Super Duper Cool
Dennis reports in “LIVE FROM BROOKLYN“. “After a month of remote learning, we are back with ART YARD Art Matters at the Brooklyn New School (BNS) LIVE and IN PERSON. Teaching artist Evelyn Beliveau delivered an exceptional lesson on Healing Through Self Portraiture (looking into oneself).
Our group of 8 second grade students listened attentively as Evelyn taught them, step by step, about observational drawing. She showed them several examples of self-portraits - including those by Kerry James Marshall, Frida Kahlo and TM Davy. Other topics discussed (all not fully related but, well .... in many ways they were): why are portraits made in "portrait"/horizontal mode? do eyebrows serve any purpose? and (Dennis' favorite) "was Cleopatra from Brooklyn?".
Zoe felt a self-portrait in landscape orientation could give her greater options for backgrounds - so she decided to experiment. Excellent! Lots of smart thinking going on in our class!
Using pencil and paper to begin, students used small stand-up mirrors to examine the shapes of their faces, their eyebrows, and their eyes. Lots of questions popped up - and the answer to each one was basically the same, which was 'draw what you see'.
Questions and comments were: "sometimes I wear glasses but I'm not wearing them today" or "I have green dye in my hair but I'm washing it out tonight" and the big big big question from every student was "do I draw my mask?". TO MASK OR NOT TO MASK? THAT IS THE QUESTION. Evelyn repeated: "draw what you see". She and Dennis will make an executive decision this week about masked or unmasked portraits!
While students were anxious to 'go to the head of the class' by advancing their portraits to include noses, ears, hair, etc., Evelyn kept them on track and moved them forward, step-by-step. No rushing ahead!!!! The results are looking great, thus far.
Two students brought Baby Yodas with them - explaining to Dennis (rather, bamboozling Dennis) that they give them the confidence needed to do well in class. So, when in Rome - even Baby Yoda peered into a mirror and started a self-portrait.”
Evelyn further summarizes: “We had a fun first day in person at BNS! Students had great ideas to share--to show how you're feeling or let others know how you see yourself! Drawing a self-portrait is a great way to slow down and be aware of yourself and the moment you're in, which can contribute beautifully to a process of healing. Students also had a lot to say about Frida Kahlo, one of our example artists, and talked poignantly about the connection between art and healing they see in her work.
Next, students jumped in with their own self portrait drawings! We're working step by step to make sure students slow down and really look in their mirrors to observe the details of each feature. Today, we drew the shape of the head, the eyes (taking care to place them horizontally and vertically on the face), eyebrows, and hair. I enjoyed talking to different students about the shapes they saw in their features and the decision whether or not to include a highlight in their eyes.
In critique, students noticed similarities and differences between the level of detail in one another's drawings, and one student complimented the sense of wonder in the wide eyes of another student's drawing.
I was impressed by the engagement and participation of the students from the initial discussion through final critique!”
In ART YARD Advanced Studio we spent both Monday and Tuesday on Zoom with Teaching Artist Hawley Hussey delving into the pagan holiday which marks the beginning of spring. Both sessions felt very much a celebration of our community as they filled with thoughtful and intriguing banter related to Hawley’s presentations.
Hawley explains: “This turn of the wheel brings us to Imbolc or Imbolg. A festival of returning light and the beginning of Spring celebrating the Goddess Brigid. It is a celebration of hearth and home. Lighting candles and fires represents the return of warmth. Big themes for the two workshops were Listening/Dreaming /Visioning and Gathering/Discernment/Focus.
Screen shots from Hawley's presentation
The questions we pondered with our art and lively dialogue:
What is wanting to emerge? What new beginning is arising? What do I need to tend to? What is asking for my attention?
While the amazing group began to create I presented a series of images and ideas to inspire their thinking and creating about this season. I shared the Triple Goddess symbol of the waxing, full and waning moon, representing the aspects of the Maiden, Mother and Crone. The maiden represents enchantment, inception, expansion, the promise of new beginnings, birth, youth and youthful enthusiasm. We dug into the incredible SNOWDROP Flower! This flower is a true harbinger of Spring that typically blooms from late February to late march!”
Karla included images of hyacinth vine seeds in her collage, she sent over images of the actual seeds she is planting for reference, explaining: “They bloom lilac/purple and grow these gorgeous burgundy pods which produce these beautiful seeds for the next planting!!”
Madison shared many compliments: “Hawley’s lesson was super duper cool, I never heard of Imbolc, so learning about it today has taught me a lot! I thought at first I was going to have nothing to draw from, but as you continued to teach and show videos I was able to get creative! Thank you!!” Karla’s collage seemed so enticing with the colors had a beautiful color palette and I love taking care of my plants so I like how you incorporated seeds.
Delphine’s piece was super surprising in a unique way, especially with the heart and the flowers. Her inclusion of her now signature hand in the lower right added to the impact of her work.
I loved all of Nayarit pieces! She showed environmentalism in all of them! A perfect reflection of what she cares about and how she acts in the world.
Nayarit Tineo, Imbolc Celebrating the Return of Spring
I was really impressed at how Vera’s piece came together so well and felt so strong. It was really interesting to notice that here overlapping hands looked woven (a topic that came up in Hawley's presentation.)
Vera Tineo, Imbolc Celebrating the Return of Spring
Meridith’s use of paper towel and glitter was so cool and unique. Great problem solving Meridith! (To bad about the "glitter fiasco" in your studio!!)
The meaning behind Robin’s piece was amazing (we all agree and we all totally support Robin’s vision!!)
And Ed, I loved your piece, especially the Groundhog😂😂”
Ed complimented Amelia for her excellent symbolic use of a chrysalis image layered with nuanced meaning.
I loved that Assata used her own drawing from several years ago as an inspiration for her drawing this session! Her piece also stemmed a fascinating tangent of conversation into mushrooms and mosses.
Assata Benoit, Early drawing and Imbolc Celebrating the Return of Spring
Hawley told me today that she simply can not get Pat's Triple Goddess Snow Drop (center image below) out of her mind. She adds she thinks it would make a perfect tattoo!
Pat Larash, Imbolc Celebrating the Return of Spring I, II & III
Madison's piece just blew me away! I love how the tree becomes the shadow of the hand. The concept of the hand growing a plant from the center of the palm actually inspired my piece for Tuesday's session!
We all gasped when Hawley pointed out that the eye in Candy's stunning drawing perfectly mirrored the graphic phases of the moon image we studied! One of several examples of ART YARD Artists working from the subconscious.
Dennis pipes in: Marilyn's piece made me think of the pet memorial tree in Central Park. Each year, people decorate a tree with ribbons and photos and sometimes even little toys on a tree in the Ramble. The Central Park Conservancy doesn't support it, but they leave it be. Not sure who starts it - but it's kind of like Brigadoon - it appears, and then it's gone, and then it reappears. I've seen it for years and always dreaded the day that I would participate in hanging a memorial.
On Christmas Eve this year, we hung Hazel's photo on the tree - Joe hung it way up high because he wanted her to be above all the others (I don't like it there!) but I'm happy that she's included. I go by often with Olive to see it. It is kind of magical - very much (to me) like Marilyn's piece from last night's class.
Hawley continues: “Night two was so dynamic: time lapses of plants and root systems, Central Park and Joshua Tree National Park turned from deep winter to full bloom while everyone was making! I think I really got the hang of this incredible group!"
Pat's first piece was inspired by the time laps plant and root videos. In her second piece she though of action and organizing, which she started by turning off her camera and organizing the classroom around her. I likened her beautiful abstraction to the feel of the illustrations from The Little Prince.
Pat Larash, Imbolc Celebrating the Return of Spring (day 2)
Vera Tineo, Imbolc Celebrating the Return of Spring (day 2)
I am determined that Candy's FANTASTIC drawing will be printed on our next ART YARD tote bag!
Hawley, whose own drawing references her exciting publishing project quickly coming to fruition, sums up: "The evening ended with a deep dive into a love for books and reading! I wrote down so many titles!”
