Robin’s new neighborhood in Brooklyn takes trick-or-treating seriously, as does she. She went out as Artemis, the Greek Goddess of the Hunt, the Moon, nature and the natural world, and deer. A neat choice for her, Robin seems to know what she wants to be and what she wants to know. She’s happy in her new school and busy taking lessons,
I look at those photos and marvel at the passage of time.
Sue, I know you had a dreadful and challenging week; I greatly admire your courage, strength, faith, and determination not to let your challenges in life deter you from your excellent teaching and love of your students and art. I am with you, and as I am sure you know, everyone who knows you is with you. You have taught me the real meaning of faith. I’m so proud to see your column here every Friday. Your students are making some fantastic art, you are doing great good.
Jon Katz.
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News from the Art Room – Halloween Week
What a week! Leaving out the details and fully understanding that there are many with much more significant problems, it has been a week in my home life. One of the highlights included a considerable SUV plowing into the front of my car in a parking garage. I have driven for many years and never had an accident…. sigh. What made me feel better? Teaching kids to make art!
Halloween week! The 6th-grade students who come most days to the art club have genuinely enjoyed the collection of Halloween fabrics, stickers, stamps, and more that I have been saving for them from your donations! Thank you so much! Holiday items are so helpful and go quickly. Many students created their costumes using fabrics and notions shared by many of you. I asked them to take some photos this evening!
It is safe to share that our spring musical will be Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr. The art classes will help with the sets. What fun! Our excellent music teacher is looking for help with sewing some costumes. I asked her for a list of costumes the kids will need, and if anyone is interested in helping, feel free to email me. I know your help would be appreciated.
The studio art kids have done excellent work on the maps. They are a unique bunch!
Emma, an 11th-grade student with the most patience I have ever seen, has mastered the fantastic art of Hamanaka Kumihimo fiber weaving using supplies sent to us by Amy in St Louis. The patterns she has made are unique. I keep telling her she needs her store to sell bracelets and other jewelry!
Lots of thank you notes this week!
I love the notes and cards that often arrive with the donations. I read the messages to the students and displayed the cards on the board. The students see the kindness and compassion behind those cards and notes. There is so much uncertainty in the world now, and knowing people care means even more. There will always be good in the world, no matter what else happens.
Thank you to Lorry from MI for the box with a little bit of everything helpful: warm socks, Christmas items, plastic spoons for lunches and breakfast, and many more creative items!
Thank you to Dot from CT for the outstanding collection, which includes lovely art supplies.
Thanks to Pat from NJ for the warm blankets, fun holiday iron-ons, fabrics, and much more!
If you have extra stuffing for pillows around the house, it goes fast during gift-making seasons! We always seek donations for anything you feel could be made into something new: rolled gauze, wire, glassware, canvas, art supplies, heavy foil, pinecones, glue sticks, seashells, sea glass, bottle corks, sandpaper, and wood.
I love hearing from you. My email is [email protected].
Have a blessed day!
Sue
ND-BG
2600 Albany Street
Schenectady, New York 12304
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Me, Fate, And Georgia O’Keeffe.
In 1951, O’Keefe received her first two chow chows, Bo And Chia, as Christmas Presents – not quite blue and against the half snow has a frosty color – very pretty.” O’Keefe described the dogs in formal terms, mostly appreciating the darkness of their fur in contrast to the brightness of the New Mexico environment. But when Bo died a few years later, she recalled with sadness, “He was wonderful, always a dark spot lying outside. Bo was the first Cho to die in a long line of chows, and she often turned her cameras on, also capturing them as dark, curled shapes, made nearly unrecognizable by the intense sunlight.”
These words and photos – I got a massive book of her pictures at the BMA exhibit, which struck a nerve; I kept thinking of a series of images I’m always taking – Fate asleep. She’s not like a chow, but she touches the same instinct in me; she always stands out in any environment where she is, never as relaxed as Bo but always looking to find her place in the world and never quite making it. She finds peace at night only when asleep. She is never at peace in daylight; she is always at peace at night, lost in her world (see below) and, like Bo, a picture I keep taking and taking.
I am always drawn to taking her photos, especially at night against the darkness.
I feel a lot of emotion in this new tulip reaching out.
This flower has a heart that sings.
All about warmth and light
The new soul of a tulip, coming to life in the sun.
This one whispers a ghost on Halloween, maybe.
Loving heart
A newborn Tulip comes to light and life and sings its song. I hear it.
Fate is a spirit dog, for sure. She revels in the light but melts into the dark in her world—my Bo.
Sarah gave me the fleece jacket she designed, which I love. It fits me perfectly, and I am proud to wear it. It also goes well with my Taylor Swift cold-weather hat. I’m pleased to be an old Swiftie.
Scott from Amazon pulled up to the Pantry just after I left. Sarah told me this morning that she expected the support flow to decline sharply because of the election, baseball, and the holidays. I said I doubted it. This afternoon, more unpacking more relief from the record traffic, help for the pressured shelves. She sent me these photos of the newest load of food. “Ye of little faith,” I said. She laughed. “I guess you were right. That’s great!” she answered. I’m not sure they know what to make of us. I do know they are grateful to us.
Sarah Harrington sent out an urgent SOS this morning, just two days after 85 families serving 250 people broke all pantry records and depleted the women’s health products shelf. The items in urgent need are inexpensive tampons, pads, and light pads. Less than $16 will buy all three.
As usual, the miracle worker Sarah managed to secure bargain prices from Amazon for the urgently needed items. Your potential donation could make a significant difference, as this is the first time the Women’s shelf has been utterly bare of women’s health products, all of which are urgently needed as we approach the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
Sarah was concerned; these are the very things so many of the Pantry families – primarily young women in one-parent households or older women living alone. Women under financial pressure have the most challenging decisions to make about food and hygiene. For $16, we can get all three products and fill up that week quickly.
Here are three items we need to fill the women’s shelf:
Above, AOG items are waiting for Thanksgiving takeaways.
I admire Sarah, one of the best bosses I’ve ever had, and when she says it’s urgent, I jump. We work in great sync, and I greatly admire her struggle to make the food pantry a place of comfort, safety, and dignity. Her dedication is truly inspiring. I’m going to write more about that tomorrow. In the meantime, I hope we can fill that empty shelf in time for the next week’s swarm.
We hope to help these mothers and older women as we approach the holiday. This is a reminder that you can access the Cambridge Pantry Amazon Food Wish List anytime, day or night, all week, including weekends. Just click on a link in these posts or on the green button at the end of any blog post on this blog. Browse anytime you want and donate any item or product you choose. Sarah updates and fights for every person.
Please do what you can.
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The empty women’s shelf this morning.
