What You Don’t See.
(A reflection on one day of Spring Break Art Camp)
This week at Spring Art Camp we did some work with recyclables.
The kids were shown a sample of a figure done with an
oatmeal box (courtesy of my favorite breakfast) and other recycled bottles and
cardboard tubes. They were also given a picture of themselves printed out on
the Museum’s printer that morning. Their challenge was to make a figure
representing them with whatever materials they could scrounge from the many
boxes of collected packaging.
Armed with a scissors, tape, glue and their imagination they
set to work. They were to assist each other when needed. Meanwhile my assistant Emily and I were preparing things for
the next project and going around seeing if anyone needed help. Occasionally we
were called on to help solve an “engineering” problem. These were not precious materials and there were no plans to
dress them up with paint. We had looked at contemporary artists who had left
their materials raw and unpolished. The nature of the materials informed the
visual reading of the object as much as the subject matter did.
Anyway, before long I noticed things veering off from the
initial idea with a number of the kids. The figure was now an animal with their
face on it. Or it became a machine, a satellite, a tall sculpture, and in one
case a room complete with plastic covers serving as rugs, all the furnishings with
people too.
Anna Marie was
intently constructing the scaffolding of her giraffe neck while Genesis was
building a 3-tiered abstract sculpture.
In accomplishing these tasks they had to figure out how many supports
were needed where, how it should be attached and realize what limitations the
materials presented. When asked if they needed any assistance the answer was ,
more often than not, a quick and succinct no.
The other noticeable thing was the discussion in the room. There
was constant talk about what they were making and what all the parts did. Of
course there was the customary friendly chatter. It was
a buzz of sharing stories,
helping each other and different ages mingling in the most positive way.
So if you look at these objects, the artifacts of this one
morning’s work, you may see only the commonplace materials they used. What you
don’t see is the focused thought and consideration present in the room during the
course of this 2 hour session of building. You don’t see the pride that was in
each face as they announced they were finished and they relayed the story that came with it.
As a teacher I am concerned with the look of the product at
the end of the class and what it reveals about the students increased
technical mastery. I want them to learn
techniques and develop skills that will increase their sense of
accomplishment. But a morning like this
one was filled with the magic of the imagination and free exploration. The kind
that is uncensored, with no judgment and full of acceptance of who they are and
what they are capable of conceiving and creating right now, with the skills and
understandings they have at this moment in their lives. Perfect as they are.
I know this feeling, other artists, creators and makers know
this when we allow ourselves the freedom to reach. Speaking for myself, it comes most often when I can reach beyond
the concepts of my education and notions of what art is. For these young people
it isn’t so difficult to reach. It is so readily available and all it needs is
some trash and some time and for us to stand back and let it flow.
I later asked the kids when was the last time they spent
time with some trash or a cardboard box and started creating. They couldn't
remember. I know as a parent that we can get caught up in all the things we
feel we need to do for our kids. There is so much structured time for them and for ourselves. Maybe a night of sitting down with them and a
bunch of your recyclables, glue, tape and scissors would be good once in a
while. If you are frightened of art just call it a night of making. Don’t be afraid of not having ideas, your
kids will have them in abundance and will share them willingly with you. Don’t
be afraid of not being able to solve all the assembly problems they will help
you.
Let the ideas be whatever they will. They don’t need to be
practical or useful. The ideas that come will come from who your child is and
will show you how they think and who they are and what amazing things they can
conceive. At the end you will have a sculpture or something made of trash but
you will also have made space for the care and nurturing of your child’s (and your) imagination and
ingenuity.
It was an amazing week.
Thanks kids.
Barry Treu
Director of Education
