For my Who Am I? class, we had to create a dream catcher for our last unit, Dreams. The purpose of this project was to record a dream, share it with a dream partner, and create a dream catcher. I learned a lot of things during this project but the one I am most proud of is the work I did on my physical dream catcher; I think it looks good for being my first dream catcher.
REED, Tim (2013). BKJ Dream Catcher; GCE Voices.
Artist’s Statement
The center of my dream catcher symbolizes all my good dreams and hopes. I showed this in the dream catcher through the use of bright colors such as white string, colorful beads, and tropical bird feathers. I also put a hole in the middle to let the good dreams pass through.
REED, Tim (2013). BKJ Dream Catcher (detail); GCE Voices.
The positive elements I want to pass through are my hopes of being famous and having all the good things in life – family, friends, and material comfort. I use colorful beads; each one symbolizes a different hope for the future: playing in the NBA, skateboarding professionally, singing professionally or making money from my art. I showed my fears by incorporating dark colors in the middle of the brights to symbolize the bad dreams being caught in the web of my dream catcher.
- REED, Tim (2013). BKJ Dream Catcher (detail); GCE Voices.
If I had not read Dr.Seuss a few years ago, I would not have had my dream. My dream was about getting pulled into an evil version of a Dr. Seuss book where I was being chased by evil ‘Who’ characters and befriended a shy turtle who was there to lead me out of the book. In my dream sharing (External), my dad asked me why I dreamed about a turtle as a protector to help me run away from enemies when a turtle is a slow mover. My response was that my choice of dream content was something out of my control (my form), a part of my unconsciousness (Internal). There were also some things in my dream that I could control, part of my consciousness (e.g. my movement). If I had not talked to my dream partner, I would not have the depth in understanding (consciousness) I do now. I owe my dream to Dr. Seuss and his great books, and my understanding to my dad.