CITATION NEEDED

Presenting the books created by 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders through Citation Needed, a project led by SPCUNY artist Ari Wolff in collaboration with the 14th-Street Y. This year-long after-school class provided project-based arts experiences for children while amplifying their voices through printed matter and book arts.

Citation Needed’s weekly workshops covered a range of techniques, including printmaking, xerography, book arts, drawing, writing, and comics. Drawing inspiration from concrete poetics, Reggio Emilia pedagogy, and socially engaged art education, Citation Needed fosters spontaneous and process-based creativity, encouraging the young participants to explore their ideas, challenge conventional notions of “error,” and continually reimagine their work.

Embracing chance as a creative force, many of the works produced in this class were inspired by unexpected accidents. After months of dedicated creation, editing, printing, and binding, the authors and illustrators are eager to share their meaningful work, honoring their inner worlds, autonomy, and ability to challenge oppressive systems and societal expectations.

Photos by Oswaldo Garcia