Texas: Fingerprinting Our Unique Selves
June 23, 2022
In Texas along the U.S.-Mexico border, eleven young artists ages 12-16 used STEM and art to explore their unique strengths and inter-personal leadership skills while contributing collaboratively to the whole.
Each artist began by using their technology skills to designs their individual silhouettes in Photoshop and Illustrator in the shape of a thumbprint. Then, the artists learned about their unique individual personality traits through the Crystal Personality Assessment, which they incorporated into their individual portrait pieces. The culmination of the project utilized Scribit, a drawing robot that drew out a collaborative piece portraying two large thumbprints, and each individual involved in the project had a hand in painting and making their mark on the piece.
Artists found through this process that their unique traits can come together to form a team. They learned that some participants are “Captains,” leading through creativity, bravery, and courage. Others are “Planners," who thrive on teamwork and appreciation of beauty of excellence. “Harmony” and “Encourager” describe those participants who have a zest for life, social intelligence, perseverance, and curiosity. Finally, “Influencers” display judgement and critical thinking, prudence and leadership.
A meaningful contributor to this project was David Gamez, a former student of Creative Kids who joined their Migrant Education Art Program. As a Dreamer, he initially believed his path in life was to follow in his family's footsteps as a migrant farmworker. However, his time at Creative Kids made an indelible impact on him when he found his sense of belonging through the power of the arts. David is now a senior at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) pursuing a major in Computer Science and a minor in Graphic Design where he has been able to weave his passion for the arts with STEM. He served as a mentor to these youth involved in the unCommission project, showing them how one can truly belong in the future of STEM in non-traditional and creative ways.
Creative Kids Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational community-based art agency located in El Paso, Texas along the U.S./Mexico border region. Creative Kids is a nationally recognized non-profit organization that positively impacts specific populations of children through purposeful visual art education.
This art reflects the interpretations, beliefs, and opinions of these artists and community and should not be considered representative of the views of unCommission nor 100Kin10.
