Jessa Mendiola

When I am not in class, I like to spend my time at the atrium by SCE. The atrium is a circular structure with chairs surrounding a circular space. I like how the natural lights flows through the clerestory windows and open up the space. When I go there, I am not usually by myself. My club, Filipinos in Alliance (FIA) usually occupies the space 24/7. FIA has a program called Ate/Kuya (Older Sister/Older Brother). I got paired up with an older club member name Kuya Chris and met the family he is part of. Thus, I usually hang out with my “Fiamily”, who over time, became my groups of friends. The atrium, however, is not just a place for me to socialize, but also to dance. For the past month, I stayed late on campus to learn a little more about my filipino culture by learning a traditional filipino dance: the carinosa. I will be learning another dance next week. Although the atrium can be loud, messy, and crowded, I love it because I not only get to know my culture, but also met new friends and be active in school.

To claim a space is to have a place where one has a voice to show one’s experiences, values, and hopes. The exhibition at Hull House shows how people claim a space to welcome the experiences of marginalized Chicago society. The exhibition mostly focused on the schools that were closed down because they were underutilized or underperforming. For example, the playground blocks had information like names, infographics, photographs, and information on schools on the West-side that were closed down. These pieces are not only interactive and reminds the viewer of children who plays with them, but also immortalize and remind people of the teachers and students that were displaced and disempowered. It invites viewers to do their own research and learned why these schools closed down and question why these schools are still not used to this day. They can call for change.

Jessa, this is a powerful reflection on the "Claiming Space" exhibit. I like how you use several images of a specific art work to illustrate your main points about the themes the exhibit is exploring. The idea that the exhibit encourages viewers to ask questions and do their own research is very compelling.

Karyn