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‘Quaranthings’: Art teacher taps photographer’s idea for self-portraits

In the midst of a world-wide pandemic, what’s an art teacher to do? Think globally, of course. That’s exactly what Heather Clark, art teacher at Fort Braden School has done. As a result of school…

In the midst of a world-wide pandemic, what’s an art teacher to do? Think globally, of course.

That’s exactly what Heather Clark, art teacher at Fort Braden School has done. As a result of school closures, teachers had to quickly adjust their entire curriculum to the digital sphere. Creative educators saw this not as a setback, but an opportunity to emphasize how the arts can connect us during challenging times.    

Inspired by a lesson created by Libby Beaty, an art teacher in South Korea, Clark prompted her students and faculty to think like contemporary photographer Gregg Segal.

Through his imagery, Segal tackles social issues like food insecurity, waste, and immigration. For his most recent series, Segal traveled the world to research and document what kids ate. His photos depict children from different cultures surrounded by the food that sustains them.  

Changing the focus from food to items students find meaningful while sheltering in place, Clark presented a digital self-portrait project called “Quaranthings.”

Clark explained, “the basic idea is that students arrange items on the floor that have been important to them during quarantine and distance learning. Then they lie down or sit with those items and take a picture from above.” Though she originally designed the project for her middle schoolers, Clark opened it to elementary students and faculty as well. 

Grayson is in third grade and he thought carefully about the items he included in his photo. “It took at least 30 minutes to collect the objects I wanted to use. When I was arranging the objects, I wanted to make sure my bike stood out, so I put it in the center. My dog, Remee, photobombed my picture!” When reflecting on how social distancing has been for him, Grayson said it was difficult “because there is a lot going on in the world.  We have to make sure we are safe.”

While Clark encouraged participants to think about art elements like radial symmetry when composing their photo, her main motivation was to get them inspired to connect and share with each other.

“I hoped they would think about not just making an interesting picture but reflect on what they have been going through,” Clark said. “I hoped they would find some joy in sharing a little of their experience with their classmates and that doing this project helped them to feel connected in some way.”

After assembling the objects for this art project, fourth grader Lana realized that some of her values have shifted. She said, “some things became important that weren't important before.” She added, “I miss my friends and my teachers. I see them in [online] meetings, but it's not the same.” 

Lana has missed Clark so much that Lana and her grandmother taught Clark how to make a video call so they could catch up. Clark said, “Lana and a few others have contacted me almost every day, even just to say ‘hi.’  It is important for students to know that they inspire us, teach us, and bring us joy as much or more as we do for them. And we all miss them terribly.”

Read the rest of the story by visiting the Tallahassee Democrat

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