Where are you from? How can you locate yourself in an art-historical context? Through this projcet
you will hopefully be educating yourself and the class about your background and the role of art in
teaching us about the past.
Format: The essays should be in a .pdf format with images inserted directly into the document. Not
including pictures, expect the essay to be about 3 pages of 1.5 spaced lines.
What to do…
Search anywhere for up to three artworks related to the answer you give, connecting them to the title
question. The first step is to answer the question, “Where are you from?” Do you identify as being
from a family, neighborhood, a city, a country, an ancient heritage, perhaps a place of spirituality?
What images reflect your response? Is there a public artwork you see everyday on the way to work or
school that connects you with your response? Or perhaps a painting or artistic object at home that
you identify as connecting you to family?
Feel free to take this further – almost any artwork(s) can work with this project as long as you are
answering the title question introspectively.
The artworks do not all have to be from the same artist, rather, they should reflect a continuum of who
you are and how you answer the question. For example, you may have an artwork that is 1,000 years
old, one that is 200 years old and one that is contemporary, or it could be a family item, a
neighborhood artwork and an image in a museum…
Structure
1. List the title, medium (material), artist, date and place of origin of the artworks. Some of the
older artworks may not have a specific artist’s name, rather, a style.
2. Describe the subject and aesthetic of the images and use our terminology from class when
doing so. Include the images in your project, designed as you wish.
3. Discuss the context in which the images you selected answers the question, “Where are you
from”? Consider this the introduction to the personalized history of the essay.
4. Present us with a historical perspective on the work. This should include not only the art history
of the image, but the significant history of the time in which it was made. Do not copy and paste
historical information. Put it in your own word and cite at least two outside sources.
5. Explain the significance of the artwork from a personal perspective. How do the images fit with
your own history? What does the image tell you about yourself? Have you discovered anything
new about yourself in the process of researching this artwork? This is not a quick answer! This
will probably include both historical identity and more subjective responses to the artwork you
saw.
6. Include a bibliography for your sources. An interview with someone who provide significant
information about the work can be considered one of your resource
