Students in Danielle Aepelbacher's class recently refined the book covers they made during Annemarie Zwack's residency in January.
Annemarie Zwack worked with CRSP students on making handmade books. She first read her own book entitled "Color Me Earth" outloud to the class and noted the illustrations she made with cloth and paint. As "Color Me Earth" is told from the point of view of the Earth, she then asked students if they knew who was speaking in the book, and asked them about the cycles that they may have noticed (the water cycle, and the decomposition of a tree that in turn feeds the earth).
Students also discussed "What is an Artist" and talked about how an artist can find inspiration. Zwack draws inspiration from topics she feels strongly about, and even materials that support her ideas are all sources of inspiration for me.
The Chemung River, of course, was the topic for this project. Annemarie wanted students to think about the role the Chemung River (or water) plays in our lives? "Will we always have access to free clean drinking water? Does anything threaten our clean water supply? Does everyone on the planet have clean water to drink? Why? What do you think it will be like in the future? Is there any substitute for water?"
Students then made their own books which will be on display in May at the Arnot Art Museum!
The stated purpose of the project was to 1) increase awareness of the work of contemporary artists, 2) to enhance students' understanding of the role artists play in the larger socio-political cultural sphere, 3) to increase awareness of the importance of research in the work of many contemporary artists, 3) 5o enhance students' understanding of water conservation 4) to enhance critical thinking skills 5) o introduce the concept of collaboration and community in making art 6) o introduce to students basic graphic design skills 7) to introduce to students the many ways in which the arts intersect with other areas of the curriculum, 8) to demonstrate to students the common threads linking art made in the past with contemporary art.
Annemarie noted that contemporary artists find inspiration in the world around them, just as the Hudson River School of painters was inspired by water and their environment.
