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