This year at Thunderbird, I delved into personal identity and storytelling with my cohorts. Our focus was on exploring individual concepts of self and the narratives we present to the world, as well as those we tell ourselves. Using simple bookmaking techniques, we crafted covers that represented our communal identity, reflecting the stories we share with others, while the inner pages delved into the narratives we internalize about ourselves.

The project encouraged the artists to contemplate the deeper layers of their existence and how these inner truths intersect with the personas they project outwardly. We aimed to highlight the positive aspects of ourselves that we present to the world. Since this was a collaboration with young people, we tailored the concept to suit each grade level, ensuring it resonated with their understanding. Each cohort was prompted to reflect on their personal stories and their role within their

own narratives, as well as in the larger narrative of the world around them. We discussed how we present our best selves to the public, while our inner desires and vulnerabilities remain mostly private, except for moments of genuine connection and sharing.