Unsung Hero Project

Purpose:

1. To promote positive role models in the lives of students

2. To empower students to stand up for what they believe is right

3. To create a personal work of art based on students’ interpretation of an Unsung Heros’ character and actions;

4. To reflect on your experiences by writing an impact paper that articulates your personal journey and interprets their work for the viewer.

When I came across Elizabeth “Tex” Williams when searching for an Unsung Hero I immediately felt a connection. Her background and everything that she overcame in order to become the woman that she was, were remarkable. As an African American Woman trying to be part of the military during World War II, she faced many challenges socially. After all her hard work she ended up becoming a photographer for the forces that protect the United States. She photographed many practices done by the air force, and she would actually go up in the air and fly with them to get shots of air maneuvers. When creating my art I knew that I wanted to incorporate something to do with a camera and I wanted to include air force references in my work. Because she was a photographer, that inspired me to make the camera the focal point of my piece; hence, me putting the camera in the center. But, I did not want the camera to be just any old camera. I wanted to create something unique. In order to add an extra effect to the camera, I decided to draw an air force jet in the sky within the lens of the camera to give the indication that she was photographing an air force jet. Finally, for the background, I knew that I wanted to reference more army or air force symbols or drawings but a drawing seemed too simple. I wanted to create something that gave the audience perspective. Therefore, I decided to create a collage of photos of women, men, the air force, and symbols from World War II. The photos add more of an impact on the audience in my opinion. Observing the real thing while looking at a creative art piece is truly amazing. Another interesting thing that I added was, within the collage I added a tiny real-life photo of Elizabeth “Tex” Williams. The audience might not know which person is her, but I like the idea of having that secret “gem” within the piece.

I loved creating this piece because it opened my eyes to so many different people who have impacted our world, and we didn’t even know about that. I not only got to learn a lot about Elizabeth “Tex” Williams but while I was searching for an Unsung Hero to choose from, I came across so many other heroes that also did tremendous things. I loved portraying Williams’s story through art because it allowed me to show her story in a raw way. She was one of the bravest people in my opinion. Everything that she went through being a woman, and an African American created struggles for her along her journey to her career path. When I was reading about her, there was something mentioned that she and the other “colored” women would have to stand on the opposite sides of the room from the “white” women when they were all sworn into the military. Although this was an amazing opportunity for Williams, the treatment that she encountered was not acceptable for anyone to endure. Reading and then creating her story through art, made me realize that you need to always follow your dreams no matter how hard you think something is. If you are passionate about something, go after it and persevere because only you are the person who can accomplish it.