Mixed Media:
an ongoing series of work
started developing the three dimensional boxes into mixed media artwork about contemporary education. My teaching practice and studio practice began to complement and harmonize with one another. I began to think about how all these boxes, with doors that open and close, could serve as a pedagogical intention to speak with an audience. By bringing the Arts and Education together in this interdisciplinary project, my hope is to elicit conversations about the purpose of education, who we are, and what it means to be human.
Over the last two decades education has moved from local, individualized education to standards-based, data-driven education. I think this deserves a thoughtful pause. Does this nurture learners (of all ages) into the future we are creating that is increasingly dynamic and global? Is the identity of the individual person vanishing in education with current political reforms and high stakes testing? How can we honor and value human qualities that have brought delightful talents to our society such as compassion, love, intuition, play, inventiveness, creativity, and curiosity?
Each box has doors that allow the viewer (if you are curious enough) to open and close. I am intrigued with the space in between the viewer and art during this action of opening and closing the doors. What thoughts and conversations happen with oneself or with others while engaging with artwork in a tactile way?
IN PROGRESS....
Constructing each wooden box by hand, photographing imagery for transfers, drawing, assembling found objects, reflecting and editing is a long process. Today I have seven mixed media boxes completed. I plan on creating six to ten more to finish the series for a future exhibition. I have exhibited four of these pieces at Plum Elements Gallery in Charleston titled “Wish” which you may view HERE.
Check back for updates on this series throughout 2010.
*Photographs taken by Leigh Webber
I began this series of mixed media work with my Dad. He taught me how to create the handcrafted boxes while visiting from Chicago. It was this collaborative action that got me thinking about how we learn and teach. I have been a teacher for a wide range of students from pre-Kindergarten to adults, where I learned that to teach is to illustrate how objects and ideas relate in a given space or time. My knowledge and experience as a teacher began to inform my studio practice. I
