Abstract

This paper offers a walk-through of the design and implementation of the physical exhibition Carver [ON] Record, housed in a historically African American school near Richmond, Virginia, the former capital of the American Confederacy. Over the course of a year, students utilized digital media to develop oral and written communication skills within the larger framework of exploring the relationship between intent and art making. In understanding their shared social responsibility to question the meaning of civil rights, students worked to ethically synthesize the oral histories of the community. This essay is an overview of the motivations, undertakings, and manifestations of a multifaceted and ongoing project. The artists and educators offer a blueprint for replication of the modular format used, describe how to effectively integrate the arts into core curriculums, and, most importantly, discuss the necessity for authentic, student-driven conversations in the creative and developmental processes.