This document provides information about a vision mapping workshop. It defines a vision map as a collage of images and affirmations representing one's dreams and happiness. The document discusses how quilts can convey messages through geometric patterns and how artists use math concepts like rotation in their quilt designs. Examples of historical quilts that tell stories or add symbols are presented, as are artworks that create new languages or remix an artist's previous work. Lukasa boards, which are used to tell personal stories, are also mentioned. The workshop instructions ask participants to make a paper quilt by cutting and arranging shapes, then finish their vision map by adding cutouts and writing about their design.

1. VISION MAPPING
WORKSHOP
Presenter and Workshop Instructor:
Nettrice R. Gaskins, Ph.D. Candidate
Digital Media Program
Georgia Tech

2. WHAT IS A VISION MAP?
A vision map is a collage of images, pictures and
affirmations of your dreams and all of the things that
make you happy. It can also be called a dream board,
treasure map or vision board.

3. Vision Maps Can Be Quilts
Geometric patterns found in
African American quilts may
have been used to convey
messages on the
Underground Railroad.

4. Artists Use Math to Make Quilts
Quilts are made up of shapes.
(Name the shapes you see.)
Artists use math (rotation) to move shapes in quilt designs.
• Can you identify
the degree of
rotation for each
shape?

5. Quilt Makers Tell Stories With Shapes
“The dark day of May 19, 1780.
The seven stars were seen 12 N.
in the day. The cattle wall went to
bed, chickens to roost and the
trumpet was blown. The sun went
off to a small spot and then to
darkness.” – Harriet Powers
Harriet Powers. “Pictorial Quilt (detail),” 1898.

6. Artists Can Add Symbols To Quilts
Sanford Biggers re-purposes historical quilts.
• What images or
shapes can you
see on this quilt?

7. • What does this symbol mean?
• What kind of math is used to make
this design?
Sanford Biggers, “Lotus,” 2007. Courtesy of the artist.

8. Artists Create Their Own Languages
Left: Bruce Onobrakpeya (b. 1932, Nigeria). “Ibiebe (Alphabet and Ideograms),” 1983.
Right. Esteban Patino, “Possible Structure for a New Language,” 2009.

9. Artists Can Remix Their Work
El Anatsui (Ghanaian, b. 1944). “Conspirators,” 1997.

10. Lukasa Boards Are Like Vision Maps
The Lukasa board is a flat, hand-held
wooden board that belongs to a member of
the Luba community in Central Africa. The
board is used to tell personal stories. Each
board is different.

11. Make a Paper Quilt
Cut out each square. Arrange the squares into your
own creative pattern. Glue them down and add color.
• If you have time
you can create
your own shapes
and designs.

12. Finish Your Vision Map
• Cut shapes from
magazine/paper.
• Glue them to your
paper quilt.
• Add your own
shapes.
• Write about why
you chose your
design, shapes.