Visual Culture and Symbols: Seeing Ourselves Graphically

Funded Aug 23, 2018

I wanted to express my thanks for supporting my project and helping me provide new and innovative supplies for my students. The Gelli printing plates and brayers purchased with the funds you provided have already been put to use on a collaborative printing project that my 6th and 7th period classes created as a memorial to those Americans we lost on 9/11.

6th period is the class in which I have 9 wonderful special-education students as well as 9 equally wonderful regular-education students. 7th period is a small class with students who often work quickly on assigned projects and get finished early. I wanted to share these new supplies and an opportunity to participate in a special project with these students because they work so hard regularly and deserve extra opportunities to try out materials. They were so intrigued by the Gelli plates and the process of layering paint colors to make prints. I prepared the paper for them, showed them a few techniques, and they set to work, generating over 100 5x5 inch prints for me to assemble into a giant American flag of sentiment and gratitude to those who lost their lives and those who saved lives on September 11, 2001. Their finished work was displayed at a ceremony outdoors while the band, choir, and drama students performed music and readings related to 9/11. It now hangs in the school library.

While I still plan to teach the Visual Culture lesson I described in my grant proposal during the upcoming semester, I felt you should see the amazing work my students have already created. We talked while they worked about how the American Flag is a complicated piece of visual culture in our country, particularly because it means something different to everyone. I am excited to see what else we can investigate using these materials and how my students will find their own ways to express themselves through art.”

With gratitude,

Ms. Harrison