Run for President Tour, Part Two

To begin the next stop on the Run for President Tour, students began by looking quietly at the following work of art with a friend, then sharing their observations with the rest of the group.

SPIDER-MAN FOR PRESIDENT aka Historical Campaign Poster Painting No. 5 (Backed to Win) by Kathryn Andrews 

2nd grade

3rd grade

4th grade

4th grade

5th grade

5th grade

As students shared the different things they saw, they speculated about what is going on in this picture: Who is this man? Why is he riding on top of an eagle?  Why is he holding a piece of rolled-up paper in his right hand with the words "Republican Nomination?"  Why is some of the artwork red and white, and some of it is blue and black?  What do the words "Backed to Win" mean? Why does the red section appear to be coming forward, with the blue section moving back?  If you are wondering too, ask the GROW student nearest you!  (History buffs may recognize this man as Benjamin Harrison, 23rd President of the U.S.)

After discussing all that we noticed, students walked to the side and discovered something they could not see from the front: a costume worn in the 2002 movie Spider-man inserted inside of the artwork.

2nd grade

3rd grade

3rd grade

The students considered why Kathryn Andrews, who lives and works in Los Angeles, chose to combine this costume with the image of Benjamin Harrison.  What connections can you find between the two?