Family Migration Study
My Roots
I grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. My mom was born and raised in Raleigh and all of my immediate family members and myself presently live in Raleigh. My dad grew up in Georgetown, South Carolina. My grandparents and great grandparents from both sides also grew up and lived in the southern part of the United States. Family ancestry was not a large focus for us growing up and has not proved to be of great interest to me in my adult life. I do know that I am of Danish and French decent. Our last name does sound French and is spelled different than the more common Ryan spelling. When I visited Europe at age 17 I saw an interstate sign for a town named Rion on my way to Giverny. I was on a high school, carefully planned, goal oriented, trip to France and Spain. I did not have the liberty of choosing to stop and explore Rion. As I rode past the sign I pondered the idea that I could actually have family members living in that town that could tell me more about my roots. Perhaps one day I will have the opportunity to go back and visit Rion and see if my ancestry is connected to this French city.
The Teenage Years
When I was a sophomore in high school I became obsessed with stars for no apparent reason. I drew stars all over my notes instead of paying attention in class. I filled sketchbook after sketchbook with star doodles. I put those glow in the dark stars all over the ceiling in my bedroom. I bought some books about stars. As I was exploring my newly purchased literature, I made some interesting connections to the constellation Orion. My name is Hunter and the constellation is named after a gigantic, supernaturally strong hunter in Greek mythology. Orion is related to the ninth month in the Hebrew calendar, my birth month. In my teenage imagination I was connected to the constellation Orion. As a teen I took drastic measures and obtained a star tattoo that eternally, symbolically connects me to the stars. As years passed I became less interested in this idea of stellar connection, but this idea has continued to be a spark for my creativity.
The Present
In creating this artwork I was inspired to revisit my long lost connection. I researched Orion once again and was able to learn the names of the nine stars that make up the constellation, their qualities, sizes, placement, and colors. Through my artwork I have named each one of my closest family members after a star in the Orion constellation. They have been strategically named based on their size and how bright they shine. My grandmothers, prominent role models, are the brightest stars. My parents are side by side in Orion’s belt. My niece, the newest member of our family, is small and positioned towards the middle of the constellation. I am small, being the last born in my immediate family, and at the very top of the constellation. This creative exploration has inspired me to become more familiar with my own identity and how it relates to my family members.
I grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. My mom was born and raised in Raleigh and all of my immediate family members and myself presently live in Raleigh. My dad grew up in Georgetown, South Carolina. My grandparents and great grandparents from both sides also grew up and lived in the southern part of the United States. Family ancestry was not a large focus for us growing up and has not proved to be of great interest to me in my adult life. I do know that I am of Danish and French decent. Our last name does sound French and is spelled different than the more common Ryan spelling. When I visited Europe at age 17 I saw an interstate sign for a town named Rion on my way to Giverny. I was on a high school, carefully planned, goal oriented, trip to France and Spain. I did not have the liberty of choosing to stop and explore Rion. As I rode past the sign I pondered the idea that I could actually have family members living in that town that could tell me more about my roots. Perhaps one day I will have the opportunity to go back and visit Rion and see if my ancestry is connected to this French city.
The Teenage Years
When I was a sophomore in high school I became obsessed with stars for no apparent reason. I drew stars all over my notes instead of paying attention in class. I filled sketchbook after sketchbook with star doodles. I put those glow in the dark stars all over the ceiling in my bedroom. I bought some books about stars. As I was exploring my newly purchased literature, I made some interesting connections to the constellation Orion. My name is Hunter and the constellation is named after a gigantic, supernaturally strong hunter in Greek mythology. Orion is related to the ninth month in the Hebrew calendar, my birth month. In my teenage imagination I was connected to the constellation Orion. As a teen I took drastic measures and obtained a star tattoo that eternally, symbolically connects me to the stars. As years passed I became less interested in this idea of stellar connection, but this idea has continued to be a spark for my creativity.
The Present
In creating this artwork I was inspired to revisit my long lost connection. I researched Orion once again and was able to learn the names of the nine stars that make up the constellation, their qualities, sizes, placement, and colors. Through my artwork I have named each one of my closest family members after a star in the Orion constellation. They have been strategically named based on their size and how bright they shine. My grandmothers, prominent role models, are the brightest stars. My parents are side by side in Orion’s belt. My niece, the newest member of our family, is small and positioned towards the middle of the constellation. I am small, being the last born in my immediate family, and at the very top of the constellation. This creative exploration has inspired me to become more familiar with my own identity and how it relates to my family members.