Scribble Exhibit: Why attend? Because you should see what children have to say.
I drive a lot and as an avid driver, I listen to a TON of podcasts. The latest one is Finding Fred, with Fred being the amazing educator, children’s advocate, performer, musician, and eternal good neighbor that is Fred Rogers. Listening to this podcast harkens back to why any good teacher becomes a teacher and continues to teach: we simply want to help guide people to do good and be good. “Good”, not in the sense of “well behaved”, but in the spirit of being their best selves in a world that requires a contribution from each of us. For this paradigm shift to take place, we need to believe that children have something innately valuable in each of them. Something that the world needs. In Mr. Roger’s world, children’s viewpoints matter. What they feel is valid. What they think is interesting. Their unique perspectives are not ones we need to change, they’re the ones we need to hear.
And now take all of that belief and translate it into something visual. THIS is the crux of being a good art teacher. We, as good art teachers, believe that our students, if given the time, opportunity and materials, are artists with valuable perspectives that the world should hear and see. And this Friday, you’ll get that opportunity.
The Scribble Exhibit, to me, has always been about showing the world that children’s artwork is worth seeing and worth collecting. The exhibit is our opportunity to take action, as believers in children, to show the world what they have shown us in art form. These pieces are essentially the artistic choices of our children. What types of lines will they make when handed a brush? Which colors will they use when given a palette? Where will they make their marks when given a surface? How will they interact with a piece that’s already been worked on by another artist? What contribution will each child make to these collaborative pieces?
Join me in celebrating the creative brilliance of our youngest generation and see what choices they have made on January 24th at the American Academy of Arts and Letters from 5-7:30pm!