Artists can be inspired to create based on memories and life experiences. My eighth grade students were challenged to use their visual voice to express memories they have from their diverse perspectives. Our school is filled with students who come from many different places around the world and speak 47 different languages at home. With unique perspectives and stories I wanted to challenge our artists to dig deep within their memories to find images and moments they want preserve in paint, pastels, clay or other materials of choice.When contemplating our projects I posed a few questions:

What moment changed or helped shape who you are today?

What is your favorite place or location that you have been? Why?

Who are the important people in your life and what impression did they make in your life?

Students were also inspired by a variety of clips from the Art 21 episode, Memory. My students and I would love to hear your thoughts on their creations, below are a few of the heartfelt memories bravely shared by the Falcon Artists of Skyline Middle School.

Artist Statement(what Sarah19244 said this about his/her artwork)I used acrylics to paint my home. It's a significant memory to me because most of my family memories happen there. I used different values of paint to give the house shadowing and a 3-D look.

Artist Statement(what Ruhusey1 said this about his/her artwork) This picture stand for Eritrean house were I grow up . I was born in Eritrea . Eritrean is in the west Africa. This picture reminds me when I was with all my family's and chilling out and having fun . This picture reminds when I was in Eritrea.

Artist Statement(what Safiyyah10 said this about his/her artwork)I used watercolor paint to color the buildings. Then I used a black pen to outline the features of each building. There are four houses, one apartment building, two hotels, and three schools. Six of these buildings are in Harrisonburg, VA and four of the buildings are in New Jersey (in different cities). This memory-themed art piece represents the different places I have been to and how I only remember some parts of each place.

Artist Statement(what Sweta19 said this about his/her artwork)At the age of five, I was asked, 'what is your nationality?' I told my assistant teacher that I was Nepalese and then she left. Ten minutes later, five year old me was returning to playing with blocks when three adults watched over me, muttering things under their breaths. I wasn't trying to pay any mind towards them, though they started asking me questions. They even touched my face and my hair, a five year old. I didn't know what was going on either. Ever since then, I've noticed how people stare at me wherever I go. Their eyes ask me a question as they follow my every movement. That question they're asking is, 'are you human?' It's made me uncomfortable about my appearance, what my identity is, but I've gotten used to it.

Artist Statement(what Keanu161 said this about his/her artwork)This a sculpture of my hand holding the house I lived in long ago that burned down after a electric mix function in the walls the it sparked an then the walls slowly burned inside out the candles in the living room helped the fire grow.

We would love to know what inspires your creative expression and fuels your visual voice?

What amazing projects! The meaning behind each project really moves me! I can almost imagine the happy childhood memories and the very sad ones. Sweta's and Keanu's projects especially makes my heart go out to them. What sad experiences in such young lives. Their strength still shines through though.