Processed Art

I have a very clear memory from when I was 6 years old and in kindergarten.  We were given paint and paper, and we were instructed to paint a rainbow.  However, not just any rainbow.  The teacher had an example in the front of the class of the order the colors needed to be in.  We had to paint our rainbow just like that one.  I remember vocalizing that that wasn't the right order for the colors.  My teacher disagreed, and told me my rainbow had to look like the example.  When I got my picture to take home, I threw it into the trash.  It had nothing to be proud of.  It wasn't my work.

Now-a-days, many preschools, including CJP, have the philosophy of encouraging "Processed Art."  This philosophy encourages artwork to be entirely created by the creator.  In it's purest form, no piece should be prepared or cut out by an adult.  Who are we to say that snowmen should be perfect white circles?  If a child finger paints red onto a blue piece of paper and tells you its a snowman, then it's a snowman.  If a child draws a bunch of circles and tells you it's a picture of their house, then that's what it is.  I went to a workshop on this a couple of years ago.  The instructor went on a rant on the tragedy of coloring books.  "How dare you ask a child to finish YOUR work?!" he raved.

In preparation for graduation, each student in our school is making a butterfly canvas.  I printed out pictures of real butterflies for "inspiration," but the materials that were used were entirely chosen by the Green Room friends.  I set out some things, like a variety of paints, feathers, glue, etc.  They could use these materials or they could grab anything they wanted off of the shelves.  My instructions were simple.  I said "Let's look at these pictures of butterflies, and make our own."  Everyone joyfully complied.  Everyone called their creation a butterfly.  Everyone's work looks different.  Everyone's butterfly is truly theirs.  Do any of the finished products look like a butterfly to me?  That doesn't matter.  It's not my work!

It was brought to my attention Morgan's Rosh Hashanah picture was inadvertently left off of the blog.  Sorry about that!

Morah Gitty and I wish you a wonderful weekend, Shabbos, and Shavous.  Remember, we have no school on Monday in observance of Shavous.  See you Tuesday!
-Morah Deena and Morah Gitty