Cochise Newsroom

Students in the English as a Second Language (ESL) Oral Communications class at the Douglas Campus are inviting the community to reflect and share their hopes and anxieties through a temporary participatory art exhibition.

 

Led by ESL instructor Sofia Chesney, the class of 16 students created the display as part of a worldwide collaboration inspired by artist Candy Chang's public installation, "A Monument for the Anxious and Hopeful." 

 

"We recently began using new textbooks for our oral communication course, and Chang's art installations were highlighted in the book," Chesney said. "The project felt like a meaningful way to involve students in a shared creative experience, so I introduced the concept in my classes."

 

Inside the Student Union, a dedicated wall became a living exhibition where students, faculty, staff and visitors were encouraged to write their personal reflections on cards and add them to the installation. The display emphasizes shared human experiences and emotional honesty.

 

Chang describes the global project on her website as a response to the uncertainty of modern life. "We live in a uniquely unsettled moment of technological, political, and social flux," she writes. "Awash in endless currents of information delivered by glowing screens, each new headline, discovery, and development brings a fresh opportunity for hope or anxiety, depending upon our individual attitudes and philosophies."

 

Chang writes that she was inspired by Tibetan prayer flags and the anonymity of public spaces. 

 

Chesney said the experience helped students strengthen communication skills while building awareness and connection across the Douglas Campus. 

 

By contributing to the collective artwork, participants are reminded that their hopes and their anxieties are often shared by others.