Project Comment

This came in from art teacher, Dick Allen:
“Thanks again for leading this project. It was a new experience for the class and I think that the project stretched them a bit and forced them to think a little differently about the process of creating art. It also encouraged them to consider how making art is connected to some of the important issues we confront today. Thanks, Cynthia. It was a good experience for the kids and I think that it exposed them to some new ideas - both artistic ideas and ideas about environmental issues.”

Hypothesis and results

Sometimes the process is the central artwork:
This group of high school students wanted to create a "Trash Tree". Their hypothesis was that there was lots of trash around their school, and they wanted to remind students to take charge of their garbage. The interesting result of their trash search, was that they found most trash was indeed deposited in garbage cans. So our statement turned from a negative to a positive: students reported to their school community, that their "Trash Tree" is not full of trash, and is a commentary that the school community is doing a pretty good job in being responsible for their trash.

What was wonderful about this series of workshops, was the collaborative process, which involved: brainstorming several artwork ideas, settling on one idea, planning the materials collection, planning the building, finding the site, determining the length of time for teh artwork to be up, working together to build the work, designing the text/accompanying statement, reporting the process to the community, documenting the process through photographs, and finally dismantling the work.

Inside work

Sometimes we need to be inside. I had planned for one group to be outside, creating a trail with natural sculptures.....but it turned out to be two days of torrential rain! Plan B turned out fine- we converted the art classroom into a nature trail with sculptures made by several different groups winding around the room.

There are plenty of ideas we can explore inside.

In all weather

The experience of nature is not just for warm sunny days! Even with a cold day and the wind blowing, a wonderful group of preschoolers create winter homes for local insects and animals. Then we moved inside to create a group story about our shelters and animals.

Natural Details

Only a few steps into the woods, and these children were focusing in on the details, finding tiny creatures and sharing the wonder.

Natural Creativity and Collaboration

"Ooooohhhh, do we HAVE to go outside?"
"It's cold on the ground."
"What's that spikey thing?"
"I want THAT bark!"
"See...here's where the fairy lies down, here's the door, here's her upstairs secret room..."
"See? We built one big place for us to share!"

Negatives and reticence so quickly move to engagement and excitement, and finally to pride.

Being invisible

I have to say, that finding photos of me doing what I do is hard. I feel that the teaching and the artmaking I work on is about the students, the process, and the materials. I mostly try to melt into the background and let the experience instruct. I think of myself as a collaborator, partner, and at most, one of the guides in each student's educational experience.

Learning as I teach

Digging for our natural clayworks

One of the things I enjoy most about being a teaching artist, is that, as I prepare for each group and each workshop, I have the opportunity to explore or re-explore topics and concepts that relate to my own artwork practice.
In developing the course content for this "Essential Expressions" class, I reconnected with the most basic artist roles and practices. The physical process of gathering materials, the psychological and philosophical process of delivering a message or image for a community, and the role of inspiring that community.

cave mural

Getting to know each group

I learn so much in the first few minutes with each group. Not just about what age group they are in, but about HOW they work, and WHO they are. I'm a good listener, and I take advantage of that, being sensitive to each group's needs and skills. I adjust my plan on the fly constantly. This summer group was particularly tuned in to the aromas and textures of the natural materials I brought. Most of them live in a more urban setting, and were not familiar with different kinds of bark or the names of plants and animals, but they related to the smell of fresh cilantro and lemon basil, so we started from there. They learned so much, and worked together well building natural sculptures inside.

Collaborating with high school students

What I enjoyed so much with this group I worked with in June 2007, was the project development. When we began the brainstorming for their group artwork, it was immediately apparent that they had lots of solid and ambitious ideas, and some quite different from what I expected. They took their chosen concept very seriously, and explored it from several angles.
The group developed a project based on water, with the goal of raising awareness about our water consumption and related packaging/marketing issues.
We ended up with a walk through experience, with informational signs along the way, leading to a hidden waterfall, made of plastic water bottles. This project was a great blend of research, writing, invention, and creativity.