Glass, Glue, and Giggles - what a great party!

The reception for the Rita Gold Center art exhibition was on Friday, and children, families, friends, and community came together to celebrate the children and their artistic explorations. 

It was a wonderful occasion filled with art, laughter, and joy. To me, it's a busy day: making sure everything is ready and set for the community art making, welcoming students, alumni, and families, coordinating the volunteers, etc., etc. But it's also a day filled with joy. Seeing kids happy and excited to see their work exhibited, families moved by looking at their children under a different light and through someone else'seyes, and having so many people coming together to celebrate my young art explorers is both moving and exciting. 

Every RGC exhibition reception I make available a different set of materials for everyone to explore in a community art making activity - materials I choose according to what have been the children's interests throughout the year. Not only these explorations may reflect some of what were the children's experiences materials, but they also give them another opportunity to take charge of their explorations and to share their knowledge with their families and friends: they are the experts to go to for questions and technical advise.

This year I offered glass and collage, materials that preschoolers and infants have been particularly interested in. The backdrop paper for the photo booth (organized by parents) was also use as a drawing wall, somewhat reflecting the toddlers' explorations with graffiti and other vertical painting this year. There's a lot to be said about these community explorations - more posts to come! - but for now here's a photo of some of the materials we used.

Thank you to everyone who came by and helped making this such a special occasion!