Bedlam Farm Blog Journal by Jon Katz

I’ve known Sue for years. What a blessing. Her enthusiasm, love of students, passion for art, and deep faith in goodness stand out to me, and I see that they have also benefited hundreds of young people over the years. I am so grateful to have Sue’s art column on my blog, and thanks to you, the good people who make her excellent work possible. Spring is her time, and she has many fantastic ideas for her art classes. She couldn’t do it without your generosity. Jon.

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News from the Art Room – Busy Spring!

I love Spring! I mean, I genuinely love it. The sun and rain feed the planet, and things come alive again. It’s so sudden sometimes that the landscape changes from day to day.

I’ve been talking to the photography kids about documenting the fleeting moments of their lives. Trust me, this generation documents everything on various social media platforms, but this type of image is meant to be different.

A simple activity like blowing bubbles (entirely enjoyed by the kids outside on the first 70-degree day) can produce mind-blowing results. They outdid themselves on this one! I print and mat the photos for them when I can. If you have scrap mats around or small frames that are not in use, we’d love to put them to work in our photo gallery.

The painting class has been working on wood this week (more precisely, cutting up shelving from the closets I cleaned over the last break) and letting the wood grain work as part of their painting. Ja’zelle and Mya did a nice job with their rowboat. The desert landscape is from a new student, Grace. She’s only been with us a few weeks, but her work is exceptional. I love her color palette.

Emma is crushing it again with her latest fish tank creation. Now I want to spend the summer searching for small empty fish tanks so an entire class could do this project. One of those visions in the middle of the night where I see a whole wall of tanks like a pet store. I know the middle school kids will love it.

We did a live-action gesture drawing class yesterday in the 8th grade. I took their erasers away (a criminal action in their minds) and explained the nature of quick gesture drawing lines.

They had lots of fun after they got the idea!

Next week is Spring Break for most colleges, and the kids have started coming in for visits. It’s so great to see them. I love hearing about their college lives and seeing their smiles again.

Isaiah and Jordan arrived yesterday with a trunk full of lunch supplies for the students. Last year’s graduates never forget when they visit home. That is special for first-year college students, as many other things are happening. I always say, do this for someone else when you can. I hope they all grow up to do the same! We need more kindness in the world!

Thank you to Danielle from New York. She also never fails to support us here at NDBG. A box of healthy foods arrived last Friday! Sometimes, I’ll run out whenever I get nervous, and goodness prevails. Several people on the faculty and staff already help out every week with bread and peanut butter for sandwiches

Thanks to Pat from NJ for the great things in the latest box. We are blessed to call you a friend, and thank you for your kind note, too!

Thank you to Crik from NY for the box of “bits and pieces”! Thank you also for the card from Ireland just in time for St Patrick’sDay.

Thanks to Pat from WA for the wonderful assortment of cool things!

Thank you, Kathy! The kids loved the note you sent this week and many other wonderful things. The beach glass and shells are beautiful, and the baking items are very helpful!

Thank you to Jean from NC. The vintage linens are charming!

Thank you for the notes to the students. They mean so much, and we are filling a wall in the room with them!

 If you have small, colorful bottles, I found a project the kids will love. Seashells and beach glass, too!

The address is: NDBG    2600 Albany Street   Schenectady, New York 12304

For anyone I miss, please know that we could not do this without you!

 We always seek donations for anything you feel could be made into something new! Rolled gauze, wire, glassware, canvas, art supplies, heavy foil,  glue sticks, glue guns, baking tools, seashells, sea glass, bottle corks, sandpaper, and wood. I love hearing from you. My email is Sue_Silverstein@nd-bg.org. 

Have a blessed day! Happy New Year!

Sue

ND-BG

2600 Albany Street

Schenectady, New York 12304