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Middle School art project: Your identity in a suitcase
“They were to put their identity into a suitcase,” art teacher Fiona says. “I also gave them the chance to use a memory or an experience if they struggled too much. At the beginning we did a lot about identity, what it means: We watched Taiye Selasi’s ‘Don’t ask me where I am from, ask me where I am local’. From that they really got to think about what makes me who I am: Is it about being local, the things I’m picking up, is that what’s forming me as an individual, rather than necessarily where I was born or where my parents come from?
And I introduced them to Joseph Cornell, who is famous for making assemblages. I like the way he arranges the objects, and that got them thinking about the visual element of it, how the objects are arranged, is there a color scheme, the actual container itself.
I suppose with my work I am always trying to make connections with things that they can relate to now, so they can see something that inspires them.”
Well, dear Fiona, it seemed to work just fine.
And I introduced them to Joseph Cornell, who is famous for making assemblages. I like the way he arranges the objects, and that got them thinking about the visual element of it, how the objects are arranged, is there a color scheme, the actual container itself.
I suppose with my work I am always trying to make connections with things that they can relate to now, so they can see something that inspires them.”
Well, dear Fiona, it seemed to work just fine.