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Andy Warhol, Bald Eagle, 1983, screen print on paper, 38 x 38 in. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, 2015.38.3. © The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts / Licensed by Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photography by Edward C. Robison III.

Freedom

Everybody has their own America, and then they have pieces of a fantasy America that they think is out there but they can't see…

–Andy Warhol

Classroom Image Set and Discussion Prompts

Freedom Image Set
(.ppt 1.5MB)

Additional Teaching Resources

Amendment Mini-Lesson
iCivics

Road to the Constitution Unit
iCivics

Big Ideas Behind the First Amendment
National Constitution Center

First Amendment: Speech Quotation Analysis
National Constitution Center

The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights
National Archives

The Declaration of Independence and the Promise of Liberty and Equality for All: Founding Principles and the Problem of Slavery
Bill of Rights Institute

The First Amendment to the Constitution protects freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and the right to petition the government. The interpretation of these freedoms and how to exercise them responsibly has been a source of debate for years in government and society at large. Is the Constitution a living document that can evolve over time and adapt to America’s changing politics, economy, and social mores? 

In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.

–Franklin D. Roosevelt

Americans have always defined true freedom as the opportunity to direct their own lives through formal and informal institutions and practices. A free society relies on the notion that every man, woman, and child is free to do what they wish, so long as they do not infringe on the equal freedoms of any other individual. Artistic expression is proof of society's understanding and adoption of shared civic values. It is an act of freedom that is essential to the process of creating and sharing art, allowing artists to address important or controversial issues without fear of being silenced. 

In this collection, you will find artworks that:

  • speak out about the mistreatment of diverse communities and envision how to make the world a freer and safer place
  • critique the individuals, symbols, and ideals that define American identity 
  • reshape an understanding of freedom by exploring America’s conflicts and controversies  

Explore the ways American art addresses freedom through the questions and artworks below.

Do artists need freedom of expression? Why or why not?
Should there be limits to the freedom of artistic expression?
What does it mean to be free?
What is the importance of freedom in your life?

Content Contributors

Exhibition sponsored by Kenneth C. Griffin

Learning and engagement programming for
We the People: The Radical Notion of Democracy is sponsored by:

Sarah and Ross Perot, Jr. Foundation | Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates, & Woodyard, P.L.L.C. | Johnny and Jeanie Morris, Bass Pro Shops | Alturas Foundation | Harriet and Warren Stephens, Stephens Inc. | Sotheby’s | Bob and Becky Alexander | Marybeth and Micky Mayfield | Lamar and Shari Steiger | Jeff and Sarah Teague / Citizens Bank | Arkansas Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities | Avis and Bill Bailey | Scarlett and Neff Basore | June Carter Family | Terri and Chuck Erwin | Jackye and Curtis Finch | The Harrison and Rhonda French Family | Jim and Susan von Gremp | Laurice Hachem | Shannon and Charles Holley | Valorie and Randy Lawson / Lawco Energy Group | Donna and Mack McLarty | Steve and Susan Nelson | Neal and Gina Pendergraft | Helen Porter | JT and Imelda Rose | Lee and Linda Scott | Stella Boyle Smith Trust, Catherine and Michael Mayton, Trustees | William Reese Company

© 2022 Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art