You never can tell what will happen when artists collaborate. So there we were on Wednesday, the Environmental Art Class, assembled at Lindy Bishop’s Seed Gallery for after school snacks and a little mind-dumping. Big sheets of paper covered the work table in the back room. There were apples, and cookies were baking in the oven.
“We’re going to make a mind map,” Lindy explained. “Just put down all the ideas you have about what we could do, what materials we could use and where we could get them, where we could put our installation.” Ideas sparked other ideas in a long sparkly swirl. Connect this to that, figure out how to fill in the missing pieces . . . pretty soon the paper was covered with words and sketches and cookie crumbs.
We moved to the front of the gallery to sketch possible projects. I tell you, watching a bunch of middle school students work at making art—in the middle of a gallery, at a working artist’s studio—was inspiring. Lindy asked lots of open-ended questions and offered encouraging feedback. The young artists moved, step by step, toward taking themselves seriously.
Then the rain stopped, mostly, and it was off to the Dam Beach, one of the possible installation sites. We have questions. What kind of good stuff is lying around just begging to be used? How the heck are we actually going to put it all together? So that it stays? Is that steelhead they’re catching over at the dam?
I’m not going to tell you too much because I want you to see it unfold in all its glorious mystery and chaos, and because I want you to be surprised when it’s all done. Everyone’s going to be surprised, including the people doing the work. I’m pretty sure that’s the way it’s supposed to be.
Somebody is going to make a Facebook page, of course. Somebody else is going to collect some suitable Agricultural Materials. And everyone will be back next week.
Torch Lake Views 
Teresa
April 28, 2011
It must be inspiring to watch the minds of those youngsters at work – looking forward to seeing the results.
Gerry
April 28, 2011
It is. I’m pretty sure the most important result is the process itself, and what they’re learning as they go. It will be grand to see what they make together, of course, but I can already see the benefit of the project.
Lauren
April 28, 2011
Oh my goodness… So many things being learned during this project. Thinking skills galore! So positive and hopeful. Thanks for writing about it.
Gerry
April 28, 2011
I can’t possibly not write about it. The other day I was over at Betty Beeby’s looking at photos and books and she kept pointing out turns of phrase she particularly admires. “Words like that inspire me,” she said. It works the other way, too. If I spend the afternoon in a gallery it fills up the well. I go home with so much to write about that I hardly know where to begin.
Katherine
April 28, 2011
Looks like fun…. Sorry I had to work, otherwise I’da been there.
Gerry
April 28, 2011
It was. I would be sorry that you had to work except that they paid you, and pay is good! You will be at another one, and we will pursue a Goldsworthy project up here in the wilds of Eastport, too.
Babs Young
April 29, 2011
Put me down as attending very soon. Maybe next week. This is art education at it’s best!!
Gerry
May 3, 2011
See you tomorrow!
P.j. grath
April 29, 2011
Great day, great project, great slide show!
Gerry
May 3, 2011
Thank you. I’m pretty sure Babs and Katherine will both be there tomorrow, so we are bound to have excellent photos. I will take a little rest and just write.
uphilldowndale
May 1, 2011
I love mind maps, I think they mystify my very orderly minded colleagues…
Look forward to seeing the results
Gerry
May 3, 2011
I love mind maps precisely because they mystify me. Right now we are deep in the process, which is sort of like watching sausage being made, but very absorbing. The results may be seen or perhaps only experienced. We shall see.