Coming of age…
Amelia Hahn — SMAD 201
Consistency was most important to me when I began creating layers for this project. I chose to feature U.S. Presidents in each layer, starting with Grover Cleveland in Youth because we share a March 18th birthday. Teddy Roosevelt symbolizing Growth, as I spent much of my childhood exploring Sagamore Hill, his summer home and a historic landmark near where I grew up. Finally, James Madison represents my Current stage, reminding me of my college decision process as well as my love for this school where being a tour guide, I get to walk around promoting JMU to prospective students/families in hopes that they will join me here.
Care Bears® are a recurring theme in each layer of my work. I’ve always had an affinity for them because their mission is to capture and express human emotions. As their website explains, 'In the complex world of human communication and emotional expression, the Care Bears® help people share their feelings with others.'"
Throughout my life I have always made the extra effort to encourage those around me to vocalize how they are feeling and communicate with one another- this is one of the reasons I chose the Communication Studies Minor!
In the Youth album, I included the 'Birthday Bear,' the Care Bear with a cupcake on its stomach, which represents celebration. This layer highlights my early childhood, when teddy bears brought comfort, and I found joy in celebrating even the smallest moments. I connected the Birthday Bear to Grover Cleveland, who shares my March 18th birthday, and to the overall theme of growing up and the significance of those formative years.
The second layer features a cutout of 'Funshine Bear,' the Care Bear full of sunshine and fun. This bear embodies an enthusiasm for life and its possibilities, always striving to ensure everyone has a good time, no matter the circumstances.
That spirit reflects who I was in middle and high school, constantly working to bring fun and positivity to an environment many found difficult. I was deeply involved in student council, leadership clubs, community service, and running the senior yearbook, and my peers even nominated me as 'Most School Spirited.' After the global pandemic and remote learning, I made it my mission to give myself and my friends an unforgettable senior year, and despite many safety restrictions, I succeeded.
The Present layer features the 'Good Luck Bear.' Born right around St. Patrick’s Day, I’ve always felt connected to four-leaf clovers as a symbol of luck. In the summer of 2023, I finally found a real four-leaf clover in a field where I had searched for years—a moment I saw as a lucky sign! I photoshopped an image of that clover onto the Good Luck Bear’s stomach, blending the idea of 'real life' with the concept of luck and manifesting continued fortune for the future.
Fall 2023
