Birthdays, solstice, anniversaries and New Years are such wonderful triggers for reflection, memories and storytelling. While many make resolutions, I tend to think about experiences that have inspired my thoughts and actions. Returning to these memories or ideas provide me with a path for forward motion.
For five or six years I have hung words from The American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) on the studio door at SWS. I often reread them as they deeply represent my beliefs. I wish I wrote them. What I can do is actualize them.
Yesterday, I took the Kindergarten students, teachers and parents on the annual trip to Baltimore to the AVAM. It is my favorite museum and favorite place to introduce others to. For this post, I will share the powerful AVAM words from my studio door, with images from my work/life.
AVAM’s Seven Educational Goals
1. Expand the definition of a worthwhile life.
Images from visit to the Folger Theatre Costume Shop with room 9 Kindergarteners.
Natalie’s rendering
2. Engender respect for and delight in the gifts of others.
Nick Cave Exhibit at Mary Boone Gallery in NYC, 2011
Evidence of children at work…
AVAM Art Bus
Sanjay Patel Exhibit at the Museum of Asian art in San Fran, 2011
Yarn Bomb in SoHo, 2011
Horse Bomb at SWS, 2011
“A Flying Ms. McLean” By Fiona, 2012
3. Increase awareness in the wide variety of choices available in life for all…particularly students.
4. Encourage each individual to build upon his or her own special knowledge and inner strengths.
5. Promote the use of innate intelligence , intuition, self exploration, and creative self-reliance.
This happened a few days ago. During free time in the studio, Winnie (PreK) asked “Why are there letters on the bells? I explained that the musical scale has letters that go C,D,E,F,G,A,B,C and it was the same thing they sing up and down with Ms. Rachel in Music. She said,”Wait, say them again.” As I did, she arranged the bells in order and played them. I went about my own thing, and awhile later came upon this…
6. Confirm the great hunger for finding out just what each of us can do best, in our own voice, at any age.
(Katie’s Bluebird)
7.Empower the individual to choose to do that something really, really well.
EmmaClare wanted to making something that flies that she could carry like a purse.
Tremendous words of wisdom. For all. I am so thankful for the American Visionary Art Museum.
This morning I was reading an article in the Washington Post about the children’s author, Mo Willems. He wrote “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus.” and more. Once again, words of wisdom. I am ending this post with a quote from the article:
“He’s not afraid to show kids failing,” says Willem’s friend Tom Waburton, a fellow animator. “He’s not afraid to show that bad things can happen and good things can come out of that. There’s something underneath everything he does.”
That something is…humanity, perhaps? Compassion? Psychological strife? Or maybe it’s something simpler, like Willem’s explanation of how he writes for children as though they are all wise souls.
“Adults and children,” he says, “are members of the same species.”
“It’s one of those sentences that means nothing and everything, depending on how you read it. (The author who revels in a small fan base by Monica Hesse, Washington Post, 1/7/2012)
It means everything to me.
Call them not your children. Call them your builders. -The Talmud
Happy New Year 2012
As always, lovely and inspired.
We are huge fans of the pigeon around our house, too.
Marla,
Whenever you post a blog I run to read it – your posts really broaden my horizon and I feel very lucky (and a bt envious) that Matteo gets to soak up your creative vision every single day!
Wishing you a wonderful 2012. Elisabeth.
Hallelujah and Happy New Year! AVAM is the holy temple of art, and I’m so glad that it’s less than an hour away.
Hi Marla — Thanks for sharing! I love the Sanjay Patel Asian panel – what a great image! I think some similar costumes are on display right now at the Corcoran…the very tall ones with the feet. Crazy costumes! Winnie loves seeing herself here too! Happy New Year! Molly
I love you and how knowing you makes life more beautiful.
Happy 2012, what a great post to start the year. I love the heart in the mirror photo! xo
Marla, I love the resolutions, a constant reminder for me as a teacher, how we can continue to open doors for children in our care. Your blogs are superb!
Marla,
You are remarkable. The photos you have taken so beautifully and words of wisdom you have shared from AVAM are so inspiring and very powerful. How incredible too, that our SWS students were able to experience this as a way to kick-off the New Year!
And to you Marla, I wish you a healthy, creative, fun, productive, delightful, light-filled, joyous, enlightening, peaceful 2012, full of gratitude, music and friends. (And a lot of adjectives.) 😉 Namaste, LAS
I love those seven educational goals from the American Visionary Art Museum! Lovely! I’m going to post these in my classroom. Thank you for this lovely post. Happy New Year, Marla!