National Identity

In a country variously described as a “melting pot” and a “salad bowl,” works by self-taught artists chart the myriad notions of American national identity that have flourished in the United States since colonial days. National symbols, depictions of important historical events, and legacies of cultural heritage in folk art reveal a diverse and rich history.

The collection of images in this section reflects a sense of national community that has shifted and morphed as the culture has grown and changed. The idea of community, one of the major guiding principles of the museum collection, comes alive in this section.

	Freedom’s Handmaiden Grades 6–12 Discover the rich connections between some ancient Greek symbols and the symbols used to express American beliefs and values. Explore cross-cultural connections and consider how some images and values that reflect popular culture, art history, and language are in constant flux, while others persist over centuries.
	Freedom’s Gate Grades 6–12 This decorative gate was the first object acquired for the museum’s permanent collection. Constructed in 1876, it was probably created to celebrate our country’s centennial. Consider what it has meant to be American since the country’s founding in 1776.
	A Map of Manifest Destiny Grades 6–12 Examine a map quilt that conveys messages of American expansionism during the 1800s. Discuss Manifest Destiny and explore potent symbolic systems to employ in an original interpretive map of a familiar place.
	An Editorial in Images Grades 6–12 Investigate an iconic painting in which self-taught artist and native New Yorker Ralph Fasanella illustrates his view of the political climate of 1960s America. Learn about important figures in the Civil Rights movement and explore the artist’s editorial style.