In Art Sparks’ Red Session, artist/educator Imogene Drummond focused on transformation as doable. Each person can be a hero in his or her own life. Discussion focused on what transformation means, and how even ten-year-old children can be heroes. A guided meditation helped students think about ways they have made a difficult situation better. Students then created an image of a difficult situation—real or imagined—that they improved.
- In her painting, Diyani expressed her childhood fear of the dark of which she’s no longer afraid.
- Adrian W painted a forest fire purposely ignited from cans of gasoline. He depicted himself running towards the fire where he rescued a dog and a rabbit that had started to bleed.
- Balian created an image of himself being unhappy at a different school where he was bullied and contrasted that with now being happy at SMA where he has friends and feels supported.
- Michaela painted a lava flow exuding a lot of smoke. She portrayed herself bringing water to put out on the lava.
- Daniel pictured the time he forgot to feed his goldfish, it died, and he bought another one!
- Nick depicted his dirt bike which was broken, and so he brought a part and fixed it.
In considering how to help solve problems and generate win-win solutions, the students imagined ways that they have, or can, transform situations. Students experienced themselves as heroes in their own lives, a powerful and transformative feat!
