What a lousy teacher! With teachers like that who needs a teacher 😀 Those who are hired as creativity teachers should give instruction on techniques and basic ways to accomplish and complete a piece of art. Not to criticize and stifle creativity. As fellow artists we know how easy it is to get in our own way. We don't need another person in our way!
You are so right! We can stumble over our own stones and then one day, we look at those stones and say, "Oooh...if I place this one here and that one there"...suddenly we have a rock garden. But when others "throw stones of criticism" we are left with bruises and hurt.
Gosh, these tales of unkindnesses from those who should be nurturing creativity are heartbreaking, Mary! I remember feeling similarly crushed, and often. Such a great post, with such life and hope. Thank you.
Thank you, Holly! How right you are. One of my favorite children's books is called "Ordinary Mary Does an Extraordinary Deed". It it about how one person's simple act of kindness spreads.
Oh those mean, selfish, and closed-minded people! I can imagine how lovely we would be and the things we create would be with positivity and nurturing! On the flip side of those negative comments you received, receiving to feedback or silence, for me was deafening! My early dance instructor blatantly had her favorites and some she tolerated. I fell below those she tolerated. I rarely got any feedback from her—positive or negative, accept when she pointed out my slightly rounded belly from my supper beforehand. She was so cruel! She stopped the music, made the dancers stop dancing, then pointed my belly and said, “Look!” I immediately sucked in my stomach and held my breath, but she told me, while poking my stomach, to let it out. My face felt hot with embarrassment and shame. I was only 9 or 10! I don’t think she ever stopped or cared enough to think about the impact she had on me. I continued to dance, although not in her company, for numerous years afterwards. This reminds me that “Mean people suck!”
I want to THROTTLE your dance teacher! Dance is joyous, knows no boundaries, has no limits. For her to place limits, boundaries and inflict cruelty not only sucked the joy out of you but stayed with you all of these years later. You bring up another important point with that of no feedback and/or silence in response to someone and their art, their work, their being...We need a place where we can hang our artwork, dance our way, with no judgment, or silence, only with the joy and freedom that comes with creative expression.
What a lousy teacher! With teachers like that who needs a teacher 😀 Those who are hired as creativity teachers should give instruction on techniques and basic ways to accomplish and complete a piece of art. Not to criticize and stifle creativity. As fellow artists we know how easy it is to get in our own way. We don't need another person in our way!
You are so right! We can stumble over our own stones and then one day, we look at those stones and say, "Oooh...if I place this one here and that one there"...suddenly we have a rock garden. But when others "throw stones of criticism" we are left with bruises and hurt.
Gosh, these tales of unkindnesses from those who should be nurturing creativity are heartbreaking, Mary! I remember feeling similarly crushed, and often. Such a great post, with such life and hope. Thank you.
Thank you, Rebecca! I am so very sorry that you too were creatively crushed. And now look at us! We're free.
😊
"the point of this should be to work with the student to identify specific ways to grow as a learner"
Yes x 1,000,000.
Though I work at a university, I'm not an instructor, but I've recently been reading bits of various pieces about 'ungrading' -- for example --
https://learninginnovation.duke.edu/blog/2022/09/what-is-ungrading/
Fascinating stuff and potentially life-changing.
I am all for "ungrading." I look forward to reading the article you posted. Thank you!
Craft away, Mary! Ordinary is the new extraordinary!
Thank you, Holly! How right you are. One of my favorite children's books is called "Ordinary Mary Does an Extraordinary Deed". It it about how one person's simple act of kindness spreads.
I must find a copy!
I forget the author's name and gave my copy away when I retired from teaching. (wish I'd kept it).
Emily Pearson--I found it!
Yes! Enjoy. The character reminds me of you and the way you spread kindness in acts every day.
Oh those mean, selfish, and closed-minded people! I can imagine how lovely we would be and the things we create would be with positivity and nurturing! On the flip side of those negative comments you received, receiving to feedback or silence, for me was deafening! My early dance instructor blatantly had her favorites and some she tolerated. I fell below those she tolerated. I rarely got any feedback from her—positive or negative, accept when she pointed out my slightly rounded belly from my supper beforehand. She was so cruel! She stopped the music, made the dancers stop dancing, then pointed my belly and said, “Look!” I immediately sucked in my stomach and held my breath, but she told me, while poking my stomach, to let it out. My face felt hot with embarrassment and shame. I was only 9 or 10! I don’t think she ever stopped or cared enough to think about the impact she had on me. I continued to dance, although not in her company, for numerous years afterwards. This reminds me that “Mean people suck!”
I want to THROTTLE your dance teacher! Dance is joyous, knows no boundaries, has no limits. For her to place limits, boundaries and inflict cruelty not only sucked the joy out of you but stayed with you all of these years later. You bring up another important point with that of no feedback and/or silence in response to someone and their art, their work, their being...We need a place where we can hang our artwork, dance our way, with no judgment, or silence, only with the joy and freedom that comes with creative expression.
Yes, a place where we share each other’s love of all things art — drawing, painting, dancing, and singing! What shall it be called? ❤️
What an excellent question! Let's ponder it and share when we come up with ideas.