The South is an incredibly nuanced place but our understanding of it is rarely so. Because of this, I have decided to run a program where adolescents can explore how art in the South has changed. I am hoping that these kids can gain some more understanding of the scope of such change, in an engaging, child-friendly way.
The program will begin with the local libraries including, the Perry Library, the Slover Library, and the other Norfolk public libraries displaying artwork and other primary sources in the Barry Art Museum. The texts that I have chosen are Faulkner’s Ghosts of Roan Oak and Room Swept Home by Remica Bingham-Risher, (I would like her to) demonstrate the similarities and differences between the two as a reflection of the changing landscape of the American South. The conversation will be centered around Remica Bingham-Risher’s own experiences and writings, after which participants will be able to do a brief Q&A session.
My goals with this program are twofold:
1. Open children’s eyes to the information in, and accessibility of their local libraries.
2. Give these kids (as well as the parents and guardians accompanying them) a chance to gain some perspective of the American south and those that came before them.
My reasoning for arranging the project in this manner is this: I think it is absolutely vital to help children (who have inherently limited worldviews due to being alive for only a short while) engage with historical pieces and thus develop a more nuanced understanding of the world in which they are living. I think this will bolster both the children’s confidence in what they do know, and an openness to what they do not. The combination of images, and speaking in this program will maintain the kids’ interest, while helping them to learn.