Project Reflections
| Date | Place | Reflections |
| 10.01.05 | Organic Farm Harvest Fest | Being apart of the luminaries, surrounded by children and adult children, and the feeling that comes with festivals and community. The feel of Harvest and fall, transitioning into winter and the time for internal reflections along with sharing warmth with community. |
| 10.05.05 | classroom and home | Getting to meet the others in the project with Marilee Peterson, planning to meet and begin, making the calls... |
| 10.09.05 |  Marilee Peterson's |
It was a rainy day, and perfect to spend the afternoon at marilee's. She plied us with a Jasmine green tea a friend had brought back for her from China, and the then the dozen or so eggs her husband Pete had broken on his way home. Salad and potaoes too. So good, and such a treat to be treating so well, feeling at home. The sun would peak through the wet drizzle as we sat the afternoon at her kitchen table talking about Marilee's hopes, plans, and progress while we mixed in our ideas of the work and art that can be done, and schemed our possible contributions. We talked of inviting Marilee's family of children in to do work along with us, and of bringing in art and mosaic pieces to add to the large stepping stones that will be poured into a form. Her focus is to assure handicapped access for her and Pete's clients. Both of them are artists. Pete is a carver and metal-smither, Marilee likes to weave and make clay masks. I erally enjoy the energy of thrie art, family, and home. Adore the sense of acceptance and appreciation I feel -we all felt- in their presence. I've got the notes for our plan of action, we plan to go back this friday to begin work. |
| 10.13.05 |  Marilee Peterson's |
After identifying much of the plants folks have donated to Marilee, her and I spent the slow rainy morning digging up, dividing, and replanting the tubers of some of her peonies. We also transplanted a lavender plant, and put a Lavateria in the ground. She's excited and planning for the rock art we intend to do with the walkway, having already collected shales and cave painting ideas to paint onto them so that we can sink these, and our other found and made objects, into the cement forms we will pour. |
| 10.13.05 | Painted Word | Hirsh was kind enough to bring in enough ink, paper, including rice paper, japanese style brushes, and inspiration for all of us to spend time exploring these tools with words. There were a number of us, all basking in the abundance of this creative energy. Creating whatever words or swirls that moved through us and onto our many papers. In the end, we collected our favorites from among them all, and talked about what we liked from the experience and what we saw layed out in front of us. The question that came up most strongly was how to frame our work for the "Painting Word Art Show" we're putting together. Not only for us, but for anyone who might want to submit a piece and not know how to fill this requirement within a budget. We settled on taking this thought home with us, to work on an individual piece that we might share along with our experience- in order to better offer options to those who might need it. |
| 10.16.05 | Marilee Peterson's  |
At Marilee's house today Hanna, Marlene, and I planted all the Huckleberries that Pete brought home from harvesting. They all went into the holes along the side fence, which had already been dug by their friend Bob and his rig. The day was drizzly and muddy and fun; we fully enjoyed ourselves and the play. When all had been put into the ground we smoothed out the dirt and clipped back the blackberries encroaching from the neighbors fence. After washing the tools and removing our wet and muddy clothing, we went in to enjoy the wonderful food Marilee had so kindly prepared for her family and us. Wild elk meatloaf, cheesy augratin potatoes, chentralls, and, of course, huckleberry salad! |
| 10.19.05 | GruB | This day was my first toward the class project, where the intention is to observe a class over a period of 4 weeks before implementing our own lesson plan. GruB is a non-profit organization that I've been volunteering for since the beginning of this summer. Their motto is "Cultivating Youth employment." They employ troubled or at risk, high school age youth in an educational setting-at Sister Holly Garden. In addition to building raised-garden beds for people in need. During the summer, the youth are at the garden every school day for 10 weeks. During the school year, they are at the garden every Saturday, with the opportunity to be there on Wednesday's after school as well. On this Wednesday, we dug the quack grass out of the beds, then peeled open, selected and planted the garlic. |
| 10.19.05 | Painted Word | We had a meeting after class hours, to discuss submissions and the selection process for the Painted Word Art Show we're organizing. Submissions will be selected from the entire community, ready to hang for the opening on December 10th in the Library's mezzanine. |
| 10.22.05 | GruB | The day started in the green open space of Sister Holly Garden, in a circle. We went around to check-in, then several times again with the question game. Everything from "What's your favorite movie?" to "What's the worse thing happening in our country?" We spent some time continuing to dig and plant the garlic beds, then had a short nutritional talk before lunch on the subject for the day: Mushrooms!. We enjoyed our lunch at the picnic tables since it was such a beautiful sunny day. Jackson and Allison are the "teachers." The "youth" there were Darnell, Miranda, Jordan, Adam, Leah, Morgan, Brianna, and Amber. In the afternoon Damien came from Fungi Perfecti to teach us about Mushrooms and their cultivation. A subject with which I've become more and more fascinated and excited. Lucky me! I got to take lots of notes. One interesting fact: baby trees growing without sun under the dense canopy of forest are growing because of the mycelliun which connects most if not all life on this planet...the mycellium, connected to the mama and the baby trees will actually exchange the life force of the mama to bring it to the baby! |
| 10.23.05 | Marilee Peterson's garden
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...with all of us, including Jenee's three year old son Ryan, we gathered our shovels and hoe and attacked the front section of Marilee's garden which was run rampant with clovers, buttercup, crab grass. The rain had stopped, luckily in time for our work, with Ryan working right along with us. (When he was tired of working he exchanged his rain boots and garden gloves for his cowboy hat and boots!) I dug out the peonies while hanna-and then Jenee-to divided and planted them again with Marilee. As we dug up all the top layer of weeds, Marlene did wonders raking the dirt and sifting out the weeds. We made a pile, for us to take home, of the extra tubers and such. When we were all beat, we cleaned up the tools and went inside. We didn't get to the extremities or the hand weeding around the plants that stayed, but we'll be able to finish that up next time. The plants that stayed: baby strawberries, trumpet vine, coupla' trees, lavender, St. John's wort, Day lillies, etc. Marilee had made us some potato, leek, and chentralls in a creamy based soup. We all feel so blessed and grateful and privledged to be working in her garden with her. To be blessed by her loving, awesome energy. Oh ya, and smoked salmon cream cheese too! I couldn't keep my hands off it till' I finally pulled away to work on the dishes! |
| 10.26.05 | GruB | Spent a lot of time talking with Allyson about the Art Therapy Lesson Plan. Got the gears rolling and the parameters more clearly defined. I'm formulating the detaile "lesson plan," doing some research on my words for appropriate introduction and conclusion. She gave me a few points of advice: Keep it concise: it'll always go longer than planned; and, organize the goals and objectives. It helped a lot to formulate my plan being able to brainstorm with her. |
| 10.28.05 |  Home |
I spend this time reading up on what some other Art therapists have to say on the subject, taking notes, and typing up my lesson plan to offer next wednesday. |
| 10.29.05 | Home |
I'm excited about the 2 part piece I brought home from our last Painted Word workshop. I unrolled the large sheets of butcher paper I'd covered with ink and water and poem, and worked with it a little more, adding a little here and there, and planning out the framework for the show. |
| 10.30.05 |  Marilee Peterson's garden |
Rain. Rain. Rain. Somehow, I'm still not so upset about it. Enjoying it, even. I think that's the trick. As long as we're surrounding ourselves with the green and brown of nature and mud, the wetness can be celebrated--rather than the gloom and doom of cement wetness. After a bowl of chicken soup Hanna, Jenee, Ryan, and I worked in the rain and the mud. Continued pulling weeds around the plants and the edges. Pruned back the huge sage plant and dead headed the flowers. Also, with most of the area cleared, we put all the waiting potted plants into the ground. I brought all the tools to plug some logs with oyster mushrooms, but forgot the mushrooms! Next time, I guess. And, unless this rain lets up anytime soon, it'll probably be a long time before it's dry enough to pour the cement stepping stones for the walkway. Sad news, given how excited we were about decorating them so creatively. Meanwhile though, Marilee's decided she'll buy gravel to fill in the path. Some natives have appeared and need to be planted, and, we need to transplant every other bear grass so they'll have all the room they need. |
| 10.31.05 | Marilee Peterson's garden | After a bowl of chicken soup, Hanna, Jenee, Ryan, and I worked in the rain and the mud. Continued pulling the weeds around the plants and the edges. Pruned back the huge sage plant and dead headed the flowers. Also, with most the area cleared, we put all the waiting potted plants into the ground. I brought all the tools to plug some logs with mushrooms, but forgot the mushrooms! Next time, I guess. And, unless this rain lets up anytime soon, it'll probably be a long time before it's dry enough to pour the cement stepping stones for the walkway. Sad news, given how excited we were about decorating them so creatively. Meanwhile, though, Marilee had decided she'll buy gravel to fill in the path. Also: plant the native's in pots and transplant the bear grass... |
| 11.05.05 | GruB |
The Art Therapy Lesson Plan, with Morgan, Josue, Adam, Brianna, Esther, Charles, Darnell, Miranda, Ebony, and Leah, was successful. I set up at 10:30, and went from 11:00 to 12:15. I was prepared, and nervous, to teach a small group of juniors and seniors. After a little demo and intro., we played Mile's Davis and got to Art. I wasn't sure about their enthusiasm at first, but quickly saw how much they loved it. Morgan said she didn't want it to end, and it seemed many of the others felt the same. Ebony was most excited to share her art, reminding me this would be a good idea, if they chose, and several followed her lead. Many of them agreed they hadn't painted since kindergarten, and loved being given the chance -in a paid, educational setting no less. As i told them, I chose Art Therapy as the lesson plan because I want to take advantage of this school project to explore art as therapy in a group setting. Which is also the reason I chose older youth, to give this process a chance. It was my first time, and appreciated their feedback. They wanted a follow up and Jackson and Allyson, the class teachers, agreed. I stayed another couple hours to observe their next session, which was soapmaking! |
| 11.10.05 | Home |
I finished the art piece I've been working on for the Painted Word Art Show. I added a little flair to the piece itself, but mostly I spent the time on the "framing." I put pieces of medical gauze all along the tops and bottoms of both parts, painted them, then looped them with embroidery thread. I cut up and sanded some dried bamboo that we happen to have laying around and guided them through the loops, then tied them together in the middle so they can hang top to bottom until I want them to hang side by side in a limited space. I have the whole thing rolled up like a scroll. I haven't measured its total length, but at guess it reaches 15 feet tall and 4 feet across! I love working big. And I'm really grateful that Hirsh had observed as much when he provided me with the endless butcher paper. |
| 11.10.05 | Home | Presentation Outline, a beginning to a work in progress...Those of us in Marilee's group want to present together our work there together, then continue to maintain a thread of continuity throughout our individual turns at speaking of our own classroom projects. |
| 11.10.05 | Home/Phone | I talked with Marilee about what she wanted to see happen before the project fizzled to a pause for the end of the quarter. We talked about laying gravel into the walkway, planting some native plants that had showed up in pots, planting 3 trees, and pouring the concrete. She said she'd be happy to join us for the presentation that we'll be giving! |
| 11.12.05 | Evergreen/Lunch | We talked more about the outline, and planned our future meetings to work on the slide shows and the presentation. |
| 11.16.05 | Evergreen/Computer Lab | Jenee, Hanna, Ryan, and I worked on the slide show for our presentation. |
| 11.17.05 | Hannah's home | Hanna, Marlene, Jenee and I worked on developing our presentation. Marlene has really brought a lot to presentation with her research on tai chi and her section devoted to the energy of the group and spirits involved. We're integrating Tai Chi, music, slide shows, and story telling into the telling of our quarter together which all of us have felt so grounded in. I'll be talking about Marilee, who exhibits endless warmth, wisdom, artistry |
| 11.17.05 | Waldorf school | I went with Geniveve to witness her lesson plan but stayed the entire day for a few reasons. So the children would get used to my presence, and to get a full understanding of a day in the life of a Waldorf school for the youngins. It was friday, campfire day, with grilled pancakes. We played on the swings, dug up a garden bed, played jump rope, then went inside to play house and horsey. The room was so warm and homey, with its own kitchen, nooks and cranniew for nap areas, silk scarves, beeswax, "little ones" (dolls belonging to each child), and little kidney shaped tables for the homemade soup lunch. After lunch, I helped with dishes while Geniveve played some more... |
| 11.30.05 | Media room/library | The girls and I "rented" a room in the library with a tv and vcr so we could practice our moves and otherwise rehearsh to work out the kinks of our upcoming presentation. |
| 12.02.05 | Hannah's home | We met up at Hannah's home again, a central location, in order to work out and practice the final details of our presentation. We're excited, and I am so grateful to have been able to work with them. |
