PICTURE THIS
Do you practice any special cultural traditions in your home? If you do, then you may also have unique items or artifacts that you use on special occasions or that have a unique cultural significance for you. Works of art often convey special meanings to the particular cultures in which they were created. These treasured works can also tell us important details about a culture, such as its social practices, values, and religious beliefs, or simply how people live from day to day. It would probably take you a lifetime and many thousands of dollars to travel the globe and learn about all of the world's different cultures and the treasured artifacts they have produced, but you can discover some of them, and without ever having to leave your seat.

Travel to four or five of the web sites listed in your Artist's Passport below. First, click on the button and print out four copies of your worksheet. Then, just click on the site of your choice and learn about the special artifact or work that is displayed there. Learn as much as you can about each work of art. Choose four cultural treasures and answer the questions on the worksheet for each.

Artist's Passport Web Links

White House Collection of American Crafts

Japanese Koto (musical instrument)

Folk Music (Accordions)

Native American Art

Diego Rivera Web Museum

Sanchi Art of India

Asante Kente Cloth

The Art of Silk

Woodblock Prints