Rockefeller Fellow Project
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"As my ancestors planted for me before I was born, so do I plant for those who will come after me." --Ancient Hebrew Scripture Planting Anew: Collaborative Visions /Collaborative Answers is a new project by Todd Drake that is made possible by a Rockefeller Fellowship from the University Center for International Studies at UNC-CH. Planting Anew is a project to bring together a cross-section of diverse people from the transnational American South to create new images in cooperation with one another. The collaborative nature of this project makes real questions of cooperation and choice that must accompany not only the creation of art but the re-creation of society. Those questions include: what do we choose to keep and what do we choose to release to change by others; what do we retain as essential from our past and what is released to become renewed? This project has three elements: 1. Creation of 12 triptychs made by 24 participants. Each participant will be from a unique cultural background and will create one panel that reflects their story and cultural values. They will then be paired with someone from another background to create a central panel that explores the fusion of personal values and culture. Currently, a multicultural art class is being offered by Todd at Guilford College on Thursdays from 6:30 PM until 8:30 PM in the Hege-Cox Building. Classes are free but space in limited. Interested persons should contact Todd Drake at 336-253-2328. Another multicultural workshop is planned for Biscoe, North Carolina beginning October 14th, 2004. Classes will be held in the Art Room at Biscoe Middle School. Child care is provided by the Montgomery County School Systems CLASS program. 2.Completion of Drake's et al series of paintings. This series of paintings will incorporate doodles donated by groups of people that represent the variety of communities and cultures in the American South. Currently Drake is working on a painting inspired by long distance truck drivers. His next painting will incorporate donated drawings from the house keeping staff at UNC. 3. Documentation of both projects. Drake will create a digital documentation of both his work and those created by others in the project. This documentary, along with the finished works will serve as discussion prompts for future exhibitions, workshops, and lectures. Drake is currently considering requests for these. He can be contacted at 336-253-2328 or by email at todd@tdrake.com. |