One Room School, 2024
The One Room School is an outhouse with a built-in school desk to give participants the opportunity to individually interact with books that currently exist on the shelves of public school libraries. There is a flashlight situated on the desk the pages can be illuminated once the door is closed.
The books are the real work while the One Room School serves as the vehicle for engagement. While not outwardly malicious, many of them were printed decades ago and hold deeply flawed and problematic content. At a time when many helpful and forward-thinking books are being removed from schools and public libraries, it’s troubling to know what isn’t being challenged, or at least given more context and explanation. This is not about attacking those who learned from white-washed and problematic books but rather challenging those who still see nothing wrong with them.
The One Room School is made from accessible materials, including pallet wood and scrap lumber.
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4' x 3' x 7'
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scrap lumber, pallet wood, school library books
