Local youth will explore the concept of empathy through the creation of community tissue quilts. The project is a part of this year’s “JUST US,” a program that uses art to help students express their feelings.
“JUST US” is a partnership between UNCW, local schools and after-school programs. Spearheaded by UNCW’s Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, this year’s program is funded, in part, by the South Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. The curriculum was written by Janna Robertson, a professor at the Watson College of Education.
“After participating on the campus tour of sections of the AIDS Quilt in December, I was moved by that use of art to communicate – for me, empathy was an overwhelming emotion,” said Kimberley Cheatham, OIDI outreach coordinator. “I saw an opportunity to connect our planned tissue paper quilts project with a similar outcome. Dr. Robertson was a great partner last year and understands the JUST US vision to help youth develop interpersonal skills and aid their capacity to succeed.”
The curriculum introduces the AIDS quilt as a touchstone for the project. Students from area nonprofit organizations and elementary and middle schools serving diverse populations will create tissue paper quilts, guided by the work of award-winning artist Maya Freelon. After completing a section of the quilts at their school or after-school programs, students will gather to combine the individual sections into larger quilts. The project’s culmination will be a presentation from Freelon and her crafted design of the students’ art pieces. The exhibition will be held on May 1 at 3:30 p.m. in the Watson College of Education atrium. More than 200 youth are expected to participate.
“This was an ideal fit for the JUST US initiative on numerous levels – demonstrating the resourcefulness of using readily accessible materials to create, and the charm and appeal that result from diversity,” Cheatham said. “The hope is that we will be more proactive in processing our discomfort with perceived differences and take greater time to consider the feelings and perspectives of others.”
Students from area nonprofit organizations and elementary and middle schools serving diverse populations will create tissue paper quilts, guided by the work of award-winning artist Maya Freelon.
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