Intermediate Printmaking

In Pippa Biddle’s article, she discusses the issues that arise when white people travel to developing countries to volunteer. While it is helpful to dedicate time and effort for causes, but as she states towards the end, it is better to provide resources and skilled people for these types of tasks. Another positive would be having skilled people from that country be a leader in the eyes of the younger generation.

An earlier point she made that I keep thinking back on is her acknowledging that some non-profits and service programs highlighting her past positions. I feel that, while it may be a way to encourage the volunteers, it can cement the white savior complex. It could also attract the wrong crowd who would do the volunteer work and remain unaffected.

The article by Pippa Biddle is very inspiring because she really went out of her way to help other people from Tanzania and the Dominican Republic. She said that when she went to the Dominican Republic she struggled to communicate with the staff and children because she barely spoke Spanish. But even though she struggled in communicating with people, the language was not a hindrance for her to pursue her dreams of helping people. The most interesting thing she said was that she did not want the children to thank her for everything she had done but to think of the leaders, mothers, or teachers in the children’s community. Clearly, she wants the children to think about the people in their own community who are there always to serve them. She wants the children to be proud of their culture rather than other people who come from outside their community. But I think the children should recognize the role she plays by volunteering in their community.

I found this article to be incredibly eye opening in how it pointed out a totally new perspective on volunteering that I never would have thought of previously. The part that I found to be most thought provoking was the idea of the “white savior complex”. We are taught from a young age, as in my own instance of going to a Catholic school my whole life and having them preaching it to us, that going on mission trips is something that basically sets you on a higher pedestal than everyone else (not saying that service trips are an awful thing, just as pointed out in Pippa’s article, they are a bit glorified). There is one line in the article that I feel really encapsulated this idea; “I have stopped attending having finally accepting that my presence is not the godsend I was coached by non-profits, documentaries, and service programs to believe it would be”. There is this idea being taught that people in developing countries need our rescue, so to hear it put this way explaining that other ways of offering help, such as donating or hiring people that are actually trained to do the work, is a refreshing change. Service is a beautiful thing that if done correctly, can make a big difference, but I agree with Pippa that we need to know our place in that service and act accordingly.

Just like Pippa Biddle, I have been on a few different service trips abroad. Biddle stated that her being there was almost the same as her not. I agree that if you show up unprepared and unskilled in what you are there to accomplish, it is better to send over the funds instead. If someone is truly looking to make a difference, they should look for an opportunity that they are trained in and fully prepare themselves before arriving. The service group that I work with has the goal of bringing hope to small villages around the world through reading. The purpose of each trip is to not only build a library, but instill a reading culture in the community. Biddle mentioned that during her trip she did the hard labor of building a library, but the locals would go and fix it afterwards. What my service group actually does is send over the funding to have the village build the library prior to their arrival. This gives the village a sense of involvement and ownership over the library. Once the group arrives, they put together the inside of the library while also focusing attention on creating a reading culture. They do this by holding classes and visiting homes within the community. After the week is over, the group continues to monitor the library’s book usage through a computer system. Service can be both hindering and beneficial to the communities involved and Biddle’s points got me thinking how I can continue to serve in ways that I know will be beneficial.

OBJECTIVE

 

For this piece I set out hoping to create a piece that I felt resonated with what Freedom House is trying to accomplish. Freedom House is a homeless shelter in Brown County Wisconsin that offers homeless families living quarters and provides resources to to equip families with the resources necessary to become and remain self-sufficient.

While working with Freedom House I learned that they welcome families with open arms as they offer them a new beginning. Through their programs and alongside the aid of religion, Freedom House promotes self-worth, hope, and skills that will launch families into a brighter future. During my  time at Freedom House, their organization has shown me how much art and design can affect the atmosphere of an environment which can directly affect the attitude of an individual. It was important to me to step outside of my comfort zone and create and uplifting and quality image for Freedom House. One that the recipient will be proud of, and will enjoy in their new living space.  

I created an image of a person holding a white daffodil surrounded by a gold background. The daffodil was chosen due in part because it represents new beginnings. It is a white daffodil because white is the color of purity and hope. Gold is often associated with wealth. This color was chosen for the background as a means to promote self-worth.

Going into this project, I had a difficult time trying to come up with a visually uplifting image that creates an emotional response. In the past, most of my work has consisted of dark imagery, as my goal was to create work that causes people to become aware of the hardships that people go through. Being stuck in Wisconsin in the middle of winter, where everything is frozen, and seemingly dead, was not helping me come up with a visually uplifting image either. I took a trip back home to my native state, Oregon, where spring was occurring and life was blossoming. This environment and the daffodils blooming where what inspired my piece.

Upon this projects completion and my experiences in life, it has more meaning than what I originally planned for. The gold promotes self worth and the idea that each individual is worth more than any amount of money could ever offer. The flower gives the impression that each person is as intricate and beautiful as the daffodil, and not one person or flower is the same. The circle shows me the endless possibilities that we have in our life. Blue, the true blue friendships that we make along the way are ones that will last a lifetime. The hands, someone that will always be there to help us and bring us up as we traverse the plane of life.

 

FINAL FORMAT

 

Multi-layered Colored Screen Print

Image size: 10.5”x10.5”

Paper size: 12″x12″

One image framed

Edition size: 10-15

 

EVALUATION

 

Completion of image and work

Quality registration

Image framed

 

SCHEDULE

 

Work day 4/10

Complete image 4/12

Coat screens

Burn layers

Finish printing by 4/30