POEM COLLAGES AT BROWNE ACADEMY

Sometimes, in the course of teaching art classes for kids, you want to steal the kids' artwork, frame it, and hang it up on the walls of your own home. Yesterday's "poem collage" project was one of those times for me. I love the look of these abstract watercolors paired with the silly, Dada-esque (and sometimes, surprisingly poignant sounding?) poetry collaged from children's storybooks. 

This project is actually from the Winter 2014 curriculum. We've started our Winter classes at several locations this month, and are excited to be working with a handful of new schools this Winter, including Browne Academy, whose Art Brainers did these poem collage paintings below:

TWO FANTASTIC AND KID-FRIENDLY OPENINGS THIS SATURDAY IN DC

If you're in the area this weekend, consider checking out these two fun, thoughtful, and transformative exhibition openings at two very cool spaces in DC, by two of my very favorite local artists. One transforms the gallery space into a cave, the other into a beach!:

JESSICA CEBRA: CAVE
December 14 - January 25, 2014

For Transformer’s 11th Annual DC Artist Solo Exhibition, Jessica Cebra transforms the gallery space into a fantastical constructed cave, obsessively plastered with imagery drawn from the artist's personal museum souvenir postcard collection.

More event details here on Transformer's website and here on Facebook.

In 2010, Jess Cebra and Zach Storm made Transformer's gallery space into a living Snow Globe in partnership with the Washington Ballet. I had the honor of working there at the time, and it was one of the most magical gallery experiences I've ever had. I can not wait to see what Jess has in store for "Cave," and what Transformer has planned for the rest of 2014.

BEACHY
A ONE-NIGHT ONLY EVENT AT FURTHERMORE

52 O Street NW #202B
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 7 - 11pm

During the darkest days of the year, Reuben Breslar, along with his Hospitality Team, will transform FURTHERMORE into a time machine, delivering winter-weary travelers to a brief, all-expenses-paid, deluxe vacation at the beach. This multi-sensory experience questions ‘togetherness’ and ‘community’ in an age of commodified, packaged getaways. Building upon Breslar's past experiments with installation art and public performance in the tradition of Alan Kaprow’s Happenings, participants will be led on a transcendental journey, filled with love, compassion, healing, vulnerability, sincerity, and TSA officials. Prepare to be transported to a place that is neither here nor there—and bring your bathing suit!

More info here.

Reuben Breslar is a former Art Brains teacher, and so would have a special place in the heart of Make/Believe even if he wasn't such a thoughtful and exciting artist. But he is! One night only - don't miss this!

DREAM THEATERS

Surreal and magical events are taking place in our "Dream Theaters": interactive mini stages with moving parts where students can re-enact their wildest dreams. Not your average showing-up-to-school-without-pants fare, either. We've got some sliding on rainbows action, outer space sagas, Christmas-loving dinosaurs, and many more shows to which I'd gladly buy tickets. 

FALL PROJECTS

Things are happening during our Fall 2013 Art Brains sessions! Pictured here, a potpourri of: portraits of our future selves (including advice from our current selves to our future selves), safari binoculars, ghost pizza, and some crystals from Bradley Hills Elementary, Chevy Chase Elementary, and the Langley School. Coming soon: dream theaters!

This safari scene is from an alternate world where antelope hunt lions and the sun is out at night!

I'd take spider spit syrup over zombie skin cheese any day. But I'm not a ghost.