Re-Creating the United States

@recreatingtheunitedstates

A Subversive Commentary of the Promises of the United States: This tumblr site documents what happened when a museum, a traditional high school classroom, and professional artists came together to explore and reinterpret our revered history. From September 19 – November 3 Patricia Kovic and Michele Jaquis were the In-School Artists in Residence at the Skirball Cultural Center. Their project, Re-Creating the United States, expands on the experimental pedagogy developed in their Otis Integrated Learning course, NEIGHBORGAPBRIDGE, by collaborating with the Education Department at the Skirball and Lauren Kleinberg's AP English class at Granada Hills Charter High School. This six week investigation of the artifacts featured in the exhibition, Creating the United States, which originated from the Library of Congress, has developed into a subversive commentary on the promises of the United States and culminated in a student takeover on November 1st and a public exhibition and community gathering on November 3rd, both at Skirball Cultural Center.

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Invitation by the "Listen Carefully" Group

*** This Email was sent by a student in Granada Hills.

We answered questions, and through that, we connected to people we never knew before.

My experience with this project is something I will brag about for the longest time.

The most amazing part of the takeover for me was being trusted. Students were trusted to get their work down and we had the freedom in what we wanted to present and how we would do it.

Skirball Reflection

The most amazing part of the takeover for me was being trusted. Students were trusted to get their work down and we had the freedom in what we wanted to present and how we would do it. The takeover on Saturday and Thursday were very memorable for me and exceeded my expectations. If I was to sum up my experience in one word, I would describe it as fun. I had a great time with my class, another class from Granada, and students from other schools. Because my group was stationed outside, I loved it even more. I was surprised by how personal and private the takeover was. We spoke to almost everyone present. We answered questions and through that we connected to people we never knew before. The fact that I and so many others enjoyed it so much, the experience was worth every hard work and our efforts paid off. My experience with this project is something I will brag about for the longest time.

LOOKING BACK: DID WE MEET GOALS SET?

DURING THESE SIX WEEKS, YOUR STUDENTS WILL:

• Respond to the founding documents included in the Creating the United States exhibition, by articulating the relevancy of these documents to their daily lives in the context of the 21st century.

• Participate in several NGB bridge building exercises that will prepare students to collaborate with each other and connect with their communities.

• Create a collaborative, multi-media, participatory installation combining two creative exercises in free speech and opinion polling:

1. We The People

Your students will help create video portraits of their peers, teachers, community members, and Skirball education staff each describing the first time they felt their voices were heard and their opinion mattered, and answering additional relevant questions posed by your students.

2. Fonts for Freedom

Your students will take to the streets with postcards inspired by a student designed Neighborhood Font, asking their neighbors to share thoughts and opinions on key concepts in the founding documents and mail the postcards back to the Skirball.

Using a parts-to-whole systems model, we'll assemble together all the postcards and video clips, giving voice to a larger than life community message to be shared in our final installation.

Re-Creating the United States @recreatingtheunitedstates - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag