“What is the best part of You?” Students will answer this question with photographer and former Creative Laureate of Portland, Julie Keefe, by using photography and writing to create powerful collaborative compositions that use a body part as metaphor to demonstrate what is good about themselves. Students will practice foundational skills in visual and literary arts in addition to practicing communication and collaboration with their peers. Students will work as artists, photographers, writers, editors, graphic designers, actors and directors.

Students will use high quality Ricoh digital cameras, 4”x6” printed photographs, and a variety of graphic design tools to create an 11″x17″ poster. Each student will receive a number of 4×6″ prints that are theirs to keep.

Day 1 Julie will introduce a variety of peer examples that detail the project and provide goals and expectations. Students will learn basic camera operation and composition via in-class demonstrations. Students will pair up and practice with cameras inside the classroom.

Day 2 We review the project goals, brainstorm ideas with our partners, and head outside, (no matter the weather), to create visual metaphors through photographs.

Day 3 Students receive their 4″x6″ printed photographs, share them on their tables and then participate in a group “photo walk” where positive vocabulary is outlined and encouraged. This empowers students to choose the photograph that best demonstrates their “best part” via visual metaphor.

Day 4 Using visual “mind mapping” guidance and by audibly and visually and often physically, sharing a wide variety of poems, essays and peer examples, we create the writing that will accompany our posters.

Day 5 Using high quality paper, gel pens, stencils, sharpies and glue and by incorporating design principles, students create their posters and share them with the class.

This program offered by: Julie Keefe