West Ward Children's Art Exhibit from the School of Natural Learning and Community Services for Children

Lisandra Gold Leaf

Posted by: Noel Jones

Below is a message from Cathy Stoops, Director of the School of Natural Learning, that serves the young children of our neighborhood with alternative methods of learning through gardening and art. I checked out this exhibit last night, which is hung in the windows of the day care center on Northampton Street, and it truly amazed me. It almost looks like the contemporary art of adult artists! Cathy's description of the process is below:
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Tree Leaf Wind is an exhibition of artwork by young children. It is the first installment of a series presented by Community Services for Children Inc. and School of Natural Learning in a storefront gallery at 673 Northampton Street, Easton.

First, thick and absorbent cotton paper was soaked in water. The children did this themselves. Then they painted using a palette of just primary colors starting with yellow and red as that related to the story we were reading (The Little Yellow Leaf). The next step was to put a little blue pigment on each child's palette and we suggested it be moved through the other colors like the Wind. If a child says I want purple, we don’t have it, but they learn to make many shades of purple using the primaries. Our philosophy is that learning is about producing knowledge more than it is about consuming knowledge prepackaged.
 
Many of the children are just beginning to handle tools and learning to print the first letters of their name. Water- coloring with brushes is a relaxed and rewarding way to become comfortable with tools. Most young children are not self conscious or judgmental about making marks. Very quickly something wonderful and strong happens on the paper.
 
Finally, while the paintings were wet the children glued leaves onto them. The placement was their choice. We never did this before and were amazed at what happened. Within a few weeks the leaves rotted away leaving a patterned decay. At circle time, we held a mini exhibition and had an opportunity to reconstruct exactly what we had done, what was learned and find words to describe what the paintings look like now, what do we notice, what do we see, does the painting have a feeling? It’s not unusual for the children to see dinosaurs or cartoon characters in their paintings. What is most important is that they had an emotional benefit by spending time deep with color, they had an opportunity to exercise fine motor eye-hand skills in a relaxed and pleasant way and, they produced a product that others relate to and value.
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Thank you again for taking a look.

Cathy

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Please take a second the next time you're driving down Northampton to check out the art of these kids--it's truly lovely--and don't forget to post your impressions here!

Yours,

Noel Jones

Neighbors of Easton