WEAVING
ART
INTO LIFE
[ with friends ]
Oceans of inspirational ideas filled the Preschool Art
Show. Using water-themed lessons and artwork, Lori
Barnett, preschool and lower school art teacher, knew
how to get her students on board in the classroom
preparing for the exhibition and later as part of the
show itself. She had asked Todd Morrison, buildings
and grounds superintendent, to construct a loom, a
wooden three-foot-by-eight-foot rectangle of squares,
the perfect height and length for two-year-old Acorns
through second graders, individually and collectively.
The artists -- some standing, some sitting on both
sides of the loom -- learned in a hurry that teamwork was
essential. Enthusiastic discussion ensued. Who begins the
delicate work first? Who decides where the ribbon goes
next? What happens when the yarn gets in a knot?
The three-fish design was simple, and Mrs. Barnett’s
vision always ensured learning, even when her artists
didn’t know they were learning. The fish were warm
colors, and the background, cool colors. Two buckets
held ribbons cut in two-foot lengths: warm colors in
one and cool in the other. Vibrant pipe cleaners were
20
available for the choosing too. Each of Mrs. Barnett’s
19 classes added their own creative touches during
their half-hour periods, with Acorns concentrating
hard for their ten-minute class times.
Set up outside the theater for the show, the loom
provided popular interactive and intergenerational
opportunity for artwork throughout the evening. Students
became teachers, offering particular pointers to parents,
grandparents, special friends, and their own teachers.
During summer vacation, rising first grader Cruz
Espinoza was happy to pull away from outdoor play
for a moment and talk about his newfound interest
and expertise in weaving. Looking at pictures of the
collaborative creation, he enjoyed demonstrating his
weaving skills while he recounted the experience in Mrs.
Barnett’s art class. “We worked on weaving together. Even
the Acorns got to do it! I love them, and I feel happy for
them.” He went on to say, “I was delighted to weave with
Mrs. Roden at the art show. I liked using red and orange
ribbon to make the fish.” Cruz made sure his audience
understood the intricacies of how to weave, explaining,
“You make it go in a square, and the person who is on the
other side puts it in again. Then it just goes all along!”