Combining Art and Language Arts in Unit III

Unit III students combined what they learned about artist Kehinde Wiley in Kacey Watkins’ art class with the subjects of their essays in language arts. Watkins taught the students that Wiley creates portraits of Black men and women in front of flowers that are important to them. Wiley was influenced by old style European painters, who usually only painted portraits of white men. In honor of Wiley and Women’s History Month, the students researched an inspirational woman of color in their language arts class and wrote an essay about her. They created portraits of their essay subject in the likeness of Wiley’s artwork. Each student presented their portrait and shared why they respected their subject at the monthly assembly about respect.