There was a time in my life when I considered returning to school to get a masters degree in art therapy from Naropa University in Boulder. Instead, I applied to the University of Colorado at Denver for a MLA in Landscape Architecture. I was looking for a creative career with a guaranteed income when I set my sights on Landscape Architecture. While some people are able to compromise their values for money with aplomb, I was not as successful. In fact, I didn’t listen to the tap on my shoulder when things weren’t going well despite the nagging feeling inside – and didn’t change my path until a brick slammed upside my head and knocked me straight.I spent a good part of 2006 feeling sorry for myself after dropping out of the graduate program at UCD. Don’t get me wrong, I was a really good student – but at the expense of my family and my health. And, then there was that nagging feeling that I wasn’t in the right place. So, before I made the decision to drop out I asked myself, was I willing to continue for 3 years in a program that would put me into $60,000 of debt which would guarantee that I would work 60+ hours a week after graduating for the next 10 years, albeit well compensated. 20 years ago, that wouldn’t of been a problem, but today it is. It just doesn’t feel right, especially after coming off of a 17 year career with an airline where I prostituted myself for free travel and a job where I didn’t have to think too hard.2007 brought greater clarity to my life and I’m really thankful to have bumbled about the past 2 years. When the children’s director at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center emailed me last year about teaching a kid’s art workshop this coming summer, it was an avenue that I had never considered. I thought I needed to be licensed to teach art. Turns out I didn’t. I just needed to have some cool projects, a passion for my medium, a desire to work with children and a good rapport with children. Check, check, check and check! My after-school clay classes will begin again next week and I have gained even greater clarity with what I want to do next.I have noticed a correlation between clay and learning that is so exciting to me. Most kids really dig working with clay – and they do so intuitively. I notice active kids calm down and concentrate when they’re really into the project and artistic children really flourish. My clay class is also very social – the kids talk freely about a lot of different things going through their minds. For the past few months, I have been mulling over the idea of opening up a clay studio outside my home that offers wet clay classes to kids and maybe a few to adults. There’s a huge demand that I can’t fill myself at one school.
Granted the Art Student’s League offers art classes for kids, but mostly on Saturday mornings during the school year and during summer art camps. Downtown Aurora Visual Arts does offer art outreach programs as well, but, they are a multi-disciplinary destination program. I would like to offer the clay classes year round. My model is the Baltimore Clay Works, where I hope to take a field trip in the next year. I believe there’s a similar program in Richmond, VA. My ultimate goal is to offer clay out reach programs to children in less advantaged areas of Denver. My husband has offered to help me write a business plan, but being the responsible finance guy that he is, he wants numbers and cold hard facts rather than dreams and good wishes.
In a sense, this new found clarity taps into my original interest in art therapy – helping people by tapping into their creative selves. Only, it doesn’t involve any more schooling or degrees, just action.
One of the parents from my after school kid’s clay class forwarded me this video of Sir Ken Robinson in conjunction with TED, a creative think tank. If you have the time, I highly encourage you to watch the video – it’s thought provoking and in a sense, relates to my rants of recent weeks.
I have really been thinking a lot about education, especially since my daughter started school 5 years ago. She’s a terrific student academically, but, after volunteering in her classroom, I worry about some of her classmates. I don’t believe that children learn in the same way. Maybe we’re not giving them the best education and that one size doesn’t fit all.
Sir Ken Robinson relates a story about Gillian Lynne, dancer and choreographer of Cats and Phantom of the Opera that really hit home for me. After interviewing her for his new book, she told the story of how her teacher insisted that she see a therapist because she had a low attention span, did poorly on tests etc., etc. Her mother took her to a Doctor, who after turning on the radio and watching her dance, told the mom that she didn’t need therapy or drugs, just a dance class. What if the Doctor and Mom had medicated her? She might never have had the opportunities that she has since enjoyed.
What if we’re trying to educate, strip mine style, all the kids in this country? There’s some lost potential. Here’s my favorite quote from the video:
If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original…in this country we stigmatize mistakes.
~Cynthia
PS. It’s been brought to my attention that email subscribers to my blog might not see the video. If that’s the case, click on this link to go directly to this blog post.
“…children don’t learn the same way…. one size does not fit all.”
Argggh! (bangs head on desk.) OK< better now!
Cynthia, I fervently hope that someone reading this sends a link to educators in your country.I’ll certainly mention it to one or two peole here who might pick up the ball.
Maybe it’s because I only see kids once or twice a week for “fun” things, but I notice an enthusiasm for the creative segments that is palpably lacking in the regular timetable.Especially in those attention-deficient kids.
Good luck with your programme.
Great post Cynthia……
Hi Cynthia. You should check out what the Northern Clay Center here in Minneapolis does. They have a great connection with the community and region and offer so many opportunities for all ages. Plus they also represent ceramic artists from around the country as well!! There website is
Northern Clay Center
Thanks for the post and wishing you the best on this.
I agree with the children learn differently statement too…I was/am one of those people so are all three of my kids. Sometimes we have to look at the box and wonder to ourselves…how did we ever think one size would fit all? It’s not a disablity to be different.
Congrat’s on the “figuring it out as you go”…that takes a fearless-ness that is hard to come by…whoo-hoo for bravery and personal courage!
I watched his speech again and I’m going to look for his new book – but what I got out of it a second time Dinahmow, isn’t that we should all go running towards creative careers, but that engaging the creative often times stimulates the other parts of our brains. But, I don’t think that we’re all meant to go out and be engineers either. Somehow, value has been assigned to certain professions and less to others.
I’m trying to remember growing up and adults, teachers and maybe even parents trying to steer us in a certain direction. “It’s too hard to be an artist” etc. etc. I’m trying to check myself now as it concerns my own daughter.
Denver is unique in that we have school choice and can send our kids to any school in the district regardless of where one lives. She’s interested in DSA Denver School of the Arts for middle and high school and I even caught myself asking her if she wouldn’t be more interested in the School of Technology and Science.
In regards to my program, it’s a ways off, I still need to refine and make a plan on paper.
Thanks Melody!
Thanks so much for the link, Shawn, Northern Clay is on my radar, I will check it out. While I no longer have family in MSP, I do know my way around the city.
Spot on Heather – I think a lot of our so called learning disabilities are just what you describe. We’re trying to force round people into square openings. It just doesn’t work and causes a lot of frustration for kids, teachers and parents.
Since subbing in special ed periodically, I have worked with moderate to severe needs children and that’s a totally different issue than say having high energy.
He is a great speaker and I really enjoyed the video.
“but that engaging the creative often times stimulates the other parts of our brains”
This to me is the key. Even engineers have to think outside of the box and that requires creative thinking.
My solution – Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning (one of denver’s public school’s of choice – kinda – it’s kinda a charter also – but not that either). My kids get graded on backpacking skills. Okay, never mind – they don’t get grades.
My kids didn’t fit into regular public school – it’s so nice to have so many choices here in denver.
What I really mean is that even the slow or difficult learners do much better when allowed (encouraged, not pushed) to express themselves through artistic means. That may be visual, written, even musical means.
Such a lot of scope here!
Good Morning Cynthia
This is Jan 15 (i think!) and just saw this at http://www.artbizblog.com
I think Boulder, Colo is not too far from Denver and immediately thought of you, so thought i’d pass it along:
“But the Boulder Public Library in nearby Boulder, Colorado, has an amazing exhibit space and they show top-of-the-line artwork in the Canyon Gallery. I’d put it in an upper-tier space.”
Hopefully, you can use the info as another source to display your wonderful art/pottery.
Cheers
Chae
No children don’t learn in the same way. I’m a day dreamer, always have been and I hope always will be. When things are really unpleasant and I don’t want to be there (where ever there is) I just leave the vicinity and go someplace in my mind. Ever so much more pleasant and more interesting. I’ve always done it and imagined the most fanicial things. I’m lucky in that I’m about equal in sight and audio learning and can only imagine the nightmare that some children go through who are kinetic and or learn in some other way. Great point you’ve brought up! At the same time, we can’t leave behind those who learn in the usual way. Day dreaming helps my sanity, and I think lots of children develop coping mechanisms that help them deal with the undealable. Yeah, like that is even a word! I know!
Beware the unexpected consequences. 80% of the people that kids interact with as they travel through life will be products of the public school system. It would be beneficial for the thought process to have exposure to and appreciation for the arts and music, but to be self sufficient in this society children need a classical education. Cynthia has picked out and provided a stimulating video on a very timely issue.
One more thing, teach your children self disciplin. With out it they are lost. No learning can take place in personal chaos.