Identity Quilts
Students created a community painting-quilt, containing individual identity paintings bordering a collective mural about the joys and struggles of being a middle school student. Students began the unit answering questions about their identity inspired by Jordan Casteel’s In Bloom series, Frida Kahlo’s, Roots, and Njideka Akunyili- Crosby‘s, “Identity” Tate Modern interview. After reflecting on their identities, students drew composite symbols about the intersectionality of their identity. They looking at David Hammons Higher Goals, as inspiration to create interconnecting symbolism about nature and culture. Students painted their symbols using a broad range of tertiary, tint, chromatic and neutral colors. After completing the individual paintings, students worked in small groups to compose a group image about an identity they share; the joys and struggles of being a middle school student. The final composition of the project is inspired by Faith Ringgold’s quilts, which includes students’ individual paintings framing a group image with a written narrative along the border. See final unit plan here.
7th Grade, Acrylic paint on paper
