BD400
Art of Unimagined Ecosystems
(In partnership with The Flint Institute of Arts Department of Education) Matthew Osmon, Director of Education
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Time
5 sessions or 5 hours divided between classroom time
and lab/studio art making
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Skill Reinforcement
literacy, reading/comprehension, critical thinking, writing, public delivery, artistic expression, model scaping, synthesizing exercises, imaginative thinking
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Utilization
English Language Arts, History, Social and Political Science, Ecology and Environmental Studies, Geometry, Science/Ecology, Afrofuturism, WAGE: Women and Girls Empowerment, History, Math, Art creation, Theater, Dance, Social justice studies, Stratification Studies
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Education Levels
Upper Middle, High School, College
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Description
Art of the Unimagine Ecosystems: BLACK DANDELION: CONVERGENT VOICE™ 2025 is challenging us to think beyond the ordinary, to envision the possibilities of a different future through the lens of unimagined ecosystems. The assignment is to study both the “natural” and “social” ecosystems of the dandelion plant, and the “Black Dandelion” poem. The final project will yield a synthesis of creation, a model of an unimagined ecosystem, completely imagined and manifested. Through various methods of exploration, overlapping pathways, as well as patterns naturally occurring and constructed will be identified. Ecological and social relationships will be compared, contrasted, and analyzed. Food chain, and the social implications of hierarchy played out in plants, and in people will be examined. We will write. We will map, draw, chart, write poetry, narratives, Afrofuturistic compositions, memoirs, science fiction, and more. We will utilize clay, paper/cardstock, and other materials to model the newly created ecosystems. Course resource packets are available.
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Insight
"Semaj Brown has inspired educators throughout the State of Michigan-and beyond, with her unique method of teaching literacy to struggling students by introducing Poetry as a Second Language. Journalists have documented her success among students who were thought to be unreachable academically. She is a Poet Laureate utilizing her gifts to revolutionize reading education in our country."
Pamela Renee Purifoy
NABJ National Association of Black Journalists
Co-Chair Community Outreach