Final Work

Conformity Seed, 2023
Cardboard, magazine paper, construction paper, glue, tape

This sculpture focuses on the first stage in the racial identity development model, conformity. This phase consists of mainly conforming to the dominant culture, typically white culture, and have little to no salience of race in their life. To convey this, the seed has been placed on an isolated area of the collage as a way to illustrate the alienation of the individual from their ethnic culture. The seed sculpture itself has been made of magazine paper and is a depiction of the fragility and unstableness of identity within this beginning stage. The seed itself contributes to this imagery by being the beginning stage in this process of growth, and the idea of this hard shell mirrors this ignorant, unaware state.

Dissonance Sprout, 2023
Cardboard, magazine paper, construction paper, glue, tape, clay, paint

This sculpture focuses on the second stage in the racial identity development model, dissonance. This phase is where an individual begins to be exposed to racial issues and significance. To depict this image, the collage background the sprout sculpture has been placed on is not as isolated as the previous sculpture, but still not fully enveloped in the greenery. The sprout sculpture itself has been made of both clay and magazine paper as a depiction of the stronger sense of identity, however it is still in a fragile state. The sprout itself reflects this stage by showing progress towards growing, although it is small and fragile at first, but it is beginning to have that exposure to these issues.

Immersion & Resistance Bud, 2023
Cardboard, magazine paper, glue, tape, clay, paint

This sculpture focuses on the third stage in the racial identity development model, immersion/resistance. This third phase is where the individual fully embraces their ethnic culture, however, it is at the expense of the dominant culture, turning to resent and withdraw from it. The collage background for this piece has completely taken over the “isolated” green that was seen in the previous pieces, completely emerging the bud in the background. Similarly to the sprout sculpture, this bud has been made of both clay and magazine paper to continue the depiction of stronger development of identity, yet still remaining fragility in areas. The bud is also a representation of the withdrawal and resentment from the dominant culture, isolating itself in a different way than what was seen before.

Integrative Flower, 2023
Cardboard, magazine paper, construction paper, glue, tape, clay, paint

This sculpture is the representation of the fourth and final stage in the racial identity development model, internalization/integrative awareness. This phase is where the individual is able to appreciate and essentially balance both their dominant and minority culture, also understanding the role of racism within the development of their identity. The collage background for this piece is a mixture of the past backgrounds from the three previous pieces, including both the isolated solid color with the immersive magazine pictures. The flower sculpture itself has been made entirely out of clay to be representative of the strength and stability of this fourth stage of identity development. The flower was chosen as the final stage symbol because of its representation of the development of growth and the process in which it has bloomed and become open to both experiences in both the dominant and ethnic culture.