Jul 23, 2021 Activities & Education Learn about Luis Alfonso Jimenez’s Eagle sculpture. Then think about an animal important to you, grab some paper scraps from around your home, and create an animal collage! Luis Alfonso Jimenez, Eagle, 2003, polychrome fiberglass, 55 × 78 × 61 in. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, 2011.31. Photography by Edward C. Robison III. Closer Look Look closely at this work. What material do you think this sculpture is made of? When most people think of sculptures, they think of clay, stone, or marble. Jimenez used fiberglass as the material for his art. Fiberglass is commonly used to make cars and boats. Why do you think the artist chose an eagle for this work? Born in El Paso, Texas, the artist was of Mexican heritage, and the eagle holds a special place in the center of the Mexican flag. The flag’s image of an eagle resting on a prickly pear cactus dates all the way back to the ancient Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlan. The eagle is also important in American culture as it is the national bird. In Native American traditions, the Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle are honored and respected. They represent honesty, truth, courage, wisdom, freedom, and power. As eagles fly in the sky, it is said they have a special connection to their spiritual beliefs. What does the eagle mean to you? How do animals represent you or your heritage? Activity: Create a multimedia animal collage! Materials Old magazines, tissue paper, or construction paper Cardstock paper Scissors Glue Pencil Instructions Step 1: Choose an animal that represents you or your heritage. Step 2: Find materials for your collage. Examples could be an old magazine, tissue paper, a paper sack, or construction paper. Step 3: Draw the animal you chose in pencil on cardstock paper. Step 4: Use the drawing as a guideline and start cutting pieces of paper into the shapes you would like to use for your animal. Step 5: Lay out the pieces on top of your drawing to create the animal’s shape and cut any small pieces you would like for the face or other body parts. Step 6: Begin gluing the pieces with either a glue stick or glue dots. Step 7: Erase any remaining pencil markings. Step 8: Admire your animal collage! Have fun exploring! Share your animal collage with us on social media: tag #crystalbridges on Instagram. Written by Youth and Family Intern Hannah Samuel
