Inspired by Muriel Rukeyer’s poem, “Effort at Speech Between Two People”, students were tasked with writing a poem that conveys a breakdown in communication or a difficult conversation. They not only had to think about their choice of diction but also their use of space and pauses on the page. Tracing paper was a material I wanted them to tinker and experiment with in their art and writing piece because its physical properties allow for interesting assemblage and encounters with the ideas they want to express regarding communication and time. 

How might they consider layering the tracing paper to conceal or expose underlying emotions? To demonstrate the passage of time? What about tearing to exemplify fragility and fracture in relationships? How does tracing paper interact with pen, color pencil, water color, or acrylic paint?