Even middle school students can have memories of their childhoods, of an earlier time. The art of Romare Bearden and the writings of Paul Auster can be used to introduce ideas about time and memory to students and inspire works of their own. Bearden is an exceptional role model for young artists, not only because of his astounding art, but also because of his interests in literature, music, history, and social justice. He used all types of media to create collages, watercolors, oils, photomontages, and prints. Auster's life is outlined in his 1982 memoir, "The Invention of Solitude," which is divided into two parts. The first part, "Portrait of an Invisible Man" is a meditation on the death of Auster's father; and the second part, "The Book of Memory," is a reflection on solitude, coincidence, and fate. In this article, the author describes a lesson on creating a collage based on memories. (Contains 2 online resources.)