Resolute

First, I just have to say that it is January 12, 2013 and it is 65 degrees. No, that's not the temperature inside. That is the temperature outside and I love it. The snow has melted and the daffodils have been fooled because they are poking up out of the ground. I am pretending that spring is right around the corner, rather than more winter weather.

But alas, it is still more like New Year's resolution time. Every morning I ask God for help with the more serious resolutions and to prep me for the day by granting me patience, wisdom, empathy and productivity. I guess that is probably more like asking for pwep for the day.  Unfortunately, I am sad to say that by nightfall I have usually fallen short with each one but always hope that I have another day to try again and do better.

So, I also like to fool around by coming up with really silly resolutions. Like, trying to get better at doing the wobble dance. You'll have to google that because I can't quite find the words to describe it well. I also figure that I may get better at the wobble if I practice every time for 2 minutes while brushing my teeth. Now that's time management. I'll have to look for that egg timer I misplaced.

Lots of people make that traditional resolution of eating healthier. Fish is good for you so I am thinking of trying Sushi for the first time. And while I am at it, I guess I can throw jello into that category as well. They are both good for you and challenging to swallow because of that squiggly quality. I'll try to get "high school skinny" but for me that goal should probably be more like "junior high skinny." Have to go further back in time for me to get to that "skinny era." So, its time cupcake, to get back into the yoga routine. Taking the recycling to the curb does not count as exercise.

"Gray butterfly! Have you a dream for going. Or are you the blind wind's blowing?" ~Dana Burnet

Around new year's, I had a moment when I just picked up the paintbrush and felt like painting on the wall...freestyle. No planning, no thinking, just enjoying the feel of the paint sliding, sloshing and dripping around on the wall. Well, actually I did have a little bit of an idea in mind. I wanted to give the butterflies a home by starting a butterfly garden. It was fun but if the flowers and leaves look a little stilted and tense, it's probably because I was wearing beige paints while painting. This was such a spontaneous moment, that I didn't even put on a paint smock. Maybe, I'll tend to the garden and add more flowers to keep it growing, but for right now, it will have to do.

Summer Art is the Best!

I made it back to the museum for a return trip before the end of the Impressionism Show and the end of summer. This time, I thought that I would be able to study the masters a bit more closely. The day that I chose for my visit also turned out to be Art Camp Day. After I was done pouting and wishing that my job was to work at Art Camp Day, I bravely journeyed onwards. My studious intentions seemed to evaporate for some reason and I wound up playing around a bit more than I should have. I eavesdropped on conversations, tagged along on a guided gallery tour with elementary children, and did a lot of people watching. Very interesting what the artsy crowd wears to the gallery.

I eventually paid attention to the artwork and discovered a new favorite artist when his incredibly colorful floral canvas spoke to me. He is Odilon Redon, another artist to join Gustav Klimt from the Symbolism Movement. And then I was fascinated by the affairs, intrigue, and murder surrounding artist's model, Evelyn Nesbit. Her portraits and photographs were included in this Monet to Stieglitz exhibition. Ms. Nesbit was born in Tarentum, lived a fast paced life, and was a super model, pin-up and Gibson girl. Her multi-millionaire jealous husband shot and killed her lover on a rooftop theater during the evening on June 26, 1906. It became the trial of the century. 

Then I ran across the street to get a huge slice of pizza and snuck back into the museum courtyard to eat it under an Acacia like tree by the waterfall. I prentended I was taking lunch while on an African Safari since the weather was just how I like it. Hot! I felt like I discovered Nirvana from the simple pleasures of life. Peace, imagination, sunshine, art, and pizza!



Below is the 2012 Summer Collaborative Art Project. As any artist must do, I had to first understand my subject material. I watch Quobo and the Zulu Patrol but unfortunately was not hip enough to be familiar with Nick Jr. So, I had to take a crash course on the Backyardigans and become inspired quickly. I watched video and googled coloring book pages and soon started to feel as if I had the essence of the characters. Meet (from left to right) Austin, Uniqua, Tasha and Pablo. Not enough room for Tyrone :(  The best quote this time was from a young child as he held the paintbrush up against the canvas while painting and who remarked "I feel like an artist!" That totally captures the goal of this project. 

2012 Collaborative Art!



Autism Speaks

April was Autism Awareness Month and I attended 2 days of training on the importance of play. Using art to engage children almost always works for me. However, there are times when you must follow the child's lead and participate with them in their behavior to be successful. This approach is based on Stanley Greenspand's DIR (Developmental, Individual-Difference, Relationship Based) Floortime Model. There are those who are quite resistant to DIR, fearing that you will reinforce the undesirable, repetitive, and non-interactive qualities of a child who has been diagnosed with autism. Radically different from the more medical ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) approach,  I think that this is a more strengths based model and feels more natural.


But let's look at what works in real life with anyone. If you express an interest in what someone else seems to be doing and enjoying, well that is a basic fundamental building block to forming an alliance or relationship. For reasons that we do not understand, children diagnosed with autism seem to withdraw from social interaction and disappear into their own world of play. We seem to think that this is their way of self regulating an otherwise anxiety filled, stressful, and chaotic world. Joining with them in their activities doesn't mean we stop there. A skilled therapist can then gently begin to introduce and build on higher levels of functioning.

 Though we call it play and it can be fun, it is also hard work and takes a lot of time and patience. At least 2 or 3 hours a day of directed play is required with the child by a skilled individual, i.e. parent, family member, friend, or professional.


Of course, you know what I was really thinking all the while during my 2 days of training. I am wondering about the role of the expressive arts for a child diagnosed with autism. The old adage "time and place" keeps going through my mind. Art, music, dance...would have to be introduced very slowly and cautiously and only if the child seems to be in a spot to be able to experience and integrate something new into their environment. Remember that the arts frequently have the potential to be overstimulating for anyone.




"May I have this dance?"

 Once again I am reminded of the quote that is attributed to Plato. It goes something like this "Be Kind. For everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

Novemberfest!

It seems that every year around this time, I make a concerted effort to appreciate the Autumn experience. For instance, take this little guy. I found him just hanging around. Yeah, I do know that is his job. Fall inspires great art and craft ideas and this scarecrow decorative door knob hanger is no exception. It’s a really easy project for the smaller children since they can simply color the pieces and assemble them. Then  the “bigger kids” (I guess that’s me) get to use their fine motor skills to design more intricate and fashionable accoutrements. You can find the pattern and instructions at www.dltk-holidays.com/fall/mscarecrowdoorknob.htm

I’ve also had some other interesting backyard visitors this November. I was able to run and get to the camera to capture this gobble of turkeys. They started to scamper away as I tried to get closer so I hope you can see them. I have to wonder if it is the same family of birds that was strolling across the street this past summer. A momma turkey with at least 7 or 8 of her hatchlings had been out taking an early morning stroll and caused quite a stir and traffic jam in the neighborhood. Ahhh but they grow up so quickly these days. Sigh.

The deer always seem to move in closer to the house this time of the year. I think that they are in search of any greenery that has yet to be touched by the frost or that they have yet to munch on. I was awed by this one lone fellow who was proudly sporting his rack. I forgot to count the points on his antlers as he majestically strutted across the back yard.

I’ve been playing around with a fresco recipe to make holiday ornaments but so far nothing that I am ready to unveil here. Unless of course, we all need a laugh. The fresco does however, have a nice interesting feel to it when it is being painted. Quite fun but I haven’t yet got a hold of the technique. Remember Frieda Kahlo’s husband Diego Rivera? He apparently, was quite the fresco painter. And of course you know Leonardo’s Last Supper being one of the most famous frescoes.

But I digress again. Back to why I think that this is great time of the year. I’ve decided that it is really the beginning of spring for me. We just have to get through winter first.

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” – Dr. Seuss

The Fallen Flower

They say that our personalities are pretty much formed by age 6 - so indulge me a moment as I ask you to remember your world when you were 6 years old. You lived somewhere. It may have been a home. Or not. You had to have adults who took care of you. Or not. You had lots of other children around you and they were your friends. Or not.

One day something that you did not understand happened. You did not know how to express what you were feeling. You weren't really sad or mad but you just felt bad. A lot. You were angry at all the adults around you for letting it happen. You hated all the other children around you because it did not happen to them.

Your world grew more unfriendly. You felt very alone. After what seemed like an eternity, something slowly started to change but the pain in your soul still did not know how to let the love in your heart come out. One afternoon, your grandmother took down her mixing bowl and covered the kitchen table with newspaper. She made you put your hand into the warm, squishy mixture. And she did the same. You felt like laughing but it did not happen. You just stared at her. You made a mess but no one yelled. You started to talk about stuff. You made something funny looking but everyone smiled and said that it was beautiful. You decided to put it in a safe place and that you would keep it forever.

Now imagine that you are "all grown up." You are 11 years of age and you are staring at the lopsided paper mache vase made by you and Nanna. Your brows are less furrowed and your heart has lightened a bit. The butterflies in your stomach go away for just a few moments as you think about the calming memory of that paper mache day. You are not quite as angry now and your lips start to turn upward. Slightly. You feel at peace and pray that Nanna is too.


This story is fictional but feels very real and could be very real. It is meant to show the power of creative expression and the ability of art to soothe the aching soul. But make no mistake, it is always God's hand that guides our paintbrush and chooses the strokes.


"Art is the unceasing effort to compete with the beauty of flowers and never succeeding."
-Marc Chagall

"Art seems to me to be a state of soul more than anything else."
-Marc Chagall

Journey the Tropics of Madagascar

I sat in my car and listened to the sound of the falling rain. It was a nice rain and I knew that it was much needed for the gardens. All in all, it was kinda cozy, very peaceful and I was enjoying the solitude. As the rain started to fall hard and the skies darkened, I prayed harder. I figured God knew I wasn't really praying for myself. It was so the children could enjoy a little art outdoors today and create their colorful Madagascar Journey. Well, yeah, I really wanted to paint too.

I wasn't yet regretting that I had absolutely refused to acknowledge the weather forecasts that had all been calling for rain and thus did not pack an umbrella. After all, I wouldn't melt and an umbrella would not do anything to protect my coveted 3' x 4' canvas that was still snug as a bug in my back seat.

It looked like the sun was starting to peak through the clouds and the rain was letting up a bit. I ventured out and quickly realized that I would need my headband to keep the flopping hair off my face. I could even deal with a very bad hair day if it meant the storm was over.

I managed to secure a spot for the Art Activities under a canopy and started to feel better immediately. Before I knew it, I turned around and realized that the children had arrived and a few were watching me with quizzical looks. I asked if they were ready to paint and it was not long before a line had formed. There was a minute, like always, that I wonder if we are going to be able to finish in time. Then the amazing thing happens. Time flies. I am exhausted. Ne'er a raindrop and another masterpiece has entered the world. I hope you like it!

Summer Library Crawl

I have been discovering which of our local community libraries have a great children's section. The results of my independent poll have been surprising. Some of the best educational books that I have stumbled on have been in the childen's libraries. They have great books on artists and on arts and crafts ideas. And of course the pictures and colors are always great.



Just when I had given up on my search for what I was looking for on the Rain Forest, I found a beaucoup stash of books with incredible pictures at a local neighborhood library. I am also amazed at how the librarians are so friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. I'm thinking that maybe they are just perplexed by my patronage. You know, I'm kinda an outliar on the bell curve for age.

Summer's Treasure Trove

For me, there is no greater gift than painting outdoors with children on a gorgeous sunny day. And this summer's first Collaborative Art Project was no exception. This time, I selected and sketched 2 slightly larger canvases (24" x 30"), had a much smaller and younger age group, and only 2 hours with which to work. So, I strategized early, setting each child up with their selection of paint colors on a palette, insured that they had a wieldable paintbrush in hand, and focused them on the part of the canvas that would be their target. It was kinda like the game "Twister" as we fit as many to the canvas that we could to begin our artistry.

Supervision was a bit more challenging this way but I kept the faith. I am always delighted to see the children model my teaching and help the newcomers as they approached. I was tickled to hear one very young child imitate me by telling another with pride "now stand back and look at what you have done." Some were ready to hand over their paintbrush to the next in line while others only reluctantly did so.

The hours flew by quickly for me with only a few close calls. Never assume that the maintenance men will not turn on the lawn sprinklers even while they are watching you. Very minor water damage to a piece of foam board that was intended for the children to sign their names and leave their hand print behind. A few paintbrushes fell to the pavilion floor, which was OK. However, when a few youngsters thought that the concrete made a way more cool canvas, I gently reminded them that we wanted to be invited back next year. They understood. And I got a few laughs for my wit. Priceless.

A favorite conversation of mine with another youngster went like this as she asked me: "Are you an artist?" Oh dear, that dreaded question and I am thinking to myself, yep, a very quirky artiste. Rather, I say to her "well, I think I have been called that by some." Thinking that I cleverly dodged that question, I was not prepared for her quick retort: "Well, are you a famous artist?" Not wishing to burst her bubble nor mine I reply "Oh we can only dream, sweetie, we can only dream".

The final artwork is now on display in our public library and it makes my heart soar. Their simple and sincere "thank you's" as they left were treasures. The children are certainly for me the inspiration behind "you color my world".

Ahhh, Need I Say More?

Collaborative Painting with Emerging Artists

Time to focus and to figure out what my next project will be. I have a tendency to meander and become mired in too many competing ideas. Perhaps that is creativity but at times it does feel a little unsettling. Recently, I have become a music volunteer for a local community center. That has been going well and has been a great source of satisfaction.

Still thinking about themes for upcoming summer art projects but with our recent 10 degree below zero weather, I fear that is yet some time away. I posted the photo from the Post Gazette from this past summer for inspiration and hope.

If you have a talent, use it in every which way possible. Don't hoard it. Don't dole it out like a miser. Spend it lavishly, like a millionaire intent on going broke!
-Brenda Francis

Reflections

I wonder about how children learn and if certain strategies are more effective than others. I think about the circumstances of my earliest memories and ponder why they were etched in my "very left-brained" mind.

You know by now where this is going, don't you? Some memories remain vivid because of an association with an event or an activity. Identifying and then implementing these positive yet galvanizing forces can be a powerful teaching tool. I remember the excitement that I was experiencing while waiting with my friend for my first piano lesson and I still remember my piano teacher's words during that first lesson.

Art can come in a variety of modalities. Music, Dance, Theater, Poetry. I love dreaming up ways where children can learn and create their own memorable experiences through art. Admittedly, I still have just as much fun today as when I was 8 years of age.

Share your talents. The woods would be silent if only the birds with the best voices sang.

Collaborative Art

Here they are! The Canvases. They are 3 20" x 30" panels colorfully painted by children during a collaborative art experience. I absolutely adore them. They began by me sketching a few of the critters from the Disney Movie "A Bug's Life". The following week, five hours of a gently guided activity resulted in magnificent objets d'arts. Currently, the artwork is on display and they so totally rock our Conference Room.

I had such a good time and was delighted to witness the talents of emerging young artists. I watched in amazement as the children carefully chose their colors, selected the section that they wanted to paint and worked collaboratively, passing on their paintbrush, until each of the 3 canvases were a completed masterpiece. It's a memory that I will treasure and I can only hope that the event will be a memorable one for the children as well. The day was also captured by a great photograph on the front page of Section B of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.

Proselytizing

A favorite mantra of mine is "que sera, sera". While these words preach a certain degree of tolerance, admittedly, I am beginning to feel a bit hypocritical. Apparently, I am quite intent upon proselytizing, insistent upon getting a paintbrush into every one's hand and firmly believing that this will solve all of their ills. As far back as I can remember, coloring or painting made the world momentarily seem to be a better place.

I am now well over the coloring book era and way beyond the legal drinking age in most states but I had to giggle when a friend of mine asked "what are you dreaming up now?" Currently, I am organizing arts and crafts for an estimated crowd of about 1,000 people. Typically, organizing an event like this would put me right on the edge of that proverbial precipice. However, it keeps me from paying attention to those things to which I probably really should be paying attention. But alas, I think that is the magic.


I am amazed at a few simple facts that the Art History Books tell us about Vincent van Gogh. He did not start painting until he was 27 years of age and he died only 10 years later. He never sold a painting in his lifetime. His painting of the Irises sold in 1987 for 54 million dollars and his 1890 painting of Dr. Paul Gachet sold in 1990 for 82.5 million dollars.