"An a/r/tographic study of six multicultural children's book illustrators: Developing a place-based pedagogy of pleasure" was completed in 2006 at Washington State University.

The following text is adapted from my abstract.

The participants in this study are six multicultural children’s book artists, including myself. Between us we have won many awards, while our images have been seen by literally millions of children. These pictures exist outside the official curriculum presenting as part of children’s educative experiences in mostly unspoken, unattended, and unacknowledged ways. Thus, the images in our books exist as possibilities within this liminal space to activate processes of inquiry such as those related to race, place, and art.

My study utilized a range of pedagogies and theoretical lenses including a/r/tography, critical multicultural education and analysis, place-based education, cultural production, and visual culture studies to explore the interconnections between race, place, and art in the participants’ lives and art. The use of these lenses also enabled exploration of the intersecting contexts of place and culture, i.e., looking at where each of us comes from as sites of colonialist appropriation and resistance (including our bodies) while positioning our books and lives as counter-narratives to the ideologies that have, and continue to oppress and marginalize us.
In addition, my primary methodology of a/r/tography with its dual practice of image and text creation as both reflection and representation, coming from the subjective position of the researcher as an artist/researcher and teacher, has led me to begin developing a new pedagogy. This pedagogy draws on the many themes that emerged in the research to propose a method of integrated fine art education that combines place-based, visual culture, and critical multicultural art education with a strong dose of pleasure.

To find out more about the participants please visit their websites
Maya Gonzalez http://www.mayagonzalez.com/
Joe Sam http:///www.joesam.com
Elizabeth Gomez http://hwww.hexabus.com/art/Elizabeth/CurrentNews.html
George Littlechild http://www.georgelittlechild.com
Carl Angel http://www.carlqangel.com

Click here to download a Pdf bibliography of the participants books and selected awards.
Visit Children's Book Press to learn more about these books