As a mobile company, we have to set up an environment wherever we go. This requires immense planning and attention to detail. We always ask how can we bring our personality, vision, and ethos to what is a typically white and sterile room every time we’re renting in the city? We treat our space as a blank canvas and get to work! We bring in statues, music, books, colourful pom poms, glitter, crayons, popsicle sticks, glitter, markers and more glitter to fill the room we’re in. We carry all of these materials to each workshop because we know the environment we create affects the creative process for our students! Raising Artists is a big radient circus – we unpack, we build the space, we share the experience, we perform, we tear down, and we move on to our next location.
Books and music are our essentials in every workshop. We use the Toronto Public Library – an institution near and dear to my heart – as our primary resource for books. Did you know that with your library card, you can take out up to 50 books at a time? One week before every workshop, we borrow 50 books and pack them into the car. If you’re wondering, it’s about 6 canvas bags, or 4 milk crates, or 3 trips back and forth to the car for the lovely Rita! Nevertheless, these trips have proven to be worth it because I’ve discovered so many culturally rich books in the libraries of my own city. If you’re looking to explore them too, here are my 5 favourite Libraries in Toronto:
- Toronto Reference Library
- High Park Library
- Lillian H. Smith Branch
- Parkdale Library
- Bloor Gladstone Library
Music is an important part of my life. As long as I can remember, I’ve been having dance parties in the kitchen! I think I was still in diapers and just learning to stand on two feet when it started. Music is rooted deep in my veins, and sincerely makes me happier. The lovely Rita and I have major jam sessions in the car, during meetings, and in our studio when we package our art kits.
Music is always on in the background while I’m working or creating. I have songs that I associate with friends, songs that remind me of my Manfriend, and tracks that remind me of my travel adventures. I have personally created what feels like a million different Spotify playlists for each Workshop we’ve held; “Immersive Van Gogh”, “Painting With Disney”, “Crafting With Bill Withers” and so many more. As an educator, I’ve noticed the power music has to affect a students artwork. Writer Kathleen Gasior says “Music is a natural for capturing kids’ attention and imagination and, as it turns out, it has a huge impact on your child’s body and mind. Listening can shift a kid’s mood, help him cooperate and express emotions.” And I’ve seen this first-hand. Pace, mood, and tone in the music we play has notable effects on mark-making and colour choice. For example, if the music has a fast tempo, it will naturally incite fast mark-making or short brush strokes. When listening to The Beatles, Marvin Gaye or Even Billie Eilish. So we’ve learned that paintings represent the emotions that our students experience while listening to the music we play.
Although we can’t create in person, we are still using books and music in all our virtual workshops. Especially now, we feel that the usage of books and music are relevant to a child’s learning experience and growth. Sometimes we even swap playlists with our students!
With that being said and with Valentine’s Day today, I’d love to swap a personal favourite playlist with you all – “Love Ballads to my Manfriend”
Click on the link below and you’ll have about 4 hours worth of my favourite love songs!
Happy Valentine’s Day to you all!
Playlist: Love Ballads to my Manfriend
Until then,
The Art Teacher