Chang-Ching “Casper” Su
& Haines Elementary
Chang-Ching “Casper” Su & Haines Elementary

Project Overview

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  • Artist — Chang-Ching “Casper” Su

  • School — Haines Elementary

  • Neighborhood — South Side

During my residency with CPS Lives, I explored the concept of objects and their connections to personal narratives and community. The focus of my project, titled “The Day We Are All Included,” centers around the theme of objects seeping out from the slit of a locker at an elementary school. This project delves into the everyday lives of students, capturing the unnoticed and often overlooked details that hold significant meaning.

One of the pivotal elements of this work was the creation of storytelling in collaboration with Ms. Ni’s second graders and Ms. Martinez’s art class at Haines Elementary. This slide incorporated the students’ artwork, allowing them to express their creativity and stories through their illustrations. The project aimed to foster a sense of community and belonging, encouraging students to see the beauty in the small details of their daily lives.

Another aspect of my project was the design of keychains inspired by the seeping straps. These keychains were distributed to the students, symbolizing the connection between art and everyday objects, and serving as a tangible reminder of their participation and contribution to the project.

Throughout the residency, I encountered challenges such as balancing various responsibilities and adapting to different teaching methods. However, these challenges provided valuable learning experiences and ultimately enriched my work.

CPS Lives residency has been a profoundly rewarding experience, allowing me to engage with the community, inspire creativity in young minds, and develop a deeper understanding of the significance of everyday objects in our lives.

 

Meet the Artist

Chang-Ching “Casper” Su

chang ching su, Tia Mitchell, CPS Lives, Chicago public schools, nonprofit, art organization, chicago students, chicago artist, photography, saic

Portrait by Tia Mitchell

Chang-Ching Su searches for transitional spaces between different systems or structures of authority, on the stage or behind the backdoor, before a parenthesis, after a quotation, within vicissitudes, beyond perpetuity. Acting as an internal birdwatcher, stalker, activist, protagonist, and apologist, he shuttles between understanding and incomprehensibility, between naivety and reality, between red velvet cake and national security, between free-flowing elocution and words approaching the tip of the tongue.
As an interdisciplinary artist, Su works with images, languages, found objects, videos, appropriations, social structures, stereotypes, conversations, inquiries, humor, satire, and randomness. He holds a BA in Political Science from National Taiwan University and is currently an MFA candidate at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Visit their Website

Chang-Ching Su searches for transitional spaces between different systems or structures of authority, on the stage or behind the backdoor, before a parenthesis, after a quotation, within vicissitudes, beyond perpetuity. Acting as an internal birdwatcher, stalker, activist, protagonist, and apologist, he shuttles between understanding and incomprehensibility, between naivety and reality, between red velvet cake and national security, between free-flowing elocution and words approaching the tip of the tongue.
As an interdisciplinary artist, Su works with images, languages, found objects, videos, appropriations, social structures, stereotypes, conversations, inquiries, humor, satire, and randomness. He holds a BA in Political Science from National Taiwan University and is currently an MFA candidate at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Visit their Website
chang ching su, Tia Mitchell, CPS Lives, Chicago public schools, nonprofit, art organization, chicago students, chicago artist, photography, saic

Portrait by Tia Mitchell

Previous Residency

Denise Waite & Lincoln Park High School

Next Residency

Armando Roman & Clinton Elementary

Donate

Artists in Public Schools (AiPS) makes art a vital part of public schools. Each donation fuels collaborations that inspire students and elevate artists, bringing diverse voices to the forefront of Chicago’s cultural landscape. All donations, no matter the amount, are greatly appreciated and help our organization make a lasting impact on the lives of artists, CPS students and faculty, and their communities.