Turn on the TV today, and you will hear the word hero again and again. Whether you heard it during the Beijing Olympics, or during a political convention, heroes are alive and present in our culture. But what is a hero? Can you define the qualities that a hero has? And can you think of anyone that is a hero to you? This web quest will take you on a journey to discover what a hero is, what qualities they have, choose someone who is a hero to you, and create a portrait inspired by Joseph Cornell's shadowboxes to visually communicate who your hero is.

Here in the computer lab you will find out a bit more about Joseph Cornell and choose your HERO, who can be from any time or culture.

• In order to make your choice, you must first research and determine what being a HERO means. Is it someone who is virtuous, and of good moral character? What exactly are the qualities of a virtuous, moral person? You will define, in your own words, what being a HERO means to you, and the qualities of a hero that your chosen person has.
• Then you will search for images and quotes that will help to describe visually these qualities, to use in your shadow box, and insert them into a Word document to be printed.

Finally, we'll go back to the art room and use the words and pictures to create a box and the collage/assemblage that goes in it.

Your final product will be a multi-media project combining writing, drawing, digital photographs, paints, colored pencils and found objects. Shadowbox will be inspired by the work of American artist, Joseph Cornell – whom we will discuss further in class.