Created by Washington High School, Charles Town, WV
Artist: Kassidy
Title: Struggle Still Life
Teacher: Mrs. Borkholder
Theme: Freedom
Materials and techniques: Acrylic paint.
Did you enjoy this project? Yes.
About: This artwork is a still life that I built contained cotton, a skull, chains and antique cookware to represent the struggle of slavery in the United States.
Created by Washington High School, Charles Town, WV
Artist: Montana
Title: Freedom Soldier
Teacher: Mrs. Borkholder
Theme: Freedom
Materials and techniques: Acrylic paint and ink.
Did you enjoy this project? Loved it.
About: When soldiers were fighting in the World War, blacks and whites fought shoulder to shoulder.
Created by Washington High School, Charles Town, WV
Artist: Jordan
Title: Scholar
Teacher: Mrs. Borkholder
Theme: Equality
Materials and techniques: Acrylic paint.
Did you enjoy this project? Yes.
About: This girl has taken the strides necessary to make it in a modern world full of strife.
Created by Julius West Middle School, Rockville, MD
Artist: Isari
Title: Untitled
Teacher: Ms. Dwyer
Theme: Freedom
Created by Carroll Creek Montessori Public Charter School, Frederick, MD
Artists: Carroll Creek Upper Elementary
Title: Cornerstone II, Log Cabin
Teacher: Mrs. Reed
Theme: Freedom and Education
Materials and techniques: Acrylic paint, paper, papier Mache collaged on canvas.
Did you enjoy this project? Yes, the collaborative aspect was engaging and learning about the history of Harper’s Ferry and the quilt codes was inspiring.
About: Inspired by the Shackles to Scholars theme and the rich history of Harper’s Ferry, students symbolized the move from slavery to education in their artwork. The Underground Railroad provided the slaves with an avenue towards freedom and is symbolized in the student work using the quilt codes that passengers and conductors used to communicate secretly with one another. Later, as slaves made their way to freedom and education, African Americans found that emancipation was not enough. There was still much work to be done in the fight for equality. These visionaries became the members of the Niagara Movement who’s first meeting in the United States was held in Harper’s Ferry. Their names are written in the corner of each “quilt” as they are the cornerstone of the civil rights movement and the beginning of the NAACP.