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Schedule for April 19 and April 20 --click below
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Monday, March 25, 2013
umber over birch panel
It was March snow in mid-Missouri.
Thirteen inches out our back door, as shown by the ruler above. Inside the living room it was warm. Work was progressing.
Grain of 12 by 12 inch birch wood panel (above)
Thin umber wash over birch panel makes cuts easier to see.
Graphite marks made on block. Converting wash splotches in three color study into pencil. Six minutes.
Drawing on block. Two minutes.
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| Elegant curls. |
Cuts begin using Speedball linocut tool. Four minutes.
Convert this to pencil marks, please.
Draw the map. Two minutes.
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| Living room work bench. |
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Peter, Cole, and Me
"How are you now?" he asked me, during the question and answer time. I looked at my basketball teammate from recess and replied, "I know where to get help now. As a grownup I do get mad from time to time, but I have learned how to handle it." The blonde fourth grader went on, "You are just like me. I have anger issues too and I am working on them here."
Our group had finished listening to the book "Touching Spirit Bear." Ms. Price and Ms. Allen had read chapters to us after we came in from recess each day.
The author Ben Mikaelsen told about the struggle of two juveniles, Cole and Peter, on a remote Alaskan island. Pain and anger, justice and healing were central to that story. Near the end Cole and Garvey helped Peter deal with his feelings. The scene where Peter cried uncontrollably and was held in the arms of Cole meant a lot to me.
The two teachers I work with in the Behavior Management Program had me speak to the group today about an art collage on the wall. After discussing the street materials I used in the collage, I tied the image to Peter and Cole.
I too had anger issues growing up. Anger at my parents, anger at myself, holding on to grudges, wanting to get even. The hurt caused by words did take longer to heal than physical cuts do. (Something Garvey told Cole in the story) For me, the feelings had been stomped down inside. Mom could blowup at our house, but I could not. Bitterness shaped how I related to others. Then, help came. Twenty-five years ago painful feelings resurfaced in my life and I cried many tears. There were shoulders for me to cry on. Tears were a good thing. They have become a treasure. When the pain was pushed out, it was replaced with peace, lots of peace and healing. It also brought JOY and HOPE into my grownup life. I came to forgive myself and others.
When I gaze at the collage I think of an explosion, things flying through the air in a freeze-frame. It reminded me of the help I got. In the center was the butterfly, the One-who-gave-me-help, and all around was the glitter, his activity, breaking off problems that were bigger than I could handle, huge things beyond my control. I think of the JOY and HOPE, the people who helped me through it, the holy spirit and his reply, his answer, his deliverance. Real time, real life, real rescue, real help.
There was one collage on the wall I had not talked about. Students could check it out sometime, touch it carefully, but not tear any of it off. Consider these two questions. 1) What materials might it be made of? 2) How does it make you feel? Dark? Sad?
(Book cover courtesy of Ben Mikaelsen website, http://www.benmikaelsen.com/books_touchingspiritbear.html, Ben Mikaleson Audio Interview at Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Mikaelsen, BIST (Behavior Intervention Support Team) poster quote, http://www.bist.org/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/Goals_for_Life_P_4b27084d807e8.jpg, More on BIST and OZEMAN, http://www.ozanam.org/, accessed March 21, 2013)
Our group had finished listening to the book "Touching Spirit Bear." Ms. Price and Ms. Allen had read chapters to us after we came in from recess each day.
The author Ben Mikaelsen told about the struggle of two juveniles, Cole and Peter, on a remote Alaskan island. Pain and anger, justice and healing were central to that story. Near the end Cole and Garvey helped Peter deal with his feelings. The scene where Peter cried uncontrollably and was held in the arms of Cole meant a lot to me.
The two teachers I work with in the Behavior Management Program had me speak to the group today about an art collage on the wall. After discussing the street materials I used in the collage, I tied the image to Peter and Cole.
I too had anger issues growing up. Anger at my parents, anger at myself, holding on to grudges, wanting to get even. The hurt caused by words did take longer to heal than physical cuts do. (Something Garvey told Cole in the story) For me, the feelings had been stomped down inside. Mom could blowup at our house, but I could not. Bitterness shaped how I related to others. Then, help came. Twenty-five years ago painful feelings resurfaced in my life and I cried many tears. There were shoulders for me to cry on. Tears were a good thing. They have become a treasure. When the pain was pushed out, it was replaced with peace, lots of peace and healing. It also brought JOY and HOPE into my grownup life. I came to forgive myself and others.
When I gaze at the collage I think of an explosion, things flying through the air in a freeze-frame. It reminded me of the help I got. In the center was the butterfly, the One-who-gave-me-help, and all around was the glitter, his activity, breaking off problems that were bigger than I could handle, huge things beyond my control. I think of the JOY and HOPE, the people who helped me through it, the holy spirit and his reply, his answer, his deliverance. Real time, real life, real rescue, real help.
One of the classroom posters told us to use our words to say what we FEEL. Writing about the anger helps. Drawing about it helps.
The laminated blue poster on the wall has three life goals in our classroom. 1) I CAN take good care of myself, even if I am mad. 2) I CAN be okay, even when others are not ok. 3) I CAN be productive and follow directions, even if I am mad. (BIST)
There was one collage on the wall I had not talked about. Students could check it out sometime, touch it carefully, but not tear any of it off. Consider these two questions. 1) What materials might it be made of? 2) How does it make you feel? Dark? Sad?
It was then I took questions from the group, seated at tables, at cubicles, in the recovery room, sitting on chairs. Today.
(Book cover courtesy of Ben Mikaelsen website, http://www.benmikaelsen.com/books_touchingspiritbear.html, Ben Mikaleson Audio Interview at Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Mikaelsen, BIST (Behavior Intervention Support Team) poster quote, http://www.bist.org/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/Goals_for_Life_P_4b27084d807e8.jpg, More on BIST and OZEMAN, http://www.ozanam.org/, accessed March 21, 2013)
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
editor
I once wondered why Alfred Fowler ran the Kansas City Woodcut Society during the 1930s (http://carrollton-wood-engraver.blogspot.com/2010/12/contemporary-woodcuts-1932-traveling.html). It was because he could. The reason why John H. Bender published the little booklet Fine Prints (http://privatelibraryholdings.com/id84.html) for FREE, probably was because HE COULD. And he did. See http://carrollton-wood-engraver.blogspot.com/2010/12/noble-quest-john-bender.html. This is my philanthropy and I do it gladly, because I can.
As always, I seek to reveal the interest that the members hold, their fascination for ink on paper. Fowler and Bender were fire brands in their day, spotlights of the print scene in Kansas City. Lovers of ink and paper. As I follow and get to know members within the Print Society I find contemporary lovers of ink and paper. Call it part of my research. First of Fred Geary, then Gertrude Woolf Leighton, then Alfred Fowler, then John Bender, and so on. Here are two recent posts: Mike Lyon http://spotlightkcprint.blogspot.com/2012/12/mike-lyon-kc-printmaker.html and the Topeka Road Trip Two Museums http://spotlightkcprint.blogspot.com/2013/01/topeka-road-trip-two-museums.html
For the time being, I am the editor. Below, guest juror Yuji Hiratsuka.
two ribbons
My painter friend Pat Hollowell went to the opening reception at St. Joseph, Missouri. The 39th annual membership exhibition at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art. She wrote that both of my entries had ribbons. When they announced to winners during the slide show, she stood up and cheered when my name was mentioned. The 12 by 9 inch, six color linocut reduction (ABOVE), "Tull Island II," edition 4 of 10, received 2nd place in the Printmaking category. The 12 by 12 inch woodcut, "Among The Mullberries," edition 2 of 10, received 3rd place in the same category. All together six persons entered the Printmaking category this year.
Category IV: Printmaking
1st Place – Cynthia Pederson, “Summer Meadow I”
2nd Place – Cynthia Pederson, “Whirlygigs I”
2nd Place – Karl Marxhausen, “Tull Island”
3rd Place – Karl Marxhausen, “Among the Mullberries”
Honorable Mention – Jakob Ehlert, “Trio Trianos”
Honorable Mention – Sherrill Brooke, “Cirque”
(courtesy of AKMA, http://albrecht-kemper.org/event/39th-annual-akma-membership-exhibition-2/, accessed Feb 12, 2013)
1st Place – Cynthia Pederson, “Summer Meadow I”
2nd Place – Cynthia Pederson, “Whirlygigs I”
2nd Place – Karl Marxhausen, “Tull Island”
3rd Place – Karl Marxhausen, “Among the Mullberries”
Honorable Mention – Jakob Ehlert, “Trio Trianos”
Honorable Mention – Sherrill Brooke, “Cirque”
(courtesy of AKMA, http://albrecht-kemper.org/event/39th-annual-akma-membership-exhibition-2/, accessed Feb 12, 2013)
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Sunday, December 16, 2012
tornado surprise
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him." Psalms 32:8-10
On Thursday morning my new writng experiment had mixed results with my first two students. Students lay on their back on the floor under a desk, reach up with pencil in hand, look up, and complete a TALL AND SHORT writing exercise on the paper taped underneath the desk (see above). The reaching up with the writing hand strengthens the muscles and grip of the writer's hand.
The larger of the two students did fine. The tall letters were tall and the short letters were short. The shorter of the two students struggled. When I asked for their feedback on this invented task, it came out. For one it was too hard. It took two hands to do it. She was erasing her efforts, quite mindful of her mistakes. Hmm. I want my students to have a measure of success. As her teacher it would be up to me to find I a better solution.
Another new challenge called X2O was received by my next two students, after all our regular exercises were carried out. In X to O, lumps of modeling clay were stuck to the bottom of the desk, in either the pattern of the letter X or of the letter O. Students lay on the floor under the desk, look up, pluck off lumps of clay with their writer hand, and reposition the lumps. This activity strengthens the muscles and grip of the writer's hand.
Throughout the rest of the day I considered which activity I would use to replace the failed TALL AND SHORT under the table. Would I do the TALL AND SHORT on top of the desk, as it is properly done, or introduce the X2O instead? I weighed the pros and cons.
A decision beyond my control redirected me Friday morning. The teacher whose room I use for our exercises had closed it down for a meeting. She offered another room, but I chose to have our group out in the nearby hallway. We have done it that way other times. It is a wide hallway.
CLIPS ON THE CHAIR came to mind. Perfect. All my students were familiar with it. A stack of three chairs and five clothes pins were all I needed. In one of my groups I have a new student. It was great. A regular student showed the new student how to sit on her bottom facing the back of the stacked chairs, pick clothes pins up with her writing hand one-at-a-time, and clip each pin on any flat ridge on the back of the chair. It could be up high, or on the side, and down low underneath. There were many possibilities to choose from. What a delightful re-direct!! Taken out of my hands.
With my last morning student came a surprise. After finishing all six of the required exercises, he was pushing himself on his back on the floor with his feet. TORNADO flashed into my mind. Of course!! TORNADO was created by a sixth grader of mine at the Carrollton middle school.
You lay on your side on the floor, pull yourself in circles in a clockwise manner, three rounds. Rest. Turn over to the other side, pull yourself in circles counter clockwise. The dizzy spin calmed nervous bodies. This last student was a bouncy student to begin with. Holding muscles still during the Hook Up, the Cross Crawl, Toe Touches, Superman, and Popcorn made the exercises boring to be sure, and a challenge, of course. Guess what? My bouncy student LOVED the Tornado. He burned up energy doing it. It was work. And it calmed him down. He WANTED MORE OF IT!!!
WOW. I did not see this coming. My morning devotion had spoken of HIS DIRECTION. As I drove in my car to my next building, to more students and more of my day job, I MARVELED---
YOU led me in this, Jesus. YOU LEAD me. YOU SURPRISE me. Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!!
The larger of the two students did fine. The tall letters were tall and the short letters were short. The shorter of the two students struggled. When I asked for their feedback on this invented task, it came out. For one it was too hard. It took two hands to do it. She was erasing her efforts, quite mindful of her mistakes. Hmm. I want my students to have a measure of success. As her teacher it would be up to me to find I a better solution.
Another new challenge called X2O was received by my next two students, after all our regular exercises were carried out. In X to O, lumps of modeling clay were stuck to the bottom of the desk, in either the pattern of the letter X or of the letter O. Students lay on the floor under the desk, look up, pluck off lumps of clay with their writer hand, and reposition the lumps. This activity strengthens the muscles and grip of the writer's hand.
Throughout the rest of the day I considered which activity I would use to replace the failed TALL AND SHORT under the table. Would I do the TALL AND SHORT on top of the desk, as it is properly done, or introduce the X2O instead? I weighed the pros and cons.
A decision beyond my control redirected me Friday morning. The teacher whose room I use for our exercises had closed it down for a meeting. She offered another room, but I chose to have our group out in the nearby hallway. We have done it that way other times. It is a wide hallway.
CLIPS ON THE CHAIR came to mind. Perfect. All my students were familiar with it. A stack of three chairs and five clothes pins were all I needed. In one of my groups I have a new student. It was great. A regular student showed the new student how to sit on her bottom facing the back of the stacked chairs, pick clothes pins up with her writing hand one-at-a-time, and clip each pin on any flat ridge on the back of the chair. It could be up high, or on the side, and down low underneath. There were many possibilities to choose from. What a delightful re-direct!! Taken out of my hands.
With my last morning student came a surprise. After finishing all six of the required exercises, he was pushing himself on his back on the floor with his feet. TORNADO flashed into my mind. Of course!! TORNADO was created by a sixth grader of mine at the Carrollton middle school.
WOW. I did not see this coming. My morning devotion had spoken of HIS DIRECTION. As I drove in my car to my next building, to more students and more of my day job, I MARVELED---
YOU led me in this, Jesus. YOU LEAD me. YOU SURPRISE me. Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!!
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