A high school art teacher searching for a way to break down barriers between herself and her students has found a way to better understand the teenagers she teaches, and also give the students a unique way to express themselves. The resulting works are currently on display in downtown Bloomington.
*Bloomington High School teacher Monica Estabrook wanted to get to know her students better, so she took a black and white portrait of each student and then asked them to embellish the photos any way they liked, using any media they wanted.
*The result is Altered Portraits, on display now through April 16th at the McLean County Arts Center in downtown Bloomington.
*Estabrook said it was difficult at first to give up control over an art project, but that it was ultimately satisfying to see the student's work.
*Bloomington High School senior Joseph Anderson says he enjoyed the opportunity to create his own altered portrait. His media of choice was ink.
*Estabrook was startled by some of the portraits when she discovered many of the students had covered their faces. She believed it was in part because the students are so accustomed to having control over their own photos that they were unnerved by a portrait taken by someone else.
