16 Visual Analysis Assessment: “Building a Nation” This assessment asks you to compose a visual analysis of the Angela Alés painting Building a Nation. You will use historical references from this CIVIC Inquiry Kit to evaluate and interpret how visual attributes such as composition, color, texture, light, form, and technique convey ideas that the painting is expressing. Assessment Process 1. Go to https://unerased.org/building-a-nation/ to access a biography of Angela Alés (available in English and Spanish), the introductory “‘Building a Nation’ by Angela Alés” video (English and Spanish), and an expanded image of the Building a Nation painting. 2. Read Alés’s biography. 3. Watch the introductory video. 4. Read the “Building a Nation” Rubric on page 17. 5. Read the Visual Analysis Questions on the right, then carefully examine the expanded image of Building a Nation online. 6. Answer the Visual Analysis Questions to help you organize your evaluation and interpretation of Building a Nation. 7. Consider the guidelines in the rubric as you compose your visual analysis. Visual Analysis Questions 1. What are the main colors? 2. What mood do the colors convey? 3. Why might Alés have chosen these colors? What do they represent? 4. What is the direction of the light? 5. What is the significance of how light is represented and reflected? 6. What forms, figures, and objects do you notice? 7. What do they represent? 8. What effect do the forms, figures, and objects create? 9. How does Alés make your eye move around the canvas? 10. Is there one place where your eye always ends up? 11. What does this movement and organization make you think about the figures or objects depicted? 12. Describe the texture. 13. Why might Alés have chosen the title Building a Nation? 14. What ideas are conveyed in Building a Nation that are connected to your contextualization of the American Civil Rights Movement?