NAHS workshop

Sunday February 26 I went downtown with Sarah to the Athen’s Art Gallery. My teacher is one of the local artists there and our NAHS group met there for a workshop by Kelly Barton. When Sarah and I walked in, we didn’t know exactly what we were attending-but we were excited for it!

There were lots of supplies and we all went our own directions. We were encouraged to use the sheets of metal-copper or silver. Then we could emboss any design in any shape or size of the metal. We could make indetions as well as things that stuck out. Then there were crayons for us to shave and melt into the grooves we created.

It was hard to know where to go, but much easier once I had an idea to run with. I loved that we were in a real studio with real artists. I loved watching everybody’s minds work and seeing their hands carry it out.

Kelly told us not to think too hard about it-to just let it happen. She asked us what it feels like when we create things. We answered with responses like relieved and calm and happy just overall good about ourselves. She reminded us that this is one of the important parts of creating things and art. I loved this conversation and just wanted to soak it all in.

Kelly also explained that sometimes it isn’t for the final product. Exercises like what we were doing that day are just to get the creative juices flowing and then afterwards you can begin your project. For some girls this was true. Some girls didn’t like what they created. I was not one of them. I was proud of my piece. Sarah was proud of hers too!

It reminded me of the beautiful, encouraging words of Shauna Niequist in her lovely book, Cold Tangerines:

"Art slips past our brains straight into our bellies. It weaves itself into our thoughts and feelings and the open spaces in our souls, and it allows us to live more and say more and feel more."

"Great art says the things we wished someone would say out loud, the things we wish we could say out loud."

"It matters, art does, so deeply. It’s one of the noblest things because it can make us better, and one of the scariest things, because it comes from such a deep place inside of us."

“Please keep believing that life can be better, brighter, broader, because of the art that you make." 

"Please keep making art for people like me, people who need the magic and imagination and honesty of great art to make the day-to-day world a little more bearable."

"Do something creative every day, even if you work in a cubicle, even if you have a newborn, even if someone told you a long time ago that you’re not an artist, or you can’t sing, or you have nothing to say. Those people are bad people, and liars, and we hope they develop adult-onset acne really bad."

"Everyone has something to say. Everyone. Because everyone, every person was made by God, in the image of God. If he is a creator, and in fact he is, then we are creators, and no one, not a bad seventh-grade English teacher or a harsh critic or jealous competitor, can take that away from you."

Then after we finished at the gallery, Sarah and I went home and made yummy, gooey s'mores with Maria and caught Sarah up on last week's episode of Gossip Girl. What a lovely way to end such a great afternoon.