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Children in Kabul using the masks they made

Arts in Education: Mobile Mini Circus for Children in Afghanistan has returned

Since I visited this incredible program in 2013, they were forced to shut down and seek safety when the Taliban again grew powerful and violent in the Autumn of 2022. Now, once again (as of January 2023), they have 27 teams in 11 provinces, serving children of all ages and genders, with a social circus program that also provides food and other instruction. You can learn more about them on their Facebook page (they post most often on Facebook). Support by sharing or donating if you can. — I am walking down the dirt road, my headscarf up over my

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Holly Adams standing in front of a NYSTEA banner at a conference

Hey! Let the Kid Become an Artist

The Great Resignation isn’t just about leaving toxic work environments — it’s also a time for all of us to reflect on what we REALLY want to do. We only have one life after all (in theory) and so it’s crucial to find passion in every day, whether that’s through work, hobbies, or people. So often we hear that art should stay relegated to the side gig, and I applaud those who follow that path and serve their souls and make sweet money. But many of us don’t want a traditional job or aren’t well-suited to that environment. Take a

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A piece of living art covering a bench

Living Art: creating common beauty

It’s winter, and winter wonderlands bring to mind evergreens and warmer climes — for me, at least! So this blog is focused on Living Art—projects to do with your school or community that engage everyone, are stunningly beautiful, functional, and full of science and history exploration opportunities. What the heck is Living Art? In a nutshell, structures and sculptures made from alive plants (and some people would include running water). These are not just your king’s topiary! I was recently in Texas, and visited the Houston Museum of Natural History  and it’s adjacent Japanese Gardens in Hermann Park . Gracing

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Manila folder dragon mask being created

Mask making, part three: Manila Folders

Masks are a wonderful way to discover differences in cultural perspectives, character nuances, and the ideas of subtext and implication. They allow students to dive into the past and see into another’s eyes — literally. For that reason, I highly recommend them as a tool for many teachers in many subjects. But what if you are prohibited from ordering art supplies (and therefore aquaplast)? Well Ta DAA! Enter Manila Folder Masks. Made almost entirely out of Office Supplies!!! Manila Folder Mask: What is it? Believe it or not, Manila Folders have different properties than any other paper product, including card

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Students perform for a workshop

War on Play?

Now that the school year is in full swing and folks are beginning to stress about test scores, the idea of extending the school day, cutting recess, eliminating creative activities and so on comes again to the fore. “Play is under pressure right now, as parents and policymakers try to make preschools more like schools. But pretend play is not only important for kids; it’s a crucial part of what makes all humans so smart, ” Alison Gopnik wrote in “Let the Children Play, It’s Good for Them! A leading researcher in the field of cognitive development says, “When children

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Cover of The State of the Birds 2014 book

Remembering Martha: art, community, and the passenger pigeon

September 1, 2014, marked the 100th anniversary of the death of Martha, the sole surviving Passenger Pigeon. Quite a few interesting, powerful, relevant articles have come out, including ones about “de-extinction” in a Smithsonian article by William Souder, “100 Years After Her Death, Martha, the Last Passenger Pigeon, Still Resonates.” However, for me it wasn’t until I saw the paper “pull-out” from my edition of the Smithsonian Magazine, that I felt a real connection. It was printed with the pattern to fold the paper into an origami Passenger Pigeon. Like the origami cranes, gracefully and soulfully keeping us aware of and

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Summer Sling

Body in Motion, Spirit at Rest

I spent part of this past weekend attending New York Summer Sling, “a 4-day stage combat workshop sanctioned by the Society ofAmerican Fight Directors (SAFD). Classes are taught by SAFD certified fight directors and teachers from universities and theaters around the country. Class options include introductory instruction in all of our eight weapon disciplines for the stage, unique and specialized experimentation with period fighting styles, and master classes in advanced physical acting techniques” (from the Summer Sling website description). Despite an incredible lack of sleep and profound anxiety ahead of time, I had one of the most wonderful conference experiences

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A group of clowns standing together during a performance

The Importance of Theatre Education

“Best times of my high school life.” I just received this comment on my Facebook page after posting a PSA on how theatre transforms students’ lives. This comment does not represent a desire to goof off and party, nor is it an isolated sentiment. Theatre Education programs provide a safe place for students to be themselves, explore relationships, develop compassion, and discover delayed gratification. These are the obvious take-aways. Here’s some less obvious ones. Success in school By any definition of “Youth at Risk,” the percentage of those who graduate from high school is doubled when those students are coming from

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Holly holds up a mask that she made

Why You Should Make Masks

I have given many mask-making workshops, with the adult cast of a show, for toddlers, in school settings, with tweens who have disabilities, and as part of a physical theatre performance at a museum. Each time, the group members have been surprised by the newness of it, then cautious and worried about getting it right as they begin, then delighted and enthusiastic as the masks come into being in their hands. Too often, I think, such exploration of an alien landscape is relegated to an art class when its power and wonder would blossom in sooo many other circumstances. I

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