Art & Awareness

Get Inspired: Tres Fridas

Art is awareness. Art is a platform or us to share our unique lived experiences with the world. This week, we're inviting your family to explore how sharing ourselves through art honors our humanity and interconnectedness. Check out Tres Fridas Project, a group of three Chicago artists recreating classic art pieces to explore facets of life and disability.

Representation in art matters. The Tres Fridas project recreates these classic images to "authenticate the human experience of disability not as one of inspiration, shame, fear, or pity, but as one that is familiar and painted with love, pain, frustration, beauty, happiness, and drive."

Let’s Talk

After watching the video about Tres Fridas, use the questions below to kick-start a great conversation with your family today:

• What did you find interesting about the work of Tres Fridas? What surprised you?

• Tres Fridas is on a mission to raise awareness for people with disabilities through art. How do they do this? Why do you think their work is important?

• Think about a time where you felt represented or celebrated. How did that make you feel?

• Bonus! Many artists use their work to amplify under-represented voices or elevate social movements. Research an artist that inspires you and share their work with your family!

Do Something: Reimagine Art

Tres Fridas reimagine's art and so can you! What famous work of art inspires you? Makes you laugh? Or makes you think? Pick out your favorite piece of art and recreate it with objects you have around your house!

Art is everything! Get inspired by these at-home recreations made by staff members of the Art Institute of Chicago. They recreated these masterpieces with items they could find in their homes, like toys, eggs, and even pancakes! Katrina Rush reimagined Degas' Little Dancer Aged Fourteen and got the whole family involved in this ballet inspired piece.

We can't wait to see what you come up with! Tag us at @honeycombathome to share your recreations with the Hive!

Community Connections: DIY Art Tour

Chicago's public art is ready to enjoy! Have you ever been downtown and noticed all of the modern sculptures? Learn more about the artists behind the work with GPSMyCity's self-led tours of the Loop!

Make a family date! Set aside time this weekend to go on the tour together. While you make your way through the sculptures, look at each piece and share your observations with your family. What do you think the artist's purpose or message was? If you could rename the piece, what would you name it?

Learning about public art is a great way to learn about our city's history and culture. From, "Monument With Standing Beast" by Jean Dubuffet, to "Dawn Shadows" by Louise Nevelson, you'll be a public art expert after exploring these downtown wonders.