Chinese Zodiac Animal Story

The Great Race >

Long ago, in China, the Jade Emperor decided there should be a way of measuring time.  On his birthday he told the animals that there was to be a swimming race.  The first twelve animals across the fast flowing river would be the winners and they would each have a year of the zodiac named after them.

The Ox helps the Cat and the Rat <

All the animals lined up along the river bank. The rat and the cat, who were good friends, were worried because they were poor swimmers.  Being clever they asked the strong ox if he would carry them across.

"Of course", said the kind ox.  "Just climb on my back and I will take you across."

The Rat Wins the Race +

The rat and the cat jumped up and were very excited when the ox took the lead. They almost reached the other bank when the rat pushed the cat into the water leaving him to struggle.  Just as the ox was about to win the race, the rat leaped on his head and on to the bank to finish first.

"Well done," said the Jade Emperor to the proud rat.  The first year of the zodiac will be named after you.  The poor ox had been tricked into second place and the second year of the zodiac.

The Tiger Takes Third Place  =

Shortly after the exhausted tiger clawed his way to the rive bank to claim third place. Swimming across the river had been an enormous struggle for him against the strong currents.  The emperor was so delighted with his efforts that he named the third year after him,

The Rabbit hops Across the River &

Next to arrive was the rabbit, who hadn't swum across at all.  He had hopped across on some stepping stones and then found a floating log which carried him to the shore.

"I shall be very happy to call the fourth year after you," the surprised Jade Emperor explained

The Helpful Dragon is Fifth  % 

Just then a kind dragon swooped down to take fifth place.  The Jade Emperor asked, "Why didn't you win the race, when you can fly?"

"I needed to make some rain, because some people and animals needed water to drink,"the dragon explained.  "

Then I saw a little rabbit on a long in the water and I blew a puff of wind so that the log would float to the river bank."

"Well that was very kind of you. You will have the fifth year of the zodiac named after you."

The Snake Surprises the Horse  #

The next thing the Jade Emperor heard was the sound of the horse's hooves.  Just as he was thinking the horse  would be the next animal to arrive, a sneaky snake wriggled out from around one of the horse's hooves.  The horse was so surprised that he jumped backwards giving the snake a chance to take the sixth place in the race.  The poor horse had to be satisfied with seventh place.

The Goat, Monkey and Rooster Work Together  @

Not long afterwards a raft arrived carrying the goat, monkey and the rooster.  They explained to the Emperor how they had shared the raft that the rooster had found. The goat and monkey 

The goat and monkey had cleared weeds and pushed the raft to the shore.

The Emperor was very pleased that the animals had worked together.  He said the goat would be the eighth, the monkey the ninth and the rooster the tenth.

The Dog takes a Bath  **

The next animal to finish was the dog. "Why are you so late when you are one of the best swimmers?"asked the Jade Emperor.

"The water in the river was so clean that I had to have a bath on the way." Explained the Dog.

His reward was to have the eleventh year named after him.

The Boar Claims Last Place  $

There was one place left in the zodiac and the Emperor wondered when the last winner would come.  Finally he heard a grunt from the boar.

"You took a long time to cross the river,"said the Emperor to the boar.  "I was hungry and stopped to eat," explained the boar.  "After the meal I felt so tired that I fell asleep."

"You have still done well," said the Jade Emperor.  "The last year of the zodiac will be named after you."

The Cat Crawls Out of the Water   ^

As for the cat who had been pushed into the water by the rat, he finally crawled out of the water but was too late to have a year named after him.  He felt very disappointed by the rat and since then cats have never been friends with rats.

From that day to this the Chinese Zodiac has followed this cycle of years named after these twelve animals.

*topmarks.co.uk

Chinese New Year for 2015 is Feb. 19.   It is also the year of the Goat, it sometimes is known as the Year of the Sheep or Ram, since the Chinese word does not specify the difference.

1. Why is the cat and the rat no longer friends after the Emperor ordeal? 

What does the expression: "carrying a grudge is like taking poison and expecting someone else to die."

2. What deed did the dragon do that made him fifth place? What did the Emperor say to him when he saw him after the rabbit?  

3. Regarding the Dragon's response to Emperor: how do you think the expression : "No good deed goes unpunished." pertain to the behavior of the dragon.

4. The goat, monkey and rooster worked cooperatively to reach their goal.  In your opinion what kind of behavior/personality traits do each animal have that constructed a cooperative paradigm?

(paradigm= model, example, pattern,prototype, archetype)

300 Signatures or 50 plus Cards -Gratitude-Friendship-Goodwill-and more...

ASSIGNMENT: 

Your project is to display acts of gratitude, Friendship, Goodwill, and more by making a card for each of your classmates and teachers (50 cards +) or collecting 300 signatures in which you express a friendly request. 

50 cards plus: -Design cards that are about 4"x 6" in dimension -you can have the same design on the cover of each card or change them to add a personal touch to each card.  (It is important to personalize the cards in some way-Something you have recognized about each person you send a card to.

Materials: drawing paper folder, color pencils, paint, pattern paper

-300 Signatures:Design a large card /or your own creativity/ acquire 300 signatures of your classmates/family. REMEMBER TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE WHEN REQUESTING THE INDIVIDUAL'S SIGNATURE.

POINTS:

DESIGNING OF 300 SIGNATURES OR 50(+) CARDS= 100+  4.0
-creativity of design elements: color, line, materials, craftsmanship

-ACTUAL SIGNATURES AND CARDS DESIGN TASK= 100+ 4.0

-ESSAY FOR PROJECT- 500 word essay about Process= 100 4.0
-
-Title
- Idea/inspiration for your project/reasons why

 (ie: I was inspired to make contact with the students of Libra and Linda Marquez High School in order to make new friends and to see other students' perspective about our high school.  New friendships are important to me now as I mature and need to understand what the future holds for me and my fellow classmates.  

-Process- What did you decide to design for your project:

 (ie: I chose to make a large card for my signatures.  I wanted to look like the large cards I used to receive from my parents when I was a kind.  The size of the card made me feel important and loved.  I used to keep it in my room the whole year.

-What you learned from your experience.
 Share some anecdotes (small stories) about your experiences.  (

(ie:) I learned that most of the students I spoke to were willing to sign my card without a problem.  One student said he thought I was a great idea to and said he would help me ask other students for signatures.  One Friday during the project he met me at lunch an walk around with me gathering students and saying what a wonderful experience it was to "show the love and to spread the love".

(ie) I made the 50 cards necessary for this project.  I didn't realize that my teachers would be so grateful to receive the cards.  Mr. Rodriquez said that working everyday with numbers sometimes keeps him out of touch with the creative elements at school.  Many of his students express gratitude for the help with math but rarely do they write a note or card.  I felt I played a true role in Mr. Rodriquez' happiness.

-What did you learn about other people during your experience. Share some anecdotes (SMALL STORIES ABOUT THE EXPERIENCES).

(ie): Most students were eager to sign my card but occasionally I would get a student saying "I need to get paid for this, my signature is worth money at least $1-5 bucks!  "I think this is stupid and not real art.  I explained to the people that said "it wasn't real art", that are has many descriptions.  We have been learning about "Conceptual Art" where the idea is the most important thing.

-Conclusion: begin with the first paragraph and re-emphasize.  

(ie: ) I think that expressing concern and acknowledgement of the students and teachers at Libra has help me to open my heart further...

500 words-typed and handed in with your art project (100pts)

Chiascuro...What I learned and how I can make it fit into Calculus, English, Spanish, History, Algebra, Biology, PE,,,,

Death of Marat 1793 (Jacques Louis David

Chiascuro: light and dark, MODELING CAUSED BY LIGHT THAT SHINES ON THE FACE, NOSE, LIPS, 

VALUE, SHADING, SHADOWS,

MINIMALISM, ABSTRACTION, BEGINNINGS OF MODERN ART

CHIASCURO AS AN ABSTRACTION, PLACED OUT OF CONTEXT, SUCH AS IN ANOTHER SUBJECT MATTER: CALCULUS

=GIVE EXAMPLES OF CHIASCURO IN ONE OF YOUR OTHER COURSES.

-CONCEPTUAL ART (idea over product)

-DEFINING DRAWING AS CONCEPTUAL IDEA AWAY FROM A PIECE OF DRAWING

 PAPER.  CREATE A 3-D DIMENSIONAL DRAWING, AN EPHEMERAL DRAWING

ASSIGNMENT: 

1. STATE THE QUESTION-DO I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION?

(IE: How does the concept of chiascuro that is used on a painting or drawing get redefined in Calculus?)

2. Make a connection with the concept.  What knowledge or information can I bring to the question?

3. How can I solve the problem at hand? 

Option: 

How does Chiascuro fit in my house?

light, dark, abstraction, minimal, focus, modeling

Candlelight and fire from the hearth

Dining table with candlelight and electric light and street lights

Mini-altar with candlelight and  electric light

Mini-altar with candlelight and electric light

Mixed lighting

Lewis Jorge chiascuro

student chiascuro

History of Weaving-Spirituality-Nature-Animal Healing

Weaving is acknowledged as one of the oldest surviving art / craft forms. The tradition can be traced to the Neolithic period (new stone age) approximately 12,000 years ago. The basic principle of weaving was applied to interlacing of branches and twigs to create fences, shelters and baskets for protection.

In India the "warp" (the foundation) is known as the male energy /vertical/strong/unyielding. The "weft" (horizontal) is known as the female energy because women are considered mercurial (thermometer with mercury/hot/cold) - always changing.  The weft contains the various colors and patterns added to the warp.

The Native American Medicine wheel which consists of the four directions, uses animals around the wheel for their energy, healing properties, prophecies, messages, and advice.

The Spider is associated with "weaving" energy and is intertwined with the origins of weaving. The spider and weaving is related to creativity and release of human limitations.  The web of fate represents a wheel of life which does not look at alternatives or solutions.  Humans that look at life as good or bad fortune can get trapped instead of realizing that they can change their life at anytime instead of getting "caught" in a web of fear and limitations. 

Humans can weave a peaceful life bringing beauty, wealth, abundance and love into their lives.

"Spider wove the web that brought humans the first picture of the alphabet.  The letters were part of the angles of her web. Deer asked Spider what she was weaving and why all the lines looked like symbols.  Spider replied, " Why Deer, it is time for Earth's children to learn to make records of their progress in their earth walks. " 

The humans had their petroglyphs, symbolic imagery.  The spider felt they needed more symbols to complement their growth.  "The spider wove the first primordial alphabet, as Spider's dream of the physical world had come to fruition millions of years before."

The Spider's body looks like the symbol 8, it is the symbol of infinite possibilities of creation. (/infinity symbol) Its 8 legs represent the four winds of change and the four directions of the medicine wheel.

The Spider web is symbolic of webs of fate and destiny.  If you get caught you may become its dinner.  This is similar to humans getting caught in the web of illusion in the physical world and neglecting to see beyond the problem into other dimensions. 

The web represents the wheel of life which sometimes does not include solutions.  Polarization, dualism, right and wrong, good and bad is a human condition that creates limitations, getting "caught" and living in our fears and limitations.  

The Spider medicine says to create in all respects, create new alternatives, don't get trapped in weaving the same patterns.  Pay attention to new patterns outside your web. Keep weaving new webs.

The Spider is also female energy the weaves beautiful designs. 

Before answering the two questions below, think about messages and symbols you may have had today or recently that you have ignored or brushed away.  (ie: Have you ever walked into a spider web by mistake only to recognize by the shreds of spider web on your arm or leg etc.?) Were you conscious as you walked down the street? What were you thinking about?

/

1. Choose 5 messages/dreams that you would include into your new web pattern. 

2. As you were selecting your messages/dreams what kind of interference did you encounter with yourself in making your choices? (What does it mean when we feel that we are asking for too much?)

Weaving assignments:
4" plastic canvas (coaster) weaving,

 cardboard loom (bookmark size of 12-14 strands- approx 5" wide by 12" long),

 plastic square loom 8"x8" square (loops as a warp and weft, create a potholder) 

basket weaving minimum size 6" diameter 6-8" (plus) height (seagrass cord and raffia)

Drawing/color pencil/of a medicine card with information (12"x18" paper, medicine animal on half the paper about 10" diameter.

A brief explanation of the medicine the animal represents.  (rabbit=fear, deer=gentleness, frog=cleansing, hawk= messenger, )

Chiaroscuro and modeling Georges de la Tour

Georges de la Tour "Joseph the Carpenter" 1645

Georges de la Tour " Mary Magdelan Watching the Flame 1640

Georges de la Tour " The Tears of St. Peter"

The Italians call the effect of light and shade in art as "chiaroscuro".  This term as it applies to the general effect of light on the noses, lips, eyes, drapery folds, natural forms, and objects is called modeling. Chiaroscuro always refers to light and dark.  In drawing it is the light and shade effects.

Chiaro = light  scuro= dark

Georges de la Tour (1593-1652 France) was a painter that was known for using candlelight or torches to create the effect of chiaroscuro on his subjects.  The simplification of the human forms in is paintings gives a modern appearance. 

1.How does the absence of light on the figures add to the stories in three paintings?

 (stories:  (a)Joseph and Jesus- a son in his father's workshop. A carpenter and protector of carpenters and technicians, babies, immigrants, unborn babies. Perhaps was only with Jesus until he was 12.  Not at the crucifixion. 

   (b) Mary Magdalene looking at the flame.  Flames do not last forever, what does she see in the flame? Mary Magdalene was one of the 3 Mary's that walked with Jesus and was there for his crucifixion and resurrection.   She is considered an apostle to the apostles.  The symbol of the colored Easter eggs can be related to Mary Magdalene. She placed eggs at the bottom of Jesus's feet during hos crucifixion and produced red eggs with his blood.  

 (c) The Tears of St. Peter One of the 12 apostles-near Jesus.  Fisherman, protector of fisherman, heals feet...crucified upside down because he felt he wasn't worthy to be crucified like Jesus. -He has to make decisions-He lets you in the gates of heaven.-What happens when he says "no"?

2. What does the selective candlelight add to the paintings?

 (a. face of Jesus as a young man-sweet, innocent, curious..

.(b) Mary Magdelene is holding a skull that is not really illuminated.  Most of the light is on her upper body near hear heart.

 (c) St Peter shares his light with the lantern.  The light seems to be equally distributed.

ANIMAL ACTIVIST CLUB LIBRA ACADEMY HUNTINGTON PARK, CA

Max Ernst (1891-1976) Frottages ("to rub")

WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF DRAWING?

(WRITE A 100 WORD ESSAY-CONTAINING WHAT YOU KNOW AND WHAT YOU LEARNED AFTER THIS PRESENTATION.)

This drawing technique was developed by Max Ernst in 1925.  He was inspired by the ancient wooden floors in his studio that had been worn from years of scrubbing.  The patterns on the floors made strange images. He created this images by placing sheets of paper on the floor and rubbing it with a soft pencil. 

Ernst was considered a Surrealist.  The Surrealist group of artists began in the early l920's in Europe. The goal was to "resolve the previously contradictory conditions of dream and reality." Interpretation of dreams on to canvas or paper dealt with images and scenes that seemed illogical but because of the realistic rendering the appeared to be part of reality.  Dreaming is part of a human's "reality".  

They dealt with tapping into the unconscious mind which is part of the dream life.

"Frottage" and "automatic drawing" were techniques used by the Surrealists to tap into the unconscious and retrieve images and feelings that can be re-interpreted in visual art and writings such as poems and literature. The "real" functioning of thought is the main thesis of Surealism. 

Thinking, taking time to think, visiting the two hemispheres of the brain and interpreting the visit is important to Surrealists.  As in dreams time is spacial not linear (meaning the whole span of your existence and being is not rated/calculated/documented by numbers/dates.

Also symbolism as in dreams is defined and interpreted.

Frottages can be viewed as 2-D experiences with 3-D thought.  As in sculpture you are subtracting and adding to a form to create a visual 3-D experience. (pushing and pulling forms)

Max Ernst 1891-1976 (Germany)

Joan Miro (Automatic drawing)

Joan Miro (1893-1983)

Joan Miro

Salvador Dali

Salvador Dali 1904-1989

Salvador Dali

Meret Oppenheim 1913-1985