Folderology

• 8 years ago
• 0 Comments
• projects
• art, collaboration, community, cooperation, creative process, focus, folderology, habit, hospitality, open studio, perseverance, place, place making, practice, student work

“Folderology” (not found in any dictionary) is a Theater of Inclusion made up term used to describe the work we do with file folders. For years file folders as art making and installation materials have been part of our work and we’ve recently brought them into the classroom – in this case the hallway. We got to the term folderology by considering the following from our dictionaries:

Folder (noun): a folding cover or holder, typically made of stiff paper or cardboard, for storing loose papers or an icon on a computer screen that can be used to access a directory containing related files or documents + -ology: denoting a subject of study or interest.

One of the teachers walked by after school and stopped when see saw our work. She was smiling. The young artists picked up on this and we discussed how art has the power to bring joy into the world. The actual fabrication process is simple. Three file folders form a triangle by using three staples. (We love making interesting stuff from the things we find at office supply stores.) Six of these triangles make a circle. (Fractals anyone?) Each of the triangles of each circle forms a segment of another circle.

If you have math interests this brings up calculating the number of file folders and the number of staples. But for our young artists on this rainy day near the end of the school year they were more interested in enchantment and showing off their collaborative art making skills to their teachers and friends. I don’t blame them.