American LOVE Project_026
Item
- Title
- American LOVE Project_026
- Alternative Title
- American LOVE Project
- Creator
- Karen Blessen
- Date
- 2021-2022
- Description
-
The image shows an open journal with various contents attached to its pages. On the left, there is an image of a person standing in front of an ornately decorated doorway. The person is dressed in traditional attire and is holding an intricately designed cross and a book. The doorway features vibrant patterns and symbols.
On the right side, there is a letter, printed and pasted into the journal, addressed to "Karen" from "Randy Twaddle". The letter discusses the concept of teacher's doorways in educational settings, mentioning ideas related to visual and aural components and transformative visitor experiences. There are blue ink annotations encircling some parts of the text.
In the background of the journal, there is handwritten text, including the words "TEACHER'S DOORWAYS" in capital letters, with additional notes and rough sketches partially visible. - Identifier
- 2021_010621 to 2022 060222_The American LOVE Project Journal
- Dates Completed
- January 6, 2021 - June 2, 2022
- Keywords
- Insurrection; January 6; US Capitol; Texas freeze; Infrastructure fragility; Political instability; Power outage; Water disruption; Internet loss; Medical services disruption; Mail delay; Dallas weather; Lorraine Lienemann; Cancer; Grief; P. Nut; Sparky; Cat loss; 22-year-old cats; American LOVE Project; 29 Pieces; Violence response; National project; Art installation; Washington DC; Covid resurgence; Online gallery; Student art; Educator art; 24 states; Team collaboration; Project outcome; theamericanloveproject.org; Anne Frank; Diary takeaways; Lessons learned; Studio visit; Darryl Ratcliff; Journal viewing; Strategic shift
- Transcription
-
From Randy Twaddle
Hi Karen,
After further looking and consideration, I feel like the teacher's doorways idea is the strongest, having the most potential for reference and the experience of it. You really sparked my interest in it when you told me that in your experience the teacher's who were most impactful had decorated the doors to their classrooms. I suspect because it set up an expectation for the students that they were entering into a distinctive space, where expectations and activities in that space were different than the space from which they came. They formalized that transition, and I think that's one of the things you want to accomplish with this. I also think that the structure allows for adornment in a way that could be visually arresting and take advantage of other senses. I love the idea of streamers being animated by a breeze, and as I said on the zoom, I think they would be a distinct feature in the midst of all that stone.
What I'd like to see out of this but have no ideas about how to accomplish it, is a way for the visitor to feel that transformation, particularly if it brought a sense of absolution or new life or new perspective. Something to acknowledge ther shedding of whatever armor they might have been wearing before they walked through all those portals of love. I think it's possible the experience itself might have that effect, I just think if there was a way to formalize it, in a (secular) liturgical sense, it could really have an impact.
As for the aural component, it would be nice to have a mix of voices, music, recitations from our founding documents that hightlight the promise vs. the reality.
That's all I gots this morning. I'll keep thinking and in the unlikely event anything worthwhile comes to mind, I'll share it with you before noon tomorrow.
Good Luck with it all. Please keep me in the loop as you go forward.
I've attached pics of the boy as requested - this xmas with me and Rebekah, and his MCC baseball pic. - Rights
- To inquire about usage, please contact Archives and Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries.
- Is Part Of
- American Love Project
- Relation
- Image Gallery