Photos by Robert Banat:   RobertBanat.com  RobertBanat@gmail.com

FOURTH GRADERS WENT  TO WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK on the second day of school and participated in an art installation with the artist, Bosco Sodi.

On the day of the trip, we let students know we were going on a mystery walk and we did not give them any background information beyond the fact that an artist, Bosco Sodi, would be there creating a piece of art in a public space. Their job was to make sense of it.

When we arrived in the park, the artist and his team were in full swing building a wall with timbers made in Mexico by local artisans. Fourth graders perched close by with their clipboards and took notes. 

Soon enough, the artist, Bosco Sodi, offered students the opportunity to join in and help. “Sure!” they chimed. In no time, fourth graders formed an assembly line from the crates of bricks to the growing wall and passed the timbers to their temporary destination. Even our most reserved and careful students were stepping into line. It was a beautiful moment! Students experiencing first-hand that they have powers and a voice.

When we returned to the classroom, students enthusiastically shared their predictions, assessments, and questions. Just as we had hoped, they came up with a spectrum of interpretations ranging from the installation being a community-building event to a protest against the president’s wall proposal. We read more about the project and the artist, including the artist’s statement,

“It’s my first political performance and I just felt I had to do it now. I wanted to show that any wall is dismantlable. We, the public, can tear down walls when society gets together. It could be a mental, physical, or political wall – the point is, it’s ephemeral.”

We also found out that the bricks were boxed up in Mexico and traveled to New York via a route often taken by undocumented migrants.

That afternoon, at 3:00 the wall was dismantled. Timbers were given away to anyone who wanted one. We have one in our classroom now as a reminder of our special experience and as a metaphor to consider as we learn more about historical and contemporary immigration.

The next day, students wrote letters to the artist. Of course they were filled with thoughtfulness. We include just a few examples here. If you would like to see all of the letters, copies of them are all posted on the bulletin board outside of our classroom. We sent the originals to the artist.

Dear Mr. Sodi,

Hello my name is Cy. I saw “Muro.” I thought it was really cool. I noticed that you put lots of hard work and effort into making it. I think people should respect that. I felt really helpful because I helped make “Muro.” It felt good to be helpful.

“Muro,” made me think that projects could build community. I went back later that day and got three timbers. I think it’s interesting that you signed every timber. It was like each timber got your autograph on it. What gave you the idea to make “Muro”? I would really like to know. I hope you make more cool projects like this.

Sincerely,

Cy

PS: I just heard about the earthquake. I hope everything is okay.

Dear Mr. Sodi,

My name is Hanako and I really like the art that you made in Washington Square Park. I saw when you were building the wall you fit the clay timbers in very well, it reminded me of the work of a Japanese carpenter! When I was helping build the wall I felt like I was helping a lot of people and at least making a small difference in the world.

The experience made me think about how confused I am about the fact that Trump wants to build a wall and make Mexico pay for it. What gave you the idea of the specific protest? One more thing, you have really inspired me to think about the problems in the world a lot more.

Sincerely,

Hanako

Dear Bosco Sodi,

I really liked your wall. I noticed how the wall was built. When I got there I was confused because I didn’t know the wall was there. I thought about what the wall could represent.

I connected your wall to how the world was built by community. A question I have for you is, you have homes in NYC and Mexico but where were you born?

I really liked your art.

Sincerely,

Harley

Dear Mr. Sodi,

I am Theo from LREI. I thought the installation was really cool because you made 1,600 timbers and made it into a wall. Being there felt really awesome because it was a very good way to protest about Trump’s wall. That wall made me think about Trump’s wall and it looks like you were building it. It looks like my wall at home. Why did you do it in Washington Square Park? I think you gave away the timbers because you wanted people to remember to help the people in Mexico.

Love,

Theo