DPU students explore mealtime culture, work with Senior Center

Thursday, November 7, 2013

A group of first-year DePauw University students has been reading about handmade functional objects and mealtime culture, interviewing locals about their relationship to food and community and making handmade pottery inspired by their research.

The students are enrolled in the DePauw course titled "Around the Table: Handmade Ceramics, Food and Conversation."

Their work in the classroom is being enriched through a partnership with the Putnam County Senior Center, where they are working with local residents during the Thursday morning breakfasts.

As part of the course, each student will create a handmade plate that is inspired by a senior citizen's story. The plates will be donated to the Senior Center cupboard.

The results of this creative collaboration will be celebrated during a Dec. 5 community breakfast (beginning at 8:30 a.m.) with students and seniors at the Senior Center at the end of the semester. The handmade plates will then be donated to the center to use for other meals.

The community-based art project challenges students to make art in response to and in conversation with others. Working with the Putnam County Senior Center as a community partner allows students to build connections between people and contribute to the community in creative ways.

Through this process, students will include community voices as part of their research and practice, engage with people through creative practice and explore the role of an artist as an active member of a community.

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