[Chicago Crossings: Bridges and Boundaries, reel 47; Spertus Museum]

A Kartemquin Films crew follows a group of young schoolchildren through the Spertus Museum of Judaica's 1994 exhibition, "Bridges and Boundaries: Chicago Crossings," as the children, with the help of a few adults, attempt to find meaning in the artists' work.

1:03Copy video clip URL A docent from the Spertus Museum introduces the Bridges and Boundaries to a group of young schoolchildren, explaining to them the show’s premise and the idea of identity.

2:14Copy video clip URL The children flock to the television screens in Edith Altman’s installation, watching intently.

3:30Copy video clip URL A group forms around Fan Warren’s piece and the children—with the docent as their guide—begin to unravel the meaning behind the piece, all while timidly smiling into the camera.

9:50Copy video clip URL The group moves to Joel Feldman’s wood carvings, focusing on the symbolism present as well as the idea of “power.”

13:15Copy video clip URL The students move into Marva Jolly’s portion of the exhibition while the docent elucidates Jolly’s spiritualistic nature.

14:53Copy video clip URL An elderly Jewish woman interprets John Pitman Weber’s window piece for a few of the children. “Weber shows us this to sharpen our minds; to make us think about other groups of people besides our own, because we’re not always aware of your customs and you’re not aware of my customs,” she explains.

16:26Copy video clip URL A diverse group of children watches the video portion of Altman’s installation together.