THE PRIORITY BOXES PROJECT
Jane Ruestmann
Last summer I was flipping
Internet sources, I created a Power-
and scored the fold lines to create
through the channels one
Point presentation in which students
a clean fold. They had to look up
evening when I stumbled into
learned about his early years, his
addresses and learn the correct way to
an episode of LatiNation,
move to New York, and his box proj-
address mail for the post office, and
a nationally syndicated, half-hour
ect. We talked about “intangibles,”
to use a return address.
program seen in the United States,
or things that are incapable of being
Students were so excited with the
Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
touched or seen.
project that many of them took the
The program focused on abstract
Using examples, I explained that
boxes home, unable to wait for them
painter, Franck de Las Mercedes. The
we would be creating a box that con-
to be mailed; however, I was able to
most fascinating aspect of the episode
tained hope, love, or trust. Students
mail more than a third of the boxes
was a segment called “The Priority
could choose a family member or
to their family members. Students are
Box” project. I went online and dis-
friend that needed a pat on the back,
still talking about this exciting proj-
covered that Franck
a happy thought, or
ect. I invite you to try it!
sends boxes, free of
I explained that we
some other act of
charge, to anyone who
would be creating a
kindness. I created
Jane Ruestmann is an art teacher at
requests one.
a worksheet that
Argyle Elementary School in Argyle,
box that contained
Texas. bordman3@charter.net
The boxes are sent
included many of the
with “Handle with
hope, love, or trust.
same contents that
Care” messages and
Franck uses in his
Students select and use subject mat-
contain a variety of intangibles. I
boxes. Go to schoolartsonline.com to
ter, symbols, and ideas to communi-
ordered a box, bought a T-shirt (this
see an example of this worksheet.
cate meaning.
helps Franck defray the shipping
Students were asked to create a
costs) and sent an e-mail to him ask-
box that would contain their “intan-
ing permission to create a lesson plan
gibles.” The boxes were created on
about him and his work. He replied
12 x 18" (30 x 46 cm) sheets of white
www.fdlmstudio.com
immediately and said he was looking
tag board. The tag board was painted
forward to working with us.
first, in an abstract manner. (I found
Go to schoolartsonline.com
a small box that I was able to decon-
to see a worksheet and
Artist and Public Art Project
struct to create patterns for students
PowerPoint Presentation.
Using information about Franck from
to trace.) During the next class, stu-
his website and a variety of other
dents traced and cut out their artwork
