As soon as I could stand on a chair, my interest moved up to a large door opening to a cavernous closet in the center of the cabinet. I built steps,
ramps, and elevators for my toy troops up to the ascending shelves on both
sides of this closet. The closet had everything, including a light and a key,
and I recall happy hours of arranging my Bakelite cars, plaster soldiers,
and lead horses inside. The green closet was my discovery place, and later
it became my design practice and museum to showcase toys and collections.
It was a display forever in progress. I can still feel the fun of climbing
inside the closet to set up scenes and stories that amazed my friends.
The closet door had a glass window, and my friends peered through this
window at the magic canvas set up inside. Children have many canvases—
closets, floors, shelves—all places where they create displays as art, using
their favorite articles. When I became the parent of three young artists, I
found kindred spirits in my children’s rooms.
I grew up as an art teacher when I learned to make art on the floor
and to enjoy the fun of shopping for art materials everywhere in our house.
Through the experience of parenthood I understood the essence of art
teaching—to encourage children’s playful and independent creations. As
a frequent studio guest, I learned to listen to children’s ideas without overwhelming
them with an art lesson, or with my art views. In my children’s
rooms, I learned how to set up an inviting art room with fun shopping sites
and unusual display spaces. Now I can walk into a school art class and
describe why a particular art lesson may have little to do with children’s
experience, or if an art room feels like a child’s art studio. I trust young
artists and know they have great ideas because I became an art teacher by
playing with children on the floor.
As a professor, I ask my college students to learn about teaching art
by visiting and videotaping children’s rooms. I explain to the children
who are our hosts that we are looking for how children play, design, and
decorate their rooms. I ask parents not to sanitize the room before our
visit and assure them that it is the art encoded in the mess that we came
to see.
Read More : Child Teaching : INSIDE THE GREEN CABINET
