Art Expedition

I followed my daughter, Daisy, last week to another World Languages Art Expedition Kick-off at King Middle School in Portland. I first participated as a visiting artist in 2009 when she was a sixth-grader there. It was like old times heading to the bus from the 7:15 ferry.

The language arts project asks 8th grade students studying Spanish or French to choose a Spanish or French artist to research and then create written and visual work based on that artist. In 2011, Daisy did this animation inspired by the art of Marc Boutavant.

She’s now a senior sculpture major at Maryland Institute College of Art, and enjoyed the chance to share her current work with King students.

Spanish teacher, Joseph Charnley, and French teacher, Emily Zach, open the event with inspirational readings and then groups visit assigned tables to meet local visual artists, musicians, and poets.

Daisy brought in some prints, her animations, and a synth she made.

Also this cut paper portrait of her roommate, Ellie!

The groups switch every twelve minutes. It flies by, and students are expected to ask questions. Only one or two per group managed to ask me a question. I always ask them questions.

I brought in my usual stash of sketchbooks and picture books, including an original illustration from Island Birthday. The model for the main character, Riley, is my neighbor, Nikolai, who now is an eighth grader at King!

I brought in pencils and invited students to draw. One student did this quick sketch of the King logo.

Soon enough, the kick-off was over. Everyone gathered again for a closing reading of this Kurt Vonnegut quote from A Man Without a Country:

The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something.

Students will have about 2 months to research and create their art. Good luck on your expedition!

After breakfast at Becky’s Diner, we visited the Portland Museum of Art, where the Maine Menagerie exhibit had us both picking up pencils.

I sketched in the Isamu Noguchi exhibit.

It was a delightful surprise to find Daniel Minter’s incredible piece now on view.

I’m always pleased to see my book in the company of greats in the PMA shop.

Daisy indulged me with this one.

While the semester break flies by, I begin another sketchbook. The arts do keep me sane in these chaotic times, how about you?