Squam Art Workshops :: On Teaching
September 28, 2009
[Day One of Squam Art Workshops :: Polaroid taken by the lovely Susannah Conway.]
OK, if I could have figured out how to do html editing on my title, it would have looked like this:
Squam Art Workshops :: On Teaching Learning
because my experience teaching two classes with my lady love Marisa Haedike (that's right, world, I don't care who knows – I'm madly in love with Marisa!) felt more like an exchange rather than a one-way transaction. The experience was like a cozy house, where every room had something comfortable, warm, and inspiring to offer, and when I walked out and shut the door behind me as I boarded the plane back home I felt rejuvenated rather than drained, filled with gratitude, in awe of all the beauties who trusted Marisa and I to help bring their ideas to life.
The Living Room: As a teacher, I felt totally provided for, where Marisa and I were given absolute freedom to structure the class how we wanted, and then given a extraordinary space within which to make it real. On Thursday, Marisa and I walked into a room with twinkly lights and a sparkling fire, and on Saturday we took over a wide open space with sunlight streaming through the windows. If you've been reading all the other blog posts here and there about Squam, then you already know – the lake, the trees, the sunlight…it was magic.
The Kitchen: This is where Marisa and I spent a lot of time experimenting and playing in order to come up with a structure and plan for the class, play being the operative word. I could write volumes about all the reasons I adore Marisa, but the story I found myself telling over and over again as Squam drew closer was of the beautiful way Marisa and I balanced each other. If Marisa was the cat sitting still in a stream of sunlight by a window, I was the bouncy puppy running around in circles. On one of our field trips to buy supplies for our students, we went to a huge antique mart that is a warehouse filled with dozens of displays managed by different vendors. We walked into the mart together, and as Marisa enjoyed browsing the books at one display, I proceeded to do a lap around the entire building, scoping out where the best books were. When I went to find Marisa to give her my full report, she was exactly where I had left her, taking her time with a stack of books on a couch.
Marisa, without ever saying the words out loud, always reminded me to take a deep breath, stay in the moment, and trust the process. She was the calm force in our partnership – reliable, strong, peaceful.
The Studios: Marisa and I taught two classes, and I am still in awe of all the beautiful, heartfelt creations made over the course of those two days. The way I see it, Marisa and I provided a very basic foundation, and every person who took our class built their own unique structure from that. Everyone in both classes added their own special flair to their books, and I would love to invite them all to be guest speakers at any future Book in a Day classes. On that note, it must be said that we even took a binding technique Jenny Doh shared with us in our Thursday class and incorporated it into our Saturday demonstration. I hope that we taught our students something new and inspired them to go a little farther along their creative path, because they certainly did the same for me.
It is my hope that I am able to teach again at Squam Art Workshops, but if the gods don't have it in store for me that will be OK, as this experience was absolutely enough.
“Teaching is the greatest act of optimism” ~Colleen Wilcox
>>>MONDAY GIVE AWAY: A copy of Ordinary Sparkling Moments!
Enter for the drawing by leaving a comment. All comments for today's entry will be entered; winner will be announced tomorrow!
Yeehaw! Count me in!
ok this post tickled me b/c you were to me exactly how you described Marisa!
you are a beautiful, loving & FUN team and i am so grateful for your flavor of encouragement.
x0
jazz hands
hi christine
what a lovely post! and i love marisa too. i just haven’t told her… haha.. your description of marisa is exactly how i imagined she would be. i am one of her fishies in her current eCourse. i giggled though when i read how you described yourself…. that would be me (flying thru the mart)! too funny. i can see how you would be a perfect pair! it’s also the perfect reminder of how we are all meant to be different, unique individuals. that’s the exciting part of it all!
congrats on your amazing teaching/learning experience.
thanks for a beautiful blog!
Kim Klassen
Thanks!! -Kristy
your session at squam must’ve been just so filling.
and ahh, book giveaway!
Being able to teach and to learn at the same time…is the best way to teach. I love that quote by the way — I’m keeping it to refer to again and again. Sending it to my son who is studying to be a teacher.
I would be over the moon to win a copy of your book…thank you for offering us this chance!
The dates for Squam were not good for me this year, maybe in 2010! I would have LOVED to be there
Sounds like you had a wonderful time
perhaps an online book in a day class?
Oh Oh Oh I have been coveting this book for awhile now. I’m not sure why I don’t own it yet. Thank you, thank you, thank you for the opportunity to win a copy.
Yay!! I would love a chance to win this book!
And I really can’t wait to hear more about Squam.
A random and kind of self concious question. . .can you be a newbie, novice and not really sure if you are a creative type to go to Squam? I’ve never created an art piece but I feel incredibly drawn to this art retreat and lately to be more creative so I was just wondering.
Thanks,
Tina
one of these years I will get to Squam – instead I enjoy reading everyone else who went.
Yes! You and Marisa were amazing and gentle and encouraging and … ooooh, I can say so many other great things about that class.
I devoured your book the night I got home! I’ll put in an entry ~ and if I win, I will spread the sparkling love with someone in my life who needs it!!
Hello Lovely Tina…I cannot stress enough that Squam Art Workshops is the place for you to dip your toe into your own creative waters. A significant number of people come to SAW without having ever taken an art class, and it is a safe, supportive, FUN environment to give it a whirl.
I’m here in my cheerleading uniform with pom-poms aflutter, cheering you on to go, go, go!
Sounds like a wonderful experience. All the posts i’ve read about say it’s magical! I’m going to work towards getting myself there next year.
Thanks for the chance to win a copy of your sparkly book.
I’m loving all the SAW posts I’m reading. I’m in next year!!
Oh, Squam looks like such a wonderful uplifting time… if only Canada wasn’t so far away…
I was in total awe of my cabinmate’s book she created in your class. it must have been magic…
I LOVE the comparison of the teaching / learning experience to a house. What a gorgeously structured post. Wish I could have been there with you lovely ladies!
One of these days I’ll make it to Squam! I would love, love, love to be the winner of your book!
I’m really interested in hearing about your experiences at Squam.What a delight!
It’s a wonderful experience when there is enough respect between the teacher and student so that the lines blur and both realize the energy flows back and forth between them and their roles.
please oh please…I’d love this book! Thanks for the chance
Please count me in for the drawing! I so wish I would have been at your class!
Someday I will BE at Squam! This I know and trust. And I would love a copy of your book!
Thank you for your generosity!
I love the way you describe your partnership with Marisa – it is so reassuring to me to realise that we are indeed all meant to be as we are, and then we balance each other beautifully.
i’d wanted to make a book in your class for fun, but it turned out to be one of my most treasured things from my time at Squam – i got everyone i could find to write in the book, and it’s become the most magical keepsake.
xx
you were both inspiring, patient, and oh so giving. the perfect teachers! Thank you, loves
(i already have your beautiful book, so no need to put my name in the hat
Lovely photo, and the workshops sound so amazing, I’d love to participate in one some day!
Squam sounds like a blast…i really have to get there one day!
thanks for your generosity!!
OK, after this post I sosososososo SO wish that I could have been at Squam. Every post that I am reading about it, on so many blogs, makes me feel a little bit of the magic that you all experienced there…you are truly spreading that goodness. Thank you!
The way you discribed how you balanced eachother out was spot-on. You made a fabulous team and I learned so much from watching both of you. XOXO
p.s. I would love to be a guest speaker in any class
Marisa’s and your class was so inspiring – I have about a million and one ideas for little books I want to make now!
Amazing!! must get there someday….
I’d love to win the book.. and take a class someday!
It sounds like you had a fabulous time! I would love!! to win a copy of your beautiful book. Thank you!
This is absolutely divinely described (geez, have you ever thought of writing a book?). I will savor this all day as I work….grazie! Hugs to you my friend!
There have been so many great blog posts about Squam and I am sooo jealous being all the way over here in Europe and unable to attend. Perhaps one day…thanks for sharing so I can live vicariously through your experiences!
I wish, I wish, I wish…
Thank you!! Yay!! That is so awesome it is open to everyone. The only art classes I’ve ever taken have been in middle school
I did buy a canvas recently and some paints. I have so many images in my head and sketches in my journal but I’m still navigating the waters trying to figure out my way. Thank you so much for answering my question!
Thank you Swirly Pearl! As you know I will not be “your friend in lady love” but I will teach with you again any time. All the appreciation and friendship right back at you! It was an honor to teach with you. And thanks again for a lovely day today. xo
Many thanks to you and Marisa for such a great experience. Man oh man, did we have a great bunch of gals in class or what? And I love this shot of all of us. Thanks for sharing.
Jenny