Curriculum Materials: Amazing Animals in Art Image 2 Peru, Nazca Bridge-spout vessel in the form of a fish Theme Essays: Background About this Object Style Technique About the Artist Questions: Suggested Questions: K-3 Suggested Questions: 4-6 Suggested Questions: Grades 4-6 View Teacher's Key This vessel was made in the form of a fish. Does this look like a real fish? Compare to Maria Merian's print Moths, Caterpillar, and Foliage; which artist was more interested in portraying accurate detail? What do you think this object was used for? How can you tell? Is this fish ABSTRACT or NATURALISTIC? What features of the fish did the artist emphasize? What features and details are missing? Which features are shown through sculptural means in the clay itself? Which features are painted on the surface? What material is this made of? How can you tell? Where do you think the artist found the material? Have you ever made anything out of clay? Why do you think that fish might be important to the Nazca people? How are fish important to us today? The Nazca people lived in river valleys near the ocean, mountains, and desert. Why do you think rainfall was so important to them? Why were the Nazca people concerned with ECOLOGY? What concerns do we have regarding ecology today? Do we worry about a shortage of water today? Pretend that you are an ARCHAEOLOGIST who discovered this vessel. What clues does it give you about the Nazca people? What other areas of their culture would you explore to help you understand its meaning? This vessel may have been made to be included in a tomb. What other object in this unit was made for a tomb? In what ways are these objects similar? How are they different? Introduction ~ Index of Images ~ Glossary ~ Amazing Animals Activities ~ How to Order ~ Your Comments Wanted