Chicago Moms Art
The Second Day: Sharing
The next week was supposed to be a continuation of the project when students would begin creating the final artwork on their immigration. However, I caught a severe cold with a cough and it was necessary to cancel the class. I asked all the students to please work on the project on their own so the work could be shared with the class the week after. When I returned to the class on November 30, 2022, only five students out of eight finished the project. The other three students did not have interest in the project. The five participants finished their artwork in various forms and styles and took turns talking about their work in front of the class. The first artwork was shared by Jo who came to the US 14 years ago. Her artwork represented herself taking up the challenge of a new life full of questions and uncertainties. She is holding on to papers and entering a door that has a pattern of the American flag. Jo said the papers are her children. According to her, the amount of documentation and required paperwork for the government, schools, and beyond is overwhelming. She only remembers her now grown children as paperwork.
Final Artwork of Jo
The first artwork was shared by Jo who came to the US 14 years ago. Her artwork represented herself taking up the challenge of a new life full of questions and uncertainties. She is holding on to papers and entering a door that has a pattern of the American flag. Jo said the papers are her children. According to her, the amount of documentation and required paperwork for the government, schools and beyond is overwhelming. She only remembers her now-grown children as paperwork.
Final Artwork of Hwang
Another participant, Hwang, visualized her emotional state on her new beginning in the US. She recalled being hopeful to imagine a new life thriving in the American dream but her fantasies were shattered the moment her flight landed here. The reality was so dark and Hwang felt as if she was trapped in a cave full of different cultures and languages. Hwang described her time as being hauled up in the cave until her daughter was born. Because of her daughter, Hwang was able to navigate the direction of her life in order to provide care and education for the girl. Hwang said her daughter is her savior; without her, Hwang believes she would still wander in the cave not knowing what to do with her life.
Final Artwork of Han
Han created a watercolor painting representing many different characters of various languages. She brought her two sons in 2008 to help them study abroad to learn sufficient English skills and was planning to go back to Korea. Han never imagined that she would be living this way separated from her husband who is supporting the family by running a business in Korea. The initial struggle and the major conflict she faced in American life was the language. She said there are so many different languages from all around the world and living through it feels chaotic. She wanted to express her contortion through her final work.
Final Artwork of Kim
Kim’s artwork attracted attention for her unique way of using a variety of ribbons instead of painting. She implied meanings on each ribbon and explained how they represent herself and her relationships with others. She said the pink polka dotted ribbon is Kim and the dots represented countless happenings that occurred in her life. The ribbon was tied to a green, a blue, and a pale pink ribbon that represents the members of her family. The colorful tangle of ribbons were placed horizontally in the center between two white ribbons. The bottom white ribbon had a semi-transparent texture representing her hazy remembrance of Korea. The upper white ribbon represented the US with rough textures that symbolized the hardship Kim encountered daily. Kim said she tried to show the process of finding herself in a new situation, observing her changes, and the transformation through the relationships with important people in her life.