(Reflection of Christopher Russo, Assistant Superintendent in Portland and Reynolds and currently the Director of the American School of Asuncion, Paraguay.)
I dabble in art and I like to think that I see it in everything--that is, if I choose to "look." Different mediums come and go often defined by the moment or a feeling or even a temporal context--what's happening right now in my life. Art is pure creativity--the unfolding of life through a particular lens--and it's the creativity behind art that lends itself to whatever medium is present where there are willing minds and facile hands.
And it starts with a little idea or thought or image...
And then it grows and develops. It takes form and in that form a symmetry defined by color and shape evolves
The pandemic, I can see for many, has pushed individuals outside a comfort zone that has prompted some to "create" or be artistic in both task or responsibility. Call it their day to day? Perhaps it has come out of necessity? It really pretty awesome seeing it unfold and even better when and individual doesn't necessarily notice until the project or "art" is already well underway.
Like it's almost a painting before the unassuming artist has realized what it has become.
One artistic endeavor that I have been reflecting on (from my work) is the concept of "Intercolegial." Intercolegial means an intercollegiate sporting event--in the language of schools. A couple months ago my athletic director came to me with an idea of creating a "virtual intercolegial" founded in the arts and sciences. He had his already established relationships with other international schools in on the continent and due to a pandemic influences lack of sports, he was chomping at the bit to get some collaborative activities going again.
It was like he was looking at a blank educational canvas, the intercolegial canvas, and had some colors and an idea to breath life into it. We talked a bit... He discussed what goes where? Who might do what? How it would look--the great potential of the idea! I probed and inquired more than suggested. In the end he chose to speak to our STEAM coordinator to gather some more artistic momentum and to flesh out the science and math components.
From there his ideas grew wings with splendid color and intellectual expression. The idea got body and form. So that's we find ourselves now, scheduled to have two virtual intercolegials, one for STEAM and one for music, all in partnership with several of our sister schools around the continent.
Fundamentally, a new piece of educational art!
A problem is a solution waiting to happen just as a canvas is a painting waiting to manifest. Just to share another ray of light in a time when that light is most needed.
* The piece of art above in a NW indigenous work of art. When I'm blocked creatively speaking, I like looking at it. Tracing the lines, moving from shape to shape. It's simplicity in color and design inspires.
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