Economy

Many artworks in the American Folk Art Museum’s collection reflect the economic evolution of the United States and highlight the effects that commerce has had on shaping the nation’s history. At times championing technological and economic progress, and at other times critiquing social inequalities, folk artists provide a firsthand account of the country’s constantly unfolding economic structures in a concrete, accessible way.

	Sailor’s Fancy Grades 6–12 Explore the social and economic contexts of nineteenth-century New England’s whaling industry by carefully examining works of scrimshaw and exploring the cultural climate whaling promoted.
	Open for Business Grades 6–12 Research nineteenth-century trade signs and compare their characteristics with modern-day advertising strategies. Interviews with local shopkeepers and a neighborhood documentation project anchor students’ thinking about the nature of symbols and the psychological aspect of advertising.
	A Chronicle of Plantation Life Grades 6–12 Decode a painting by prolific African American artist Clementine Hunter, linking the subject matter to plantation life after the Emancipation Proclamation. Create a compelling piece of historical fiction describing the experiences of former plantation laborers.
	Bustle and Hustle Grades 6–12 Compare two paintings that address industrialization, urban development, and complex social strata. Investigate ways in which activists advocate for a “living wage” throughout the country, taking into account how the working poor make ends meet, and under what circumstances.