The main website for this week's blog will be Urban Sprawl and Its Impact on Farming: A Message in Embroidery by Lana Caywood, a recent graduate of TTU's Master's in Art Education program. The website you will visit contains all the material Lana presented at her Master's thesis defense (which she passed with flying colors). The Visual Studies faculty are very proud of her and the fine work she did as a student in our program. I hope you enjoy it too.
When you go to Lana's website, use the horizontal grey menu bar near the top of the screen to navigate to the different sections. First, read the Introduction. It is extremely important to read the Introduction to grasp the full significance of Lana's research.
In the Research section you will find a text of Lana's Master's thesis. You do not have to read this. Next, click on "Art Process" and read about Embroidery as an Art Form. Here is briefly discusses her reasons for choosing to work with specific materials such as feed sacks and red thread. None of these choices were random. They are deeply embedded in history and historic social movements such as Abolition.
In the "Embroidery Transfers" section, Caywood explains how the embroidery transfers she created for this project relate to contemporary issues of land conservation, farming and (sub)urban sprawl. She shows how her work relates back to the hot iron transfers made in earlier times.
Question/Activity #1
Select one of Lana's transfers and explain how the symbolism relates to land issues facing contemporary farmers in Wisconsin and throughout the country.
Question #2
Go to the "Embroidery Gallery" section of Lana's website and click on the images for a closer look. You will notice a quote that continues from towel to towel. Read the whole quote from beginning to end. What will be the last crop grown on America's farmland?
Question #3
Now go to the section, "Three Generations of Embroidery" and read about the embroidered tea towels in Lana's family. Notice the research she did on each set, including her own experience learning to embroidery as a young girl. At the end of the first paragraph on this page, Lana writes, "I didn't understand what the message, 'But I can cook,' implied." What did it imply?
Question #4
In the "Links" section, you will find a link to the American Farmland Trust organization. What is the mission of this organization? How many acres of fertile farmland is Texas losing to sub/urban sprawl each year?
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The next two websites for you to visit this week are to show you how embroidery can be done with children. The images from the classroom of Agulha Nao Pica show embroidery on paper by young children, while the page from Mary Corbet's Needle 'N' Thread website, "Children's Embroidery Project: Butterfly Towel," features work from children between the ages of 7-10. As you can see, there is quite a difference in skill level and development.
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Question #5
Finally, for this week I'd like you to read the Introduction, pp. 1-4, of Rethinking Our Classrooms: Teaching for Equity and Justice, Vol. 2. In these first pages, the editors (Bill Bigelow, Brenda Harvey, Stan Karp and Larry Miller) argue that to be truly successful, "school reform must be guided by democratic social goals and values that provide a deeper context for more traditional academic objectives" (p. 1). Using the elements of good classroom practice outlined in this introduction, explain how Lana Caywood's thesis project inspires critical thinking, social justice, experiential learning, etc.
Please consider how Lana's project could be adapted to the elementary school classroom!
1. I chose Image #5 which pictured a corn husk with houses coming out of the husk instead of corn. This symbolizes how urban sprawl has taken over the farming community. Commercial and residential buildings are beginning to take over the land all throughout the country and it is affecting the economy of these farmers. Even with urbanization, many families are still trying to stick with their farms and make their livelihood but development and big business is threatening this way of life.
ReplyDelete2. The last crop that will be grown on America’s farmland is houses.
3. The picture of the little girl on this embroidery shows a disheartened and downtrodden little girl. It seems as though the message, “But I can cook,” is what gives this little girl value. She seems to be pleading with whoever looks at the piece to see what her worth is. Sometimes it can be easy to focus on the flaws of people and their struggles, but it is more promising to look for their talents and strengths.
4. The organization, American Farmland Trust, is an organization that is trying to save farmland and promote its practice throughout the United States. They want to save the farmland from urbanization and development. The United States is losing more than an acre of farmland every minute. Over the course of five years, 4,080,300 acres of farmland was developed. Texas has lost 1.5 million acres of farmland, representing the biggest loss over a 25 year span.
5. Lana Caywood’s thesis project was first and foremost grounded in her own life and experience. This is what we must do with students. In order for students to relate to a project or topic, we will have to ensure they are interested or can relate somehow. Her project creates questions in the audience as they wonder about the meaning behind her pieces and critically think about the message she is trying to get across. Since she has meaning behind the project, it is easy to study her work and put some real thought into the issues our society is facing. She promotes social justice by including all of society through the act of urbanization that is affecting everyone in some way. It is the farmers in the urban sprawl situation that are facing injustice from big companies. They are losing their precious land every minute of the day. The project is indeed a visionary one that calls us to reflect on the issue and raises awareness to the concerns. The project was a hands-on experience to get her point across. She is invested and concerned with the urban sprawl and was able to turn it into an academic, meaningful project. It is these types of projects and experiences that can benefit children. We see that “through projects…students need to be mentally, and often physically, active” (Pg. 3).
In order to adapt this project to an elementary classroom, it could be simplified as the picture on Flickr showed. The class could discuss an issue that is concerning to them, or, following with the urban sprawl theme, they could discuss crops that are crucial to West Texas and do an embroidery project using those crops. Using cardboard or thick paper, a pattern could be traced. Holes could be punched along this pattern. Then, using yarn and a thick child appropriate needle, the children could lace and embroider the design. We know that “our classrooms also must provoke students to develop their democratic capacities: to question, to challenge, to make real decisions, to solve problems collectively” (Pg. 3).
1. The transfer I chose is the plant growing on a vine half open, but instead of you seeing the inside of the food, you see houses. I think it is a peapod, so instead of three little peas, there are three little houses. I interpret this to mean that struggling farms are having a hard time surviving when they would make more money if they were “growing houses” or selling their land for commercial use.
ReplyDelete2. The last crop grown on American farm land will be houses.
3. I think the “But I can cook” hotpot holder is the girl trying to prove what she is worth or can do, when women were expected to be more of the homemaker type of wife.
4. American Farmland trust is working to preserve the farmland across America. We are continuing to lose it the urbanization and commercialization. The US is losing an acre of land a minute, and Texas has lost 1.5 million acres of farmland. The organization is working to spread their mission across the country.
5. Lana Caywood’s thesis project is a really good example of how to implement learning into the classroom. One thing that is strong in her work is her passion. When we are passionate about things it shows. We need to instill that into our students. Help them find their inner passion for learning and creativity. Her project was culturally sensitive to what was happening around her. Teaching and learning is a constant thing and we have to be aware as teachers what is happening in the world and to include that in our teaching. “The curriculum should equip students to talk back to the world” (2) and her project is a perfect example of her talking back to the injustice these famers are facing. She is an activist like the book talks about. She has a cause and is using her teaching method to show and fight her cause.
a) I chose the last transfer because it is completely urbanized. All you see are houses, all looking the same in a ridge/row. This symbolizes the foreshadowing of what will happen if the urban areas keep taking over farmlands. There will be no more trees or farms, only buildings.
ReplyDeleteb)The last crop grown will be houses.
c)This picture implies the importance of traditional values. Such things as cooking for yourself, eating family dinners, and keeping farmlands available. This little girl just wants to help in the kitchen. It is hard to do now a days with premade foods and such.
d) Texas is losing 1.5 million acres of farmland. The mission of the organization is to help protect the environment and water supply, esp when dealing with farmlands & agriculture. They want to protect and conserve the farmlands & our natura resources.
e)Lana Caywood’s project outlines a good classroom practice because of the idea that students should learn by what they are interested in. Caywood obviously has a strong passion for farmland conservation so it is something that she focused on and wanted to learn more about. Students use their interest to learn the best and will retain the information better. Another reason why this shoes good classroom practice because it shows the importance of culture & being culturally aware of the farming lifestyle. It also incorrupt art and visual aid to enhance learning.
1.The embroidery transfer with the houses in pods shows that the urban sprawl is growing faster and multiplying how the farmers land should be doing, but instead the urban is taking over.
ReplyDelete2.Houses will be the last crop grown
3. The women saying "but I can cool" I believe symbolizes that women's purpose at this time was to be homemakers..when the city is growing and becoming more urbanized the woman are losing not only their land but their old fashion way of life.
4.1.5 acres of farmland is being lost. Their mission is working with the federal local and state leaders to create policies and programs to protect their land.
5. The project I believe is working on a way to update teachers ways of teaching. Over time technology and the way we see things in life is changing, while it is also due to our experiences outside of the classroom. Children's minds are constantly growing and they need to be exposed to the most up to date version of information and experiences so they can apply logical and useable situations to everyday life. Multicultural mixed lifestyles are normal and children need to be able to proudly express their differences with each other. It also is important to have the children do hands on work, skits, and performances. The children learn best if they are experiencing pretend situations first hand. I think the point is is for teachers need to apply curriculum in ways the students will enjoy and want to learn about or do something about if they do not like something, in the same way that she is doing something about the farmland.
1. I chose the first image on the left on the top row of the houses stacked ontop of eachother and a plant coming out of them. I interpret this to mean that houses are taking over our farms which essentially is causing our farms to suffer. Eventually there will be nothing but buildings and houses instead of farms and food.
ReplyDelete2. The quote says that the last crop grown on a farmland in America will be houses.
3. I believe this picture implies that we need to appreciate the traditional values that were established and being self sufficient such as being able to cook and clean for yourself. Without these skills, your life would honestly be a wreck.
4. It is an organization that is fighting to save the farmland from being taken and used as land to create buildings. It also helps to protect the water supply. Over a 25 year span, Texas has lost 1.5 million acres of land causing the biggest loss of land. The United states is also suffering. Over 5 years, the US has lost 4,080,300 acres.
5. Lana Caywood believes that a classroom that experiences great success is based on children that learn by what truly intrests them. It is evident that the farm life is and saving it is an important aspect to her and wants to always continue to learn about it. When someone has an intrest in something, they usually are able to retain the information a lot easier and be able to repeat it correctly.
1) For this question, I chose image number four which depicts many little houses coming off of a tree. This symbolizes the fact that urbanization has taken obviously taken over the importance of this Wisconsin community. This relates back to the main worry that the importance of needed more homes and businesses is threatening the small farming way of life for the families already residing in the area. This can also represent the fact that not only is this happening in this Wisconsin community, but it also brings awareness to the fact that this is happening all over the United States.
ReplyDelete2) Houses will be the last crop grown on Americas farmland
3) The message “but I can cook” relates to the fact that many women were not valued to be able to work or make a living. Their job was to stay home and cook, clean and take care of the children while the husband went out and supported the family. The message and face of the girl on the embroidery is trying to relay the message that she is worth more than just sitting at home cooking and cleaning. She wants everyone to know that she is just as capable of doing the things men can do. She wishes she had more rights as a woman.
4) The mission of American Farmland Trust organization is to make sure that the United States is preserving its farmland. They want to make sure that farmers have a future in keeping their farmland and making a living, instead of having their farmlands destroyed and taken over by urbanization. Texas has lost 1.5 million acres of farmland this past year.
1.I found the transfer with the plants and the houses that are revealed instead of inner food. The little houses look like peas in a pod. To me, this image represents “growing houses” with families starting off their lives, struggling to make it day to day.
ReplyDelete2. The last crop grown on an American farm will be houses.
3. The picture of “But I Can Cook,” shows an image of a sad girl who seems to be begging to know what her worth is with everyone who sees the image. The picture of the girl focuses on the imperfections and struggles of a person when instead the focus should be on the positive qualities and skills of a person.
4. The American Farmland trust is working hard to keep farmland across America. As Americans we are all loosing land to growth in cities and industrialism. The US is currently loosing 1 acre of land per minute, and the state of Texas is losing 1.5 million acres of farmland. The American Farmland trust is spreading their mission around the country and hopefully impacting many.
5. Lana Caywood’s thesis project is a wonderful example of how should be in the classroom. You can tell that Lana is passionate about the work she does and this is something that immediately stuck out to me. Every classroom around need to be ran by a teacher who is passionate and genuinely loves to teach. The classroom should not be filled with teachers who go through the motions and do not challenge their students. Her project was culturally sensitive to what was happening around her. Teaching and learning is a constant in our lives and we have to be aware as teachers what is happening in the world and implement real would events into the classroom. Lana is an activist just like the book describes and she uses her cause and teaching methods to help her with what she is passionate about... The classroom!
1. I chose the Housing Cluster transfer because it combines the idea of agriculture and growing communities. In today’s time, more and more people are moving to rural areas for more space, thus agriculture is suffering. Ironically though, more people require more food.
ReplyDelete2. Houses
3. The girl on the pot holder looks stressed and unorganized, but she tries to show that she can at least do one thing right.
4. The purpose of the American Farmland Trust is to raise awareness about disappearing farmland and to raise money to maintain that farmland and to prevent it from being taken over. 1 million to less than 2.9 million
5. Lana’s thesis inspires critical thinking because she incorporates agriculture and farm life into art through embroidery. She also promotes the lifestyle of farming and agriculture through her art and passion about preserving that particular way of life.
1.I chose the transfer with all the outlines of the houses lined up in rows to look at. Like she mentioned in her introduction, the farmers right now are being courageous by choosing to keep their livelihood rather than selling it for developments. I think that the transfer symbolizes just that, the farmer’s dedication to their trade. I like thinking of someone standing up for the simplicities in life. I think that so many of us are too caught up in the next big thing and forget that the best things in life are simple. For me they are more heartfelt and meaningful, so again I like what the farmers are representing in that aspect and I like that this particular transfer is expressing their boldness to stand firm.
ReplyDelete2.Houses are the last crop to be grown in America. I couldn’t agree more, like I said before America is sometimes too concerned with the next great thing that people are starting to forget to enjoy the present.
3.Well the girl on the pot holder looks tired and worn out. She looks defeated by something. Which makes me think that she is just trying to do something right, find some value in something. So she turns to her ability to cook as something to hold on to in a time of desperation. It is kind of sad.
4.This organization is working to protect America’s farming and ranching lands. They want to preserve the increasingly smaller amount of land used for farming from development. Currently, Texas has lost 1.5 million acres of farmland.
5.Lana’s thesis inspires critical thinking because she is using her thesis to think critically herself. She is using her own work as a jumping off point for others to follow and make thoughts of their own. People can be impacted by her words and her art and be influenced to make their own to change the world for this cause or any other they feel passionately about. Lana’s work could be used as a guide for their own endeavors. Also though, through her artwork people have to think about the meaning being portrayed. It is not always obvious so people might interpret it in different ways, which causes people to think critically and allows for new ideas (even ones Lana did not think of herself possibly) to be created. Her work provides itself nicely for others to use experimental learning. They are encouraged to express themselves freely in the safe environment. They can go out on a limb and try something completely new and difficult. They have free range to explore and create. Lastly social justice. Her work is dedicated to the men and women who work hard on farms. She points out the problem of developments overtaking farm land and highlights groups who are fighting to protect these lands. Her entire thesis is in support of a cause that is close to her heart because she lived there and felt the impact it had on her community. This work again is a jumping off point for many others to follow and branch off and create to defend their own causes.
1. I chose the embroidery transfer with one house on top of another. I think this symbolizes that the farm lands are turning into neighborhoods and that there is simply not enough room for everything. It seems as thought everything is becoming crowded and industrialized.
ReplyDelete2. The quote says that the last crop that will be grown is houses.
3. I think the little girl represents someone in this time period who did not want to live the traditional “wife” roles. She didn’t want to be stuck in a kitchen her whole life like most women were. She wanted to be able to do more with her life, it wasn’t just that she couldn’t cook, but that she didn’t want too.
4.The United States is losing an acre of land a minute, Texas alone has lost 1.5 million acres of farmland. The organizations mission is to protect farm land in the United States and to prevent the country from loosing even more.
1. I chose the embroidery transfer with the houses as a vine of grapes. No longer are houses by themselves a lot. As in a neighborhood it takes many houses to make one; just like the vine of grapes. It takes many to complete one.
ReplyDelete2. Houses will be the last crop grown.
3. I think "But I can cook" implied that she may be tired, worn out, and maybe made a mess all over kitchen; but the food is good!
4. The organization's mission is to protect American's farm land! Texas alone has already lost 1.5 million acres of farm land; and we are loosing more and more with each passing second. The organization is trying to spread awareness to stop the loss and let our farm lands grow and thrive oncw again.
1.I chose the image number four; it shows houses coming off of a tree. I believe that this symbolizes the urbanization taking over the Wisconsin community. It shows how farming life is being pushed aside for urbanization. This image depicts how houses and business are replacing small farms.
ReplyDelete2.The quote says that the last crop that will be grown is houses.
3.I believe that the message “but I can cook” shows the thought that a woman’s place is at the home cooking. Their job is to stay home with the children and cook. The message of this is to show that women can do more than just stay home and cook. Women can do the same thing as men and in most cases women can do better!
4.The mission of the American Farmland Trust Organization is to ensure that United States is preserving the farm land. The reason for ensure farmland is to make sure that the farmers have a future in the long-term. If organizations like American Farmland Trust Organization did not exist farmland could be forever lost.
5.Lana Caywood thesis project is a great example of taking person experiences and implementing these experiences into the classroom. From what I gathered Lana seems to be extremely passionate about what she does and it comes through in her work. I think it is very important to apply real things that are happening into the classroom. Her work brings out critical thinking because you have to apply them to what is going on in real life which I believe is one of the most import tools in teahing.
1. I chose image 3, the one where the houses are in the shape of a bundle of grapes, for many reasons. Grapes are a basic household possession, and you see them on many kitchen tables, whether they are real, ready to be eaten, or fake, being used as decorative pieces. These grapes have to come from somewhere, and they must be grown on a farm. Farming is an important part of many communities. It is near and dear to my heart because, not only is farming a big part of the Lubbock community, but also a big part of my family. My grandpa was a proud farmer well into his 80s, until he could not work anymore. He was proud of his work, even when it wasn't as important to others in this century than it was when he was a young man. Back when farming was an everyday event for nearly every family in a small community, instead of using money, many of the farming families would trade their goods for other goods that their neighbors had. It worked to the advantage of both families. The bundle of grapes in this pieces represents the households depending on each other, just like they did when farming was a prominent part of everyday life for everybody.
ReplyDelete2. The last crop in America that will be grown will be houses.
3. I think the phrase "but I can cook" implies that the little girl on the image was disappointed that maybe she couldn't help out in the kitchen because she was so young.
4. America is losing 1.2 million acres of farmland annually. This organization's main goal is to keep the farmland healthy and able to be worked, therefore protecting not only the land but also the families that depend on it.
5.Lana Caywood's thesis project is very in depth and detailed because it comes from a special place in her heart. She collected thoughts and memories from her personal experience to come up with ways to change our future by changing our present habits.
1.) I chose one of her transfers that looked like what seemed to be a plant growing houses from the leaves. And one of these plants is shown to be breaking apart from the houses. This symbolism relates to the land issues facing contemporary farmers because it is showing how the times have changes and now instead if using land to make money by farming people would benefit more from housing developments. Land is worth much more than one would make actually farming the land and that is why there is a crisis going on.
ReplyDelete2.) The last crop to be grown on American farmland is houses.
3.) I think the “but I can cook” is a girl trying to show her worth or find it. It is reitierating the traditional values of a women (being able to cook and clean) and in doing so shows us that we should focus on the positives rather than the negatives.
4.) The mission of the organization is to save the land that sustains us by protecting America's farm and ranch land, promoting environmentally sound farming practices and ensuring an economically sustainable future for farmers and ranchers. Texas has lost 1.5 million acres of farm land.
5.) Lana Caywood showed good classroom practice because of the way she believed that children should learn easier about things that they are really interested. She also showed an immense passion for her work which is anotherplus that you can tell benefits everyone who sees it. Anyone who does something with a certain amount of passion can be successful in it. Also she made people aware of what was going on around them in the environment while teaching them about social injustice and other things.