PineCar Derby

My son is in the Cub Scouts and as a Cub Scout he was a part of the 2016 Pincar Derby Races. And what made this year so special is it was the last year he could participate because he will turn 11 years old making him a Boy Scout and only Cub Scouts can enter this race. It was a good time and although he acted as if it wasn't fun he made friends and came in 29th which was not bad for a first time racer and being one in a 100 racers.
His car was a neon yellow with the toxic symbol and red wheels. When we got there we learned he could add more weight to the car. As long as it is 5oz or less it can race but the heavier the back end of the car is the faster it can go. I also attached his batman teddy bear which slowed it down a bit but we have no regrets. The other scouts loved watching the bear fly down the track. It was a great experience.

Chemical Reaction Painting

Science fair season and my son and I were experimenting with different science project ideas. A classmate and friend had a project that my son wanted to try so one evening we caused a chemical reaction.
With a lemon, baking powder and food coloring we created a chemical reaction that later we decided to use as paint. My son began with blue and by the time we were done he had added all of the food coloring colors to see what they color they would create. Photos by my son M.R.F.

Art of History: Slavery

April 1, 2016 I finished teaching the Art of History: Slavery program on behalf of the New York Historical Society. The Art of History is a unique classroom-based program combining social studies content with visual arts learning, follow the link to find out more. As stated on the New York Historical Society website This five-session mini-residency teaches American history, art history, and art making. Students engage with historical content and visual culture by analyzing historic artifacts, documents, and images. They then learn techniques to visually document their history learning through art making. Every residency ends with a classroom exhibition of the students' work. 
Below are images from the Young Woman Leadership School in the Bronx. Their artworks are great because the step by step learning increased their understanding of the history and art theory. 

Teaching Diversity Through Common Practice

Artwork by Student from Thurgood Marshall Lower Academy

Teaching Diversity Through Common Practice

by Elan Marie Dorcena Cadiz Ferguson

After 16 years of art education in New York City I have gained a lot of knowledge and insight on best practices, teaching techniques and materials. And because I live and work in the city I have learned the trails and tribulations of being a traveling teaching artist.  
I worked for the Police Athletic League (P.A.L), Astoria Beacon Program, Young Adult Institute (Y.A.I), Casa Duarte, P.S. /I.S. 180, Say Yes To Education (affiliated with Columbia’s Teachers College), Harlem School of the Arts, Thurgood Marshall Upper and Lower Academies, Harlem Gems (Harlem Children Zone), No Longer with Empty, Cool Culture, Bank Street College, Weeksville Heritage Center, the Studio Museum in Harlem, New York Historical Society and always looking to expand my experience, practice my skill and learn as much as I can. My Bio.

After I left the Studio Museum in Harlem I had decided to begin assessing my work. During my reflection I remembered a workshop on hair braiding. I tried to get artist educator, Nontsikelelo Mutiti to facilitate a pop-up version of her Ruka (to braid/to knit/to weave) but due to her popularity and busy travel schedule she was unable to attend :(.  Despite my disappointment, the show had to go on and I ended up creating a workshop where participants were given the opportunity to practice hair braiding and to see images and information about braiding throughout time and history. 

Artwork by Nontsikeleo Mutiti

As I began researching independently, I realized I have taken hair braiding for granted. Braiding can be traced to thousands of years ago with its roots in Africa and was used for many different reasons. For instance the pattern or style of braid could indicate an individuals community, age, martial status, wealth, power, social position and religion.

But braiding did not stay in Africa. As the evolved homo sapiens expanded all over Africa and beyond so did braiding. Depictions of braids and braiding can be found on artifacts/artworks that are estimated to go as far back as to 28,000 - 25,000 BCE, for example the Venus of Willendorf. 

All over the world humans used braiding as a means to manipulate hair, leather, metal, plants, paper, fabric and more. 

Gsaeng Style,
 Chosen Dynasty
Korea

A Wishhan Indian Bride
by Edward S. Curtis

At first I was obsessing over images I found on Pinterest. Vintage photographs of people from all over the world with braids. As my interest developed I looked for credible websites that would give me free access to primary sources and detailed information. As a museum educator I instantly looked to larger institutions of learning such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Smithsonian. Metmuseum.org proved to be very helpful.

This past Saturday I had an audition with the Center of Arts Education. Part of the audition was to create and facilitate a 20 minute lesson. Although I ended up doing too much, preparing the lesson helped me realize how similar and different humans are and how those similarities can introduce diversity in a non threatening and familiar way; 

Learning Diversity through Common Practices. 

No matter how different humans are there are common similarities such as braiding that can connect us. Learning Diversity through Common Practices allows learners to experiment with the familiar and the unfamiliar on common ground. In Addition, art lessons that use common everyday activities in combination with visual inquiry, touch objects, images, hands on art activities and research, can teach students geography, social studies, English, math and more.

As I develop my ideas and learn more I will share in hope that humanity can develop and practice healthier ways of existing on this planet together as one race with many different religions, traditions, cultures and communities.   

Other artists that have influenced my interest in hair and identity have been Lorna Simpson and So Yoon Lym. 

So Yoon Lym

Ebony series,
Lorna Simpson