Labels, Tags & Misconceptions
ASC Grant and McColl Partnership
7th Grade
Introduction:
We are all confronted with labels, tags, and misconceptions regardless of our age, gender, race, religion or wealth. Why do we label people who are different from us? And once someone is labeled, how hard is it to actually see the person behind the label? How many times do we just stop at the label? Through this project we will examine how labels can shape and limit our understanding and perceptions about each other.
Artist, Susan Harbage Page, uses her work to examine the labels, tags and misconceptions surrounding women. She uses the stories and photographs of female textile mill workers, and reclaimed and altered embroidery pieces to explore the changing identities of women in today’s culture. Through her art she gives these women a voice.
Procedure:
Modeling your process after the work of Page you will examine the labels, tags and misconceptions surrounding the homeless and people living in poverty. You will write their stories and create photo-emulsion images of them. You will work alongside the artists to plan, create and execute your own traveling exhibition and presentations that create awareness in the community and among peer groups, of the power of labels. You will use your artwork to influence and possibly change the perceptions of society and learn what gives value to a work of art.
The 7th grade students will apply what they are learning about what it means to be human in social studies, language arts, science, visual arts classes, and service learning projects to address the issues of poverty and homelessness. Modeling their process after the work of Page, the students will:
• conduct interviews with the neighbors at Urban Ministries Center in Charlotte and clients of Charlotte Rescue Mission
• examine how labels can shape and limit our understanding and perceptions about certain communities in society,
• create and choose, based on recorded stories, text, photographs, and words that are often used to describe the impoverished and homeless communities in our society, and
• create an exhibition of their work that conveys the power of labels
Schedule:
11/07
1. Examine the power of labels (Brown Bag Advisory positive and negative outline activity)
11/07
2. Introduction to the work of Page and the influence of NC textile mills in her work. (BBA)
3. Introduction to photography through the work of Lewis Hine. (BBA)
12/07
4. Practice interviewing skills with peers in Language Arts
12/06/07
5. Meet the artist, Susan Harbage Page, and tour her exhibition (McColl Center)
6. Reflect on her work and how she examines labels, tags, and misconceptions (VA/BBA)
12/07
7. Trip to Mint Museum of Art: Contemporary, Cool and Collected exhibition - Examine contemporary portrait photography of animate and inanimate objects.
Winter Break
1/08
8. Learn about photographic compositions, photographic techniques, the difference between photographic art and snapshots, and how to create a personality photograph. (Language Arts/Visual Arts)
1/24
9. First visit from Susan Harbage Page to critique our photographs
10. Artmaking - Self-portraits. (Mint CC&C pg 6-7)
11. Do labeling activity at Urban Ministries (SL)
12. Compose photographs and create preliminary designs on small scale t-shirt (VA)
2/21
13. Work with Janet Lasher on images and layout (text to include, size, font, images) VA
14. Conduct interviews at Urban Ministries (LA/SL)
3/6
15. Work with Susan Page on final critique of design (VA)
3/19
16. Work with Janet Lasher on finishing image transfer (VA)
17. Assessment and Reflection
4/4
18. Opening at McColl Center
Assessments: (see rubrics attached)
1. Conducting an Interview
2. Creating an Artwork
3. Participation and Reflection