For the Combined Print Media's third assignment of the semester, the class took on a collaborative project. Each year this assignment deals with a topic that is political or social in nature. This class chose to talk about separating "need" from "want." The discussion began around dissecting feelings of attachment to what we perceive as "needs," when in reality we can often get by without what we fall back on as requirements.
We become attached to our tools and materials, as well as material comforts that we feel help us or inspire us. But what do we truly need? What are our base requirements, and how can we parse the difference between compulsion and compulsory.
Each student created a list of 40 'things' in their lives that they routinely think of as needs, which in reality they could probably live without. These things aren't necessarily material objects. We often feel dependent on feelings, approval, medical intervention...discussions revolved around these necessities. From this list, everyone chose for themselves one item that they would keep, were they only allowed that one thing.
Everyone felt it was important that this piece not subscribe to preachiness, or communicate a sense of judgement. The desire for the needs we hold on to are both universal and personal.
The prints were made using a photopolymer plate from Boxcar Press, which was printed in two colors. Everyone carved an illustration of their "want" in linoleum. All of the prints were tiled and hung in the breezeway near the book arts studios at OCAC.
