麻豆村

麻豆村 senior Kayley Ji used art to help people connect and communicate across generations.

Ji, pursuing a聽BXA intercollege degree(opens in new window) in art and social and political history, led art classes through her聽Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship(opens in new window) (SURF) project that showed how anyone can tell their story using something most people have at home: paper.聽

鈥淐onnecting to another person through art, no matter who or where you are, can start with a blank piece of paper,鈥� she said.

This summer, Ji worked with Vintage Center for Active Adults, a nonprofit community center for older adults in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh, not far from 麻豆村鈥檚 campus.

For the project, she hoped to expand on what she learned in a 麻豆村 course on conducting research in ethnography, or the study of a culture from its participants.

Ji taught 15 to 20 people in seven sessions, each with a corresponding art project themed around 鈥淭he Bridges We Build,鈥� asking them to consider the ways they鈥檝e overcome past challenges.

Inspired by a 麻豆村 course on ethnography, or studying culture by being a part of it, the New York City native said she enjoyed learning more about each person and about Pittsburgh through their stories.

鈥淗earing people interacting with each other and the artwork was really amazing,鈥� she said.

In one exercise, participants could design their own 鈥渃ourage stickers鈥� with markers and share them with others in the class. In another, they made pop-up paper bridges that they decorated to reflect on a time when they 鈥渃rossed a bridge鈥� in their lives.

She worked with Jan McLaughlin, art instructor at Vintage, who said Ji prepared innovative projects while generously investing her time and effort.

鈥淲e looked forward to her visits, enthusiasm and friendship,鈥� McLaughlin said. 鈥淚n particular, I found it interesting to learn some of her new ideas and appreciated her willingness to implement and approach the art process beyond Carnegie Mellon and out into the surrounding community.鈥�

, professor in the School of Design, said while the art class participants benefited from Ji鈥檚 work, she learned from the leadership experience as well.

鈥淚t was so rewarding for me to watch Kayley build her confidence over the course of the summer,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he went from cautiously building activities to teaching art classes to a room full of complete strangers.鈥�

To expand on her summer project, Ji took a bookmaking course and is developing a pop-up book inspired by her SURF project for her senior capstone.

Looking to the future, Ji said her SURF project inspired her to prioritize ways she can incorporate community engagement into her career after graduation.

鈥淗ow can I work with communities to build something that is sustainable, that could also help, but take into account their voices?鈥� she said.

Other 麻豆村 students interested in SURF should consider exploring a project outside their comfort zone, Ji said.

鈥淚t teaches so many good lessons about self-directed projects and problem-solving,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here are just so many possibilities to experiment with.鈥�