A Note to You provided RIT students space to reflect on personal identity and experiences in a meaningful way. The community was invited to contribute to the art piece by providing their responses to our guided prompt: ‘Write a note to your past or future self.’ College represents a significant transition as a time of personal growth and self-discovery. This work of community art exemplifies the universality and the complexity of student experiences by bringing together people from different backgrounds.

IDEA302H is excited to showcase our semester-long project that involved the RIT student body in partnership with the Rochester-based arts organization, the Free Art Collective. Each of the 222 notes that students wrote was collected at tabling pop-ups hosted in the SAU or the SHED. We believe it is essential to document and portray genuine, in-the-moment messages because everyone faces challenges and needs inspiration or guidance by reflecting on their past or future. What is collected, captured, and documented in the project is student sentiments. We support the Free Art Collective’s mission, which is why we invited them to collaborate with us on campus.

Please enjoy an opportunity to scroll through our website, A Note to You, to read these notes from our RIT community and learn more about the project’s process. Zines are available upon request, and a PDF e-book is available on the website.