufactured Finger- at the
in Franc i Italy invented States painting finger Paint Menninger
exhibition paint Clinic,
Kansas
f
1919, The Progressive
Education Movement
was founded