What magic today…working with grade two students, as a guest teacher. I began with the reading of Where the Wild Things Are, one of my favourite children’s picture books! Maurice Sendak passed away on my birthday this year. I found him to be a mysterious and quirky individual, so taken by the works of William Blake and consumed with the concept that none of his books were children’s books. It was years ago that my grade five class performed as Max and the Wild Things as the kick off for a Read Alive Week in our school.
Today, as the students were obviously keyed up for Halloween night, they had opportunity to draw, colour and paint their own wild thing-creation. They learned about interlocking shapes, transparency and resist. I had fun watching them create and treasured my interactions with them about their own little monsters.
I found this foldable on John Gatti’s website and feel as though it represents, again, that magical place between what is real and what is dream.
Space Tribe Candy is a wonderful site to explore. The biographical information that follows is taken from this site and introduces you to John Gatti’s work.
BIO
John Gatti, born in Lawrence, Kansas and recieved his BFA in Interdisciplinary Studio Arts in 2008 from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. He then moved to New York City and is currently a Masters of Art Education candidate at Brooklyn College. In 2008 Gatti’s Senior Thesis Exhibit was awarded best in show by MIAD Faculty. Gatti’s work has been included in numerous shows in the New York area and the “Baby Robot” exhibition that traveled to San Fransisco, Memphis, and Madison. You can read Gatti’s blog at johngatti.blogspot.com and visit his Etsy store atspacetribecandy.etsy.com.
I have made this letter longer, because I have not had the time to make it shorter. Blaise Pascal