Untitled

Artist: Jim Miller
Date: 2002
Media: Fiberglass plastic emulsion
Location: Jackie Robinson Replacement School Interior, 150 Fournier Street

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Jim Miller, a photographer from Naugatuck, created a unique genre that crosses boundaries between sculpture and photography which he calls PhotoGlobes. Miller patented the process of the "mounted immersion view," which he also trademarked in the form of "PhotoGlobes." Theses works of art are structured around skeletal frames of wood onto which fiberglass panels are attached. Hung from a chain, the Photoglobe moves with air circulation, allowing the viewer to see different images as the globe turns.

Miller chose to photograph Jackie Robinson students in poses that express the values inherent in the characters of Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson, remembered for breaking the color barrier both on the baseball field and off. Words used by students to describe Robinson include caring, respect, loyalty, honesty and joy. While the clothing style of the students portrayed in the artwork will, with time, become dated, the artist believes that the expression on the faces of the students and their chosen postures are part of human experience and will always be recognizable.

Two additional panels which are part of the project capture Jackie Robinson students inside and outside their school. The images were made from the same process, though laid flat instead of shaped around an armature.

We Shall Overcome

Artist: Winfred Rembert
Date: 2002-2003
Media: Tooled, stained and dyed leather
Location: Lincoln-Bassett School, 130 Bassett Street

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The work of New Haven folk artist Winfred Rembert has been recognized by the arts community nationally. In 2000 Rembert's work along with Hale Woodruff was featured in an exhibit titled "Southern Exposure" at the Yale University Art Gallery the first local New Haven artist to ever receive a show at this prestigious venue.

Rembert's unusual and preferred medium is leather made of cow hide, which is tooled, stained and dyed. The artist first draws an image on paper which is then applied to the wet leather surface. Details of the drawings are tooled, or imprinted into the leather, and stains are applied for color and depth. Super Sheen is the applied as a sealant. Finally, the work of art on leather is attached to a gator board using Leather Welz Adhesive for support.

The vertically oriented scene depicts a group of African-American students marching for education at the United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

In addition to the work on leather, a vertical panel designed by Sandra Chen provides the following literal accompaniment, "We Shall Overcome, I am afraid , Scared of school, teachers, shaking, thinking everybody knows that I don't knows that I don't know. Too afraid."