Note from Camille Gage

Dear JM students,

I had a fantastic experience working with you on the American Visions project. I was inspired by our discussions, your knowledge of current issues, and the creative ideas you had for the flag. I will be bringing the deconstructed flag back to my studio in Minneapolis to paint the union (stars on the blue field) and assemble all of the pieces into a single flag. I will think of you as I continue our work and will use the blog as a touchstone to stay connected to the energy we had while working together. Keep posting!

I plan to attend the unveiling at John Marshall High School later this semester and look forward to seeing you again very soon. Until then, remember that creativity is about more than art - it is about life. It can inspire all of what you do and how you live if you recognize its power and cultivate it.

Camille

To the Rockin' Rockets,

Thank you for jumping in and saying "Yes!" to the work of Thursday and Friday. I have been bragging about you to everyone who's asked about the American Visions project--what an intelligent, creative, passionate group of people! I look foward to the unveiling of your artwork, and to seeing you all again.

Cheers and thanks,

Carla

Day Two -- wow!

What a great day! The creativity and thought put into your panels was astounding and made me so proud of all of you! And I've never seen students RUN back INTO a school after a fire drill before!! Mr. Stirn looked at the panels and was so impressed he'd like to work with us on an even more prominent display in the new entry! Camille will need a couple of weeks to transfer the work back to her studio, assemble the stripes and create the union -- at some point this semester we'll have a grand unveiling. Thank you all for your hard work and focus.

This blog is part of the archival requirements for the art residency grants. Continue to blog your thoughts about the process -- how was today, what did you learn through the panel creation, or even the larger issues of how the process may be an appropriate representation of our democracy. We'll add photos from the residency and also post the address on the dedication plaque, inviting comments from visitors to JM.

Also, check out how Camille continues to explore these citizenships issues on her website.

More later,

Mr. Decker

Tabletalk

Hello,

Today we viewed how some other artists approached the icon of the U. S. Flag, created some art ourselves, and discussed the role of citizenship in a democracy. Debrief here, or share your thoughts about what you might put on your panel!

American Visions: Finding Your American Voice Class Plan

American Visions: Finding Your American Voice Class Plan

Day One
Introductions: Camille & Carla

Discuss American Visions project
1. The flag we make is a metaphor for democracy and democratic practice
Many pieces coming together
Working together to create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts

2. Discuss form and content
Content
Brief history of the flag
How we use the icon of the flag to say something about ourselves and our times.
How our work will relate to other artists that have used the flag in their work.
Sometimes using the flag has been controversial. Has artists use of the
flag hurt the flag or changed its meaning?

Form
How we can each create individual sections that will come together
to create a work that holds together aesthetically and has visual
impact and cohesion? How can we create a formal success?

3. View slides of artists who have used the flag in their work.

4. Discuss the readings

Discussion of the larger issues of citizenship, democracy and participation
1. Where do elections and partisan politics fit in?
2. What is everyday politics?

Homework
Take home your piece of wood. On it you can draw, write, collage in black & white.
Your chance to create something personal before it becomes a part of something larger.
No obscenities, no hate speech, no bashing politicians – think bigger!
Think about JMHS students 20 years from now looking at your work.
You are creating a piece that must stand the test of time.

Day Two
Getting to work: create white tables, red tables, Union tables; everyone gets materials
Inspiration: Listen to musicians who’ve used the Star Spangled Banner (Gaye, Hendrix)
Inform students that a documentary photographer will record some of our time together
Turn on the tunes and paint
Final thoughts
1. Class discussion of how they feel about the project.
2. Unveiling – ideas about that? What kind of event?
3. Camille will show slides of recent series: War, Redacted, which uses flag
4. Invite students to continue the dialogue on the American Visions blog