Listening to the Wall: Part 5

Listening to the Wall is a series dedicated to showcasing pieces of student art that helped create an incarnate of the Lennon Wall  in my classroom.

For further information, please visit these links:

Reconstructing the Lennon Wall

Listening to the Wall: Part 1

Listening to the Wall: Part 2

Listening to the Wall: Part 3

Listening to the Wall: Part 4

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I know teachers aren’t supposed to play favorites, but the student who created this piece wiggled her way into my heart.  She was often misunderstood, but I loved her energy and sense of humor.  She’s heading out into the real world this year I hope that feisty nature of hers will serve her well.

This is one of the more interesting portrayals of John Lennon the wall has ever seen.  I love the imagination that went into this piece and how cool is that paisley!

Sometimes the most simple images are the most powerful.  This student choose bold colors and created something that speaks volumes.

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c.b.w. 2012

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Listening to the Wall: Part 4

Listening to the Wall is a series dedicated to showcasing pieces of student art that helped create an incarnate of the Lennon Wall  in my classroom.

For further information, please visit these links:

Reconstructing the Lennon Wall

Listening to the Wall: Part 1

Listening to the Wall: Part 2

Listening to the Wall: Part 3

I just recently ran into the student who created this piece.  While all grown up, her positive spirit remains firmly intact!  Her idea of intertwining two hands has always struck me as beautiful.

This piece almost didn’t make to the wall!  Water stains tried to smear the colors and pucker the paper, but luckily a little time pressed in a textbook saved it.  This student created the earth using a very abstract style, but the message still comes through loud and clear.

Two students came together to create this piece.  Look closely and you’ll see two hands instead of one.  There’s nothing like a little unity to carry the message of peace.

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c.b.w. 2012

Photography Challenge: Insight

The prompts I ended up working with this week all seemed to ask for little insights into myself. Between old memories, self reflection, and a moment of peace, I continue to be amazed at how the practice of photography continues to revolutionize how I look at the world.

Prompt: Capture a quiet space where you feel at peace.

The calm before a storm is always a moment where I take a deep breath and absorb the stillness.  I took this shot twenty minutes before a huge dust storm exploded across the landscape.

Photo by: c.b.w.

Prompt: Record a smell that reminds you of a favorite memory.

The smell of green onions always takes me back to my grandparents’ house in the summer.  We’d spend all day swimming in the lake until Grandma called us in for dinner.  She used green onions in a lot of her recipes, including her delectable meatloaf. Whenever I catch a whiff of that scent I feel the cool lake water on my skin and I hear Tom Brokaw on the evening news while Grandma sings in the kitchen.

Photo by: c.b.w.

Prompt: Take a self-portrait to express your feelings today.

This prompt is a little tricky because I don’t post my face online.  My mother can vouch for the fact that I do not photograph well!  So, to cross this item off the list, I decided to draw a self-portrait and photograph the result.  If she looks a little familiar, its because I modeled my portrait after a character in one of my favorite books, Little Miss Sunshine, (by Roger Hargreaves). This is a nickname a few people have given me over the years as I am generally happy every day!

Photo and drawing by: c.b.w.

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To see all the details of the photography challenge, go here.

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c.b.w. 2012

Listening to the Wall: Part 3

Listening to the Wall is a series dedicated to showcasing pieces of student art that helped create an incarnate of the Lennon Wall  in my classroom.

For further information, please visit these links:

Reconstructing the Lennon Wall

Listening to the Wall: Part 1

Listening to the Wall: Part 2

The mad rush of quotes on this piece has always made it stand out.  This student graduated this year and I have not doubt she is going take the real world by storm.  Watch out, she’s full of energy and she’s not afraid to show it!

My favorite part about this piece is the statement this young lady makes at the bottom: And never have doubt in me, I’m capable of more than you think. She had unbelievable determination and I often wonder how far its taken her.

The “coexist” portion of this piece gave me proof that my students actually do pay attention when I’m teaching.  I showed a picture of the real Lennon Wall from a few years back (to give them a sense of how it changes) that had the “coexist” image.  This student mimicked it and added a slew of thoughts.

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The writing is small on these pieces, but you can click on the images to view them at full size.

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c.b.w. 2012

Listening to the Wall: Part 2

Listening to the Wall is a series dedicated to showcasing pieces of student art that helped create an incarnate of the Lennon Wall  in my classroom.

This piece includes a number of fantastic quotes, but my eye always goes to the shackled hands releasing a butterfly.  To this day I wonder what “butterfly” was hiding deep inside of the girl who drew this image.

A few years ago, I had the pleasure of teaching a student who thrived on art and drawing.  I have watched him grow into an incredibly talented artist and I’m quite honored to have a few pieces of his early work.  For the Lennon Wall he chose to do something simple, but his ability to create atmosphere explodes across the page.

The bold colors of this piece totally reflect the spirit of the student who created it.  Every day, a little ball of sunshine sat in the front row of my classroom.

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For further information about the Listening to the Wall series, please visit these links:

Reconstructing the Lennon Wall

Listening to the Wall: Part 1

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c.b.w. 2012