VAM galleries including this work:
The Kentucky Library and Museum | Everyday Life || VAM Home

Folk artist Unto Jarvi made art to illustrate his memories. He aimed to capture “hard but good times in Finland and America” and, later, to re-create and preserve the memories of disappearing rural life—a life of general stores, small family farms, and houses made by hand. This wooden diorama depicts a man and a woman in a barn, surrounded by chickens, a dog, and farm tools.

About the Artist

Unto Jarvi was born in Saaksmaki, Finland, but left his birthplace for the United States at the age of 11. After working in construction for 50 years, he began painting and carving while recovering from an accident. He became a more prolific artist after retiring to Auburn, Kentucky, in 1971. Through his art, Jarvi said, he wanted to “tell a story of how life was in earlier years, hoping thereby to revive pleasant memories for people of my generation and to acquaint the present and future generations with how life used to be.”

Jarvi is best known for his carved figures, which he affectionately referred to as “Jarvi’s Little People.” His paintings typically depict landscapes, childhood memories, and scenes of country life.

Classroom Ideas

Discussion: What can you tell about the life of the man and woman in this diorama? What is the focal point of the piece? From this diorama, can you tell whether Jarvi had much experience living on a farm? Why or why not? Compare this work to the Jarvi diorama Alone in the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft gallery in the Kentucky Virtual Art Museum and to the Jarvi painting shown above. In which medium do you think Jarvi is most effective as an artist?

Activity: Make a diorama of a scene from your everyday life within a small box. Find or create miniature objects. You can make people out of modeling clay or paper or use found objects.

Link

Find ideas and instructions on how to create a diorama at eMints.
[www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000744.shtml]