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Ann, I don't know if this is what you're looking for, but here are some
"memories" of art ----

It's funny how "UNCLEAR" art memories are - except the ones that really
mattered - especially since I adored art- - - -
so here are several I can't forget:

1. 1959. Chosen to illustrate our six grade cookbook cover. I made the
lettering out of drawings of knives, forks, and spoons. Pretty clever,
huh? Our teacher's name was Mrs. Coffey, so I called it Cooking with
Coffey. I drew her holding up a rolling pin in one hand and a spoon in
the other hand, with a chef's hat on her head. Again clever. :o) I
remember that she liked it. I also remember I spelled recipes wrong.

2. 1952. First grade. Our teacher told us we were going to have a very
important art project...making a vase for our mother for Mother's Day.
Each of us was to bring a "bottle" or jar or something from home. i
brought a bright blue "Vicks" bottle. It was really pretty. Then the
teacher put a decal on it while I watched. I threw it away and never gave
it to my mom.

3. 1952-1959 My work was often displayed for Parent Nights and such. i
knew I had some talent, but I never really had any actual instruction to
speak of to better my ability. I draw right now just about like I did
when I was in middle school, maybe not even quite as well.

4. 1955. My mom gave me a set of pastel chalks and a book about how to
draw fairies. This really got my attention. We had never used pastels in
school, and never did that I know of. I can remember that book in detail.
Why? Because it was personal and it mattered, and because it caught my
interest and I was allowed to devote my time to it.

5. 1954. We did sponge painting of autumn trees in our classroom at a
table in the back of the room. Each person was called one by one to have
a turn to paint a tree (draw a crayon trunk, and then add colorful
"leaves" with a sponge). I remember being beside myself with excitement
about this. But we were only allowed one piece of paper, and I wanted to
experiment a little first before doing my tree to see just how the
sponges worked, what was possible. Too bad for me! This is one of the
only art projects I remember that was "expressive".

6. 1952-1959. Valentine's Day. We always decorated paper bags in any way
we wished with hearts and flowers, etc. This was my favorite art project
of all, and I decorated my bags virtually the exact same way each year
all through elementary school.

7. 1952-1959. Crafts and Follow the Directions = ART. We had plenty of
projects that were called ART, but were really just following the
teacher's directions and imitating her sample. Like folding a Reader's
Digest to be the skirt of a Christmas angel which we spray painted with
gold paint, and making little accordian legs on lepraucauns and elves. I
call them "artsy cuties" but they were not art. But I'm still glad we did
them. At least it was something!

 
======================
 
maryann
http://www.brightring.com

"So many things have made living and learning easier. But the real things
haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the
most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures and to be cheerful
and have courage when things go wrong"...Laura Ingalls Wilder

---

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