18 March 2012

120 in 7

my first kids - 


the only ones i got pictures of! 


i spent last thursday and friday at our county's teen arts festival - about 2000 kids come over the course of the two days to have their work critiqued... they are in competition to go to the state level in visual arts, theater, voice, film making, music, etc... i had been there before as a parent when my kids had pieces entered... 


but this time i was asked to teach a workshop and jumped at the opportunity... first i hemmed and hawed over what i could teach them in 45 minutes... what didn't involve metal or fire (don't laugh, that's hard for me!)


weaving - as a teen, i loved macrame, weaving, knotting... it was the first way i used beads... 


so, ok - let's do that! 


3 workshops per day... 


let's be sensible and limit the classes to 15 students each... 


sounds good... 


i even posted sign-up sheets so that everyone would know if there was availability or not... 




but then, what do you do when a kid comes in and says, 'your lists were full by 10:30 and i was with the judges'? well, you let them in, right? and they always travel with a friend... 


do the math above and you get 90 students in 6 workshops -


i had 120... 


120 kids in 7 hours... 


and i can honestly tell you that i looked into each child's eye, touched each piece they worked on, gave each one attention... 


because i didn't just want them to finish a bracelet... i wanted to teach them a technique... i wanted them to go into a store or look in a catalog and think 'i can do that.' and then do it... to make more, to teach friends, to give gifts, to (hopefully) keep experimenting... to not just think of it as a bracelet - but as an anklet, a belt, a necklace, etc... to see a button as a clasp or closure in a different way... 



can i tell you i was so worried no one would want to sign up for it that i brought a book just in case?




can i tell you it was one of the most rewarding things i have done since i started this path?


one aspect i appreciated so much was just being in a room with different kinds of creatives - there were the ones that were happy to make randomly colored bracelets, ones that had to have the pattern lined up ahead of time, one that had to center 2 beads in the middle (and i taught her how to do that)... 


that part made me think of my own kids... and em was there - but she was helping our photographer friend with his workshop... 


huge thanks to the monmouth county arts council for the opportunity and for hosting an incredible event year after year... 









16 comments:

  1. What a great thing. Teaching is just cool - teaching any age, but kids are especially fun. The rewarding thing is why I keep at it!

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  2. I loved reading this, how rewarding and fascinating for you - and those kids! Your approach to teaching (technique versus the end result) is so exactly how I approach teaching! It is empowering....not a word I love, but so apt in this situation.

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  3. incredible Maire ... just incredible! i can feel your energy, positive and nurturing, excited and nervous, devotion and love ... permeating thru every word you wrote here.

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  4. *Lucky* kids to have you for a teacher. What a wonderful opportunity to share all of your many talents. I'm so happy for you!

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  5. Teaching is so rewarding, that feeling of setting little pieces of yourself out into the world to grow and become something bigger. Nice. I bet you are over the moon.

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  6. How fun for you and them !! I am glad you had the opportunity. good creative energy !!xx

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  7. nice creative energy! glad you had the chance to do this!!

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  8. Sounds like it was a fantastic experience all round. I wish I could have you teach me to weave bracelets... :)
    So, maybe there is a path here...

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  9. I still have problems centering a bead in the middle. Looks like you had beaucoup fun! AND you have given me ideas for my next workshop. Yay! You Rock!

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  10. Sooo...what type of cord would you use for ankle bracelets? Would LOVE to wear them to the beach. Currently I use leather cord for all my bracelets but I am not so sure how it would stand up to salt water or any water. Merci!

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  11. Oh Maire....
    To have you teach the young makes me feel so hopeful for the future jewelry artists.
    I love your mindful purpose......

    "and i can honestly tell you that i looked into each child's eye, touched each piece they worked on, gave each one attention..."

    How absolutely beautiful! What seed was planted? What life changed? What passion was ignited? This is all so wonderful!

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  12. Mary Jane, this is truly inspirational. You must have made a huge impact on these teenagers - I just know it. And what a huge crowd! To think you brought a book with you! I'm glad Em was there to capture these photos of the day and to share with us.

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  13. I think this is fun to learn all about how to create lovely pieces out of the beads and learn new ways to do them.I am sure you all had great fun.Gold Charm

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  14. Wow this is so cool! Congrats on having such an amazing teaching experience and sharing your talents with kids. xoxo Beth

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  15. SO Cool MJ!!! I know exactly how elated you feel after teaching kids (or young adults...). I could live off that energy for days :) Thanks for sharing...

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