The assignment: Create a sculptural object with found or manufactured objects that have
inherent meaning and strong associations.
My Project: The sculptural object I created is a book which makes a statement about dyslexia.
Statement: My sculptural object makes a statement about dyslexia. Dyslexia is a learning disability that makes it difficult to learn to read. Scientists estimate that it may affect up to 20% of the population. Through PET scans it has been shown that dyslexic brains are wired differently. While this different wiring makes it harder to learn it has some benefits – dyslexics tend to be more creative and better able to think outside the box.
Materials: Because the primary challenge for dyslexic learners is reading I made a book to convey the issue of dyslexia. The book cover is constructed from foam core covered with purple felt. The cover features a brain scan image topped with interwoven copper wire to illustrated that scientists have determined that dyslexic brains are wired differently.
This project entered in the Spring 2023 Student Art Show was awarded a Certificate of Merit and I earned a $50 gift card to Sam Flax.
A study conducted in a Texas prison found that the prison population has a higher incidence of dyslexia (nearly 50%). If unable to read an individual is likely to fail in school and possibly dropout. It is not hard to imagine how such circumstances could lead to prison. While socioeconomics also plays a role it is noteworthy that the United States spends more money on prisons than it does on educating children.
The last page of the book features two written paragraphs for viewers to read. The first paragraph is written with scrambled letters so that viewers can experience a dyslexic leaner’s struggle to decode words as they read. The second paragraph is written correctly.
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