Today was my first day working in the summer school. This year we have chosen Famous Artists as our theme.
First Miró.
Now I know a lot more about him than before. He lived to be 90. Was born in Barcelona in the Gotic Area and lived the last 20 years of his life in Majorca. He was shy and liked working with images from his imagination, like the things you see when it is late at night and you are tired and there are patterns in front of your eyes.
The children found it easy to relate to these forms of suns, stars, ladders and insects.
And I noticed that my Catalan is so much better this year. Now I can communicate with them about more than just drinks and toilets!
It is lovely to see them gain confidence on the trapeze – first nervous and not wanting to take the risk. Then the beam of joy when they are up high with arms outstretched and swinging without support.
Can you see the spider in this pose?
What I love is seeing them working away on paintings and sculptures in the workshop – we produced some lovely cut out forms to use in Fridays show. When they are finished I’ll add a photo.
I used to be scared of children – they can be frightening when they just stare at you and then, when they have formed some secret opinion, turn their heads away to look for someone more interesting.
So it’s a challenge taking part in the summer school and it’s not over yet – four weeks to go – but today I felt much more relaxed about it all. Isn’t it funny how some things take almost your whole life to get to grips with? I was very shy at school and found the others terrifying with their confident games and loud voices. Of course I have moved on from there but still the presence of children can reactivate that fear of being rejected. My mother ‘not-in-law’ once told me she felt the same – one of the many very nice things she shared with me to help me feel comfortable here. It’s so nice to know you are not the only one!
Confession: I never liked kids until I had my own. Actually, I still don’t like most kids. But I adore mine and naturally the sun rises and sets where he walks. But I have found that being with them lets me see how they live so much in present time. They see things and experience things in ways that adults need to do more often. Good luck with this because they are a challenge! And dogs on the beach – why not? I love that you and yours flaunt the rules and Duna loves it too from the look on her face! The sand in her fur must be hard to get out though?
What a great spider!!! Which artists did you chose in the end?
Hi there – we have Miro and Picasso and possibly David Hockney. Still in doubt about Frida Kahlo. Need a woman but she has things that are a bit gruesome. Must look up stuff about Georgia O Keefe.
Children. Yes if I had one I’m sure I’d have got over this quicker. I do like a lot of them but its the fear of their direct rejection that gets me. this group is lovely and chatty and open. Of course having to live with the resident adolescent and his unsmiling face should also help me toughen up! K x
El teu català és increïblement millor que l’any passat!! Felicitats, els nens ho agraeixen! XXXX
Hi Kate,
children are so varied. European children seem to be more polite than English or American children, so there may be huge cultural differences here with the Catalan children.
I adore Frida Kahlo, saw a wonderful exhibition in California once.
How about Gluck…?
Pearl x