‘belongings & belonging’ cr eati n g c o m m u n it y -
2 0 1 5 /2 0 1 6
creating community ‘B elo n g in g s & Be l o n g in g ’
A joint educational project created by
Salem Academy Charter School & Cohen Hillel Academy in collaboration with
the Peabody Essex Museum photography & book design by pamela joye
B elo n g in g s & B e l on g in g Belonging and Belongings is the outcome of the fifth year of collaboration between Salem Academy Charter School and Cohen Hillel Academy. As in the past, we were fortunate to have had the opportunity to partner with Peabody Essex Museum, which afforded us access to their knowledge, guidance and myriad of resources. This past school year, our middle school students met together to consider how our belongings connect to our identities, our cultures, and our values. What do our belongings reveal about who we are, what we do, and what we value? How are our belongings similar to those of others? How do our belongings differ than the ones owned by young people across town or a century ago? Guided by these questions and PEM’s Connecting Community philosophy to “present and interpret works of art and culture in ways that connect art to the world,” this project linked two communities of learners who would not otherwise have a way to meet one another and get to know each other’s stories. Through the use of museum exhibits, film, poetry, guided activities, presentations and discussions, students reflected on the historical, cultural, and personal significance of various belongings. Finally, students selected belongings that represented or connected to their identities, cultures, and values. This partnership between Salem Academy Charter School and Cohen Hillel Academy, schools with very different demographics, also allowed the students to understand one another through the personal relationships that developed over the course of the project. Students worked together to think about how their belongings related to aspects of their lives such as family, friends, and faith. Collaborating with Salem Academy Charter Academy teachers Matt Chuchul and Rebecca Bruno; Cohen Hillel Academy teachers, Terence Macken, Tali Marotz, and Karen Madorsky; and Peabody Essex Museum’s Emily Scheinberg, Martine Malengret-Bardosh, Ellen Soares and PEM Guide Alice Madio, the students acquired a more nuanced understanding of themselves, people, and their world.
INTRODUCTION
Our first session began with an opportunity for students to learn more about each other. At first shy, students opened up as they selected adjectives and movements to describe their personalities. After we engaged in various hands-on activities, we reflected with the group how different objects hold meanings. Then we explored Theo Jansen’s Strandbeest: The Dream Machines of Theo Jansen, a temporary exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum. This exhibit fascinated students as Jansen uses plastic yellow tubes to create “living fossils.” He transforms simple objects into complex structures that move and make sound. Here was an excellent example of an artist connected deeply to his objects.
W H AT I S T H E M E A N I N G O F A B E L O N G I N G ?
What does a trophy with an eagle tell us about its owner? How does a mask reveal a culture’s values? Why do people keep various belongings in their homes or in their communities? Our session together featured an examination of various belongings from a variety of times, places, and cultures. Students considered how an object might have been used and who might have owned an object. This session allowed students to see remarkable objects in the Peabody Essex Museum. The diversity of the museum’s collections prompted students to draw connections among different objects and to celebrate unique belongings of a specific person or culture.
A DISCUSSION OF BELONGINGS & IDENTITY
After having studied the belongings of individuals from the past, our group shifted the focus to our belongings and their significance to us. Each student brought in a picture of five to eight meaningful objects. These belongings ranged from family photographs to flags, from jewelry to “just something fun.� Instead of having students present their objects, we created a game in which a group of four students had to guess to whom the objects belonged. To help students, especially those from different schools, we played a game of Bingo, but instead of checking off numbers, students wrote the names of others who had a particular interest or skill. With this knowledge, each small group was able to correctly guess to whom the objects belonged. This activity led us to a discussion of how our objects connect to our interests, our identity, and our community while also remembering that every person had a belonging or two that surprised his or her closest friends.
W H AT I S Y O U R B E L O N G I N G ? Student’s were asked to consider why they value particular objects in their environment with the following inquiries. What changes an ordinary object into a meaningful and valued belonging? Why do some belongings evoke special emotions? Why do we treasure and save some belongings and discard others? Within this reflection, students were then asked to select their individual significant belongings that revealed their identify.
Yu s u f What can someone’s belongings show about that person? Someone’s belongings could show their interests and/or hobbies they have. For example, listening to music is my hobby, so I used headphones as one of my belongings. They could also symbolize things that are important to them. For example, basketball symbolizes my love to play basketball.
D ia n a Consider one of your belongings. What is this object? Why is this object significant or meaningful to you? One of my belongings was a running sneaker (which I'm wearing). This shows my love for the sport. It shows that I enjoy freedom and being a carefree soul. Also, how I have limitations.
K o ly a What is one thing that you have learned about how your belongings reveal who you are? I have learned that when you have something that is really important to you, it affects your daily life. Your actions can be based on your belongings, and your belongings can be based on your actions.
Ben What can someone’s belongings show about that person? Someone’s belongings can show their culture, country, identity, and what they enjoy. They can also show when they lived and what their life was like.
Is a b e lla Consider one of your belongings. What is this object? Why is this object significant or meaningful to you? My soccer cleat is meaningful to me because I’ve been playing soccer for as long as I can remember. It has always been a sport that I love and will continue to be.
K a tie What is one thing that you have learned about how your belongings reveal who you are? Through this project I learned that photographs can also be a special belonging because they capture people we love and memorable moments in time.
Ma e R o s e Why might someone be surprised about your belongings? Someone might be surprised about my belongings because I don’t talk about their meaning that much. For example, I don’t really talk about adoption, being Guatemalan, or my birth family. While most people don’t even know I’m adopted until they meet my mom, my Guatemalan bag is a clue to my identity.
M a r is s a Consider one of your belongings. How does this object show a connection to your identity or your culture? Books are part of my identity because I can be involved in the perspectives of the characters and can feel like I’m a part of their world.
Sh ir a What can someone’s belongings show about that person? People’s belongings can show who they are, what they are like, and things about their personality. For example, the photographs and ballet slippers point to my love of family and dance.
Su m m e r Consider one of your belongings. What is this object? Why is this object significant or meaningful to you? One of my objects is a book. Books help me cope with stress and boredom. Sometimes, when I’m bored, I can pick up a book and be engaged with something that’s interesting.
A b ig a il Consider one of your belongings. How does this object show a connection to your identity or your culture? My pen shows a part of my identity. As a writer, it shows how I represent myself and interact with people around the world.
J a y la Consider one of your belongings. What is this object? Why is this object significant or meaningful to you? My certificate from an art museum is one of my favorite belongings because it reminds me of the pride I felt when my art was displayed at the museum.
Er ic a What can someone’s belongings show about that person? Someone’s belongings can show what that person is interested in and what that person likes to do. Someone’s belongings can show who they are as a person.
R o n a ld Why did you select your belongings to photograph? I selected my belongings because I thought these objects are unique and they show my love of sports, cars and computers.
Mir a n d a What is one thing that you have learned about how your belongings reveal who you are? Someone’s belongings show what a person enjoys, where they’re from, where they want to go, what they’ve been through, who their family and their friends are. Someone’s belongings show who they are.
Rachel What is one thing that you have learned about how your belongings reveal who you are? Even people you may know forever may have some secret interests. Their belongings show who they are , or who they wish to be. For example, my interest of gymnastics, reading and Star of David shows what is important to me.
Logan What can someone’s belongings show about that person? Someone’s belongings can show what they like to do. They can also show what they hide on their inside and their identity and personality. My personal interests are represented by my belongings.
Mik h a e la Consider your belongings. How does this object show a connection to your identity or your culture? The picture of my sister and me relates to both my identity and my culture. My sister has greatly influenced who I am and she gives me advice on how to be a better person. She relates to my culture because she brings out my inner Dominican.
L o u r D r ic k Consider your belongings. How does this object show a connection to your identity or your culture? My Filipino flag directly relates to my culture because I’m Filipino. It also relates well to my identity because a big part of what I do and what I am revolves around my being Filipino.
N a ta lia What is one thing that you have learned about how your belongings reveal who you are? My family's influence on me in terms of morals, life lessons, and traditions is translated into the belongings I value.
J u lia n Question What can someone’s belongings show about that person? A person’s belongings can show many things. They can indicate what they are like, what they do, and who they are. My belongings show what I do in my free time.
HOW SHOULD WE EXHIBIT OUR BELONGINGS?
In one of our final sessions together, the group came together to discuss how to present our final exhibit. The teachers felt that students should have as much ownership as possible over how their work was displayed. Groups of students brainstormed the different elements of a successful exhibit and presentation. They used the exhibits of prior years as a guide, but they were ambitious and creative in developing new ideas for this year. Eventually, the small groups presented their ideas to their peers and their teachers. As patterns and similarities emerged, the various elements of the final exhibit came into focus.
Abigail Clark, Salem Academy; Ronald Rodriguez, Cohen Hillel; Lour Drick Valsote, Salem Academy Miranda Abreu, Salem Academy; Ben Altfeld, Cohen Hillel; Rachel Mulsman, Cohen Hillel;
Erica Taylor, Salem Academy; Julian Stux, Cohen Hillel; Logan Titus, Cohen Hillel; Mae Rose Cheresnowsky, Salem Academy; Diana Alushaj, Salem Academy; Kolya Gerasev, Cohen Hillel;
Yusuf Sarhan, Salem Academy; Jayla Odorczuk, Cohen Hillel; Shira Zimmerman, Cohen Hillel; Katie Tassinari, Cohen Hillel; Marissa Eisen, Cohen Hillel; Isabella Malionek Salem Academy;
Mikhaela Abreu, Salem Academy; Natalia Goldwasser, Cohen Hillel; Summer Prentiss, Salem Academy
thank you! We want to thank everyone who participated in making this year’s program a successful experience: the teachers and students, the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem Academy Charter School and Cohen Hillel Academy. We are also grateful for the participation and support of the greater communities - parents, family and friends. Your encouragement created a new community of learners, partners and friends.
project partners This program would not exist without the support, guidance, flexibility and commitment of the project partners. We are equally thankful for the financial underwriting of this year’s program from both participating schools.
Cohen Hillel Academy is a K-8 independent day school that nurtures independent thinking in our students through an academically challenging program grounded in Judaism. CHA offers a unique, engaging educational experience that provides students with a lifelong foundation for learning, leadership, responsibility and respect for self and others. www.cohenhillel.org
Salem Academy Charter School is a small, public charter school serving the diverse student population of Salem and the surrounding communities with 372 students in grades six through twelve. Through a unique integration of rigorous college preparatory classes with service to the community, the school graduates informed, articulate and proactive individuals of strong character. www.salemacademycs.org/
The Peabody Essex Museum celebrates outstanding artistic and cultural creativity through engaging individuals of all ages. The museum offers a wide range of educational programming, including interactive tours for students, professional development for teachers, family festivals, studio workshops and community partnerships. PEM strives to engage the mind, enrich the spirit and stimulate the senses through its collection, exhibitions and programs that emphasize cross-cultural connections and the vital importance of creative expression www.pem.org
Pamela is a fine art documentary & portrait photographer who creates images that tell a story and express a feeling. With roots in family photojournalism and street photography her photographs tell a story of life with humor, emotion and honesty. With a philosophy of creating art with clients, her commissioned photographs have a fine art gallery quality and are often accepted into juried exhibitions. www.pamelajoye.com
closing thoughts Many powerful emotions are lurking amid stuff we keep. Whether it’s piles of unread newspapers, clothes that don’t fit, outdated electronics, even empty margarine tubs, the things we accumulate reflect some of our deepest thoughts and feelings.
belongings & belonging . belongings & belonging . belongings & belonging . belongings & belonging . belongings & belonging .
People’s belongings can show who they are, what they are like, and things about their personality. Someone’s belongings can show their culture, country, identity, and what they enjoy. They can also show when they lived and what their life was like.
Your actions can be based on your belongings, and your belongings can be based on your actions.
A person’s belongings can show many things. They can indicate what they are like, what they do, and who they are.
I have learned that when you have something that is really important to you, it affects your daily life. Your actions can be based on your belongings, and your belongings can be based on your actions. “Someone’s belongings can show what that person is interested in and what that person likes to do. ”
Even people you may know forever may have some secret interests. Their belongings show who they are, or who they wish to be.
My families influence on me in terms of morals, life lessons, and traditions is translated into the belongings I value.
www.pamelajoye.com
belongings & belonging . belongings & belonging . belongings & belonging . belongings & belonging . belongings & belonging .
belongings & belonging . belongings & belonging . belongings & belonging .