I will miss the Museum

Lately, I've been feeling so many things all at once that it's hard to process everything. I am finding myself struggling with the thought of leaving the Museum. I love the people I work with and for. The people I work with in the office are beautiful, creative, hilarious and kind. The docents are the same and all have sharpened me and made me stronger.

I have always wanted to open a school for kids but I don't think I found the confidence to do it until sometime in the past few years...maybe even until just last year. When I started working at the Museum, I wasn't ready for my job, but Carolyn and Chandra believed in me. They gave me time and were patient with me while I was learning and making a lot of mistakes. So were the docents. I still can't believe how lucky I am to have found such wonderful and nurturing people. I am becoming someone who can do things I never dreamt possible because of all of the encouragement and inspiration they have provided.

I'm a little scared and sad about leaving because I know that I love these people and I have a big hill to climb, but I know it's my calling to go.

A while back, I found a short film on Vimeo that perfectly captures what I'm feeling. I posted it on my facebook, but I think I'll post it again here. It's about a girl who discovers a different world and loves it, like when I moved to OKC and took the job at the Museum. When this girl's new experience is gone, she's sad, but then has a new realization. There is hope found in a new and different future...and this future brings so many new experiences.

Trichrome Blue from Lois van Baarle on Vimeo.

deadCENTER Fun!

This past week and weekend, OKC held another incredible deadCENTER Film Festival! It really is a wonderful experience for people who love film. When James and I decided to do this project of ours, I decided that we needed to document all of the changes in the building and all of my ideas for the school. That's why I started this blog. I also bought a new camera to film the progress and we're making a documentary about it.

When the camera came in, we had about two weeks to create a film before the deadline for the dC film festial. We decided to go for it and we did! And then it was accepted!!! I'm a little biased, but I think that the director, (Kyle) K Edward Van Osdol, and everyone invovled did a great job! I had so much fun making it and being a part of it, Here is the trailer/teaser for our film:

Ostium Teaser from K. Edward Van Osdol on Vimeo.

Catching up! (Thanks to the Rain)

It is raining so much outside that we can't get into work. So I thought I would post a quick catch up on what has been going on since we returned from the trip TWO MONTHS AGO! I can't believe I've been so lax on writing, but I am ready to get everything down so that I can let everyone know. Brace yourself, this is a long entry, but the rest of my posts are more brief.

I made this blog public last week because I was finally able to tell the people that I needed to know about my plans. I didn't want anyone to hear it from anyone but me. Soooooooooo....here we go!

I've already written about the Blue School and how great it was, but I didn't post any pictures. I don't know their policy about that and honestly, I admire them so much that I think I'm going to refrain. I wouldn't want to do anything that could potentially ruin their good will towards us. I'll just say that we found some wonderful ideas for the building and for the way I want to run the pre-school part of our community space. I knew when I was sitting in the classroom of 4 year olds that I could do that. I know, without any doubt, that we could offer a wonderful place for children of OKC to learn and grow.

And it won't just be for children...it will be for adults too! I want to offer a place and experience to people that will help them to find their passions...a place that will help them to find within themselves something that will spark an excitement and self-confidence that will change them for the better. Creativity can do that. It's one of the reasons that I love art and music so much!

After we left NYC, we went to Baltimore for the National Art Education Association National Conference. Wow! I learned so much about Senior Outreach, Art Therapy, creating art and connecting with others from all over the world that have the same interests. It was great to establish relationships and to share ideas. I found that people from all over the world were excited about what we want to do. Maybe even more importantly, I found reassurance in my hopes and dreams because I realize that what we want to do is something people want everywhere. There is a new form of education that's headed our way, and somehow I feel like our school will be a part of helping it to grow here in Oklahoma.

There was one day that James and I took off from the conference and went to Washington D.C.. We went to the National Museum of the American Indian. I had been studying it and reading about it for the past two semesters in class, so I needed to go. I was so glad that I did because I realized that this is also a place that is incorporating new ideas and ways of presenting information to people. It seemed confusing to people at first because nothing is really presented in the way that museums have traditionally presented pieces and info. I actually love that.



I had read that people would get frustrated when approaching the exhibits and while that frustration can hinder people in their appreciation of what the Museum is trying to do, it can also challenge people to think in new ways. What I LOVE about the Museum is that the curators and administrators actually consulted with many, many tribes from North America and had community curators amongst each tribe. They asked the community to be involved in the way that they were represented. That honor and respect is what we want to give people too! And we obviously need a new way of thinking because our education system can sometime overload teachers with so many requirements that they don't have time to teach, let alone incorporate creativity into everything they do. Our teachers need support and understanding and there are some amazing ones out there. We just need to support them. I think that Oklahoma A+ Schools is doing a great job of giving teachers what they need to do this. I really, really admire them. In fact, I would really like to take their trainings and classes. I know that they would be worth their weight in GOLD!













While we were in DC, we also went up to Chevy Chase, Maryland. This is where James spent the first five years of his life. We visited his old school, the tree he used to climb, the house he lived in and walked through the neighborhood where he used to walk and ride his bike. It was special to see where James was first experiencing life and forming his ideas of what he liked. I was honored to be there.






I should mention here that James carried my bag for me for quite a while that day. :)




I love this picture. It's in the tree James used to sit in. We both sat in it for a while and it was fun to imagine James
sitting there as a little boy.


The day we returned, we attended the AIA Central Oklahoma Chapter Architecture tour. It was amazing! We even saw Wayne and Michelle Coyne's house...you know, of the Flaming Lips??? So cool! I want their bathroom!!! It was like nothing I'd ever seen before. Talk about a house of creativity. Wish I had pics to post, but photography wasn't allowed. I can just say that if I ever get to build a house, I'm calling Larry Pickering because he is a genius at what he does. And I know it's not just Larry that was involved in all of that, but he's the one I know that had a part in the renovation of that space. I'd like to get him to work on our building...we'll see what happens with that! One of my favorite parts about the architecture tour was that so many people from OKC were out on a rainy day, supporting the arts...yet again!!! I'm hoping that we can get our building on next year's tour.

Have I mentioned how much I love OKC? It's a great community and I love how we are growing all of the time. It helps that it's so close to my family, but mainly, I just love the forward motion in our drive to improve and enrich our city! The people are kind and generous to each other too. So if you're reading this and you are one that has thought that Oklahoma is "behind the times," or not someplace that you'd want to live, then you don't know OKC. And that's ok. You'll figure it out soon enough. :)

There are three more things that I want to include before ending this epic entry. First, we submitted the first part of three in our application for the National Tax Credit and we were accepted! This means we need to submit the second part soon, letting the people in the national office know about what our exact plans are. It will be helpful if we can get that approved because the state legislature has passed a bill to put a moratorium on the state tax credits for historic preservation. I bet we can do it!

Secondly, we had our Historic Preservation hearing a couple of weeks ago and the board didn't exactly like the windows that we proposed for our building, so we'll go back to present again in August. I know we can do it! We can figure this out. That's the best part about working with James. We're both positive people and feel that every experience is worthwhile. We are learning as we go, but we are both committed to this so I know it's all going to work out. Every lesson is worth the time that it's taking to get our project to the place it needs to be. We need to know these things so we can do it again!

Ok, I think that's enough for this post...except to say that I turned my resignation in at work and my last day at the Museum will be August 3rd. I'm scared and excited all at the same time. I'm going to return to OU in the fall to finish my masters over the next year and then the following fall (Fall 2011), if everything goes according to plans, we will be opening the school. I feel like life just keeps getting better and better. I can't believe how blessed we are, but I'm grateful.

East Coast Extravaganza: Adventures and Learning! - Part 1 - New York

Today is Thursday, June 3rd. I wrote this right after I got back from NYC and Baltimore, but I didn't have my pics loaded onto my computer so I didn't post it. It's taken me forever because some major things have happened over the past month, but I will update everything as soon as possible. Here's a start!

James and I just returned from a trip to the east coast and I am so excited about the things that we saw. We learned a TON about art, education, gallery space and each other. He had already traveled out there the week before, but we met up in New York and continued on together from there. I went to the National Art Education Association's conference in Baltimore, MD and it was amazing. Everything was. I'm going to have to write these entries in parts because I know that there will be things that I forget and have to add later and because I have homework to do, I'm just going to focus on Part 1 of the trip - New York.

While we were in NYC, we saw friends including Braden, my friend Sirena who works at the Guggenheim Museum, a new friend Victoria who works at the New Museum, Kelli Streteski, my friend Lisa Small who works for the American Federation of Arts , and Jason Peters, the artist who just had an exhibit at the OKCMOA, where I work. It was just a wonderful time of sharing ideas and learning about contemporary art because we went to the Guggenheim and the New Museum. I loved walking through these spaces and talking to James and my other friends about the art and the architecture of the museums. It was especially important for us to do this because I believe it to be one of the best ways for us to share our likes and dislikes of space, art, education, and life in general. I think communication is essential in combining our visions and making them into one.

While in New York, we also went to the Blue School. This was my favorite part of the whole time in NYC...well that, and getting to dream with James about all of the things that we are going to be able to do. While we were at the school, we got to see not only the set up of the architecture and design, but also a class in session. It was so inspiring to see the Blue School's philosophy in action - those kiddos engaged and excited about learning, while not realizing that they were learning so much about vocabulary, letters, numbers, rhythm, art and more! This was a space dedicated to helping kids learn through play...which is EXACTLY what I want to see happen in our school. I still have to pinch myself to know that it's not a dream because I know that it's going to happen!!!

I stayed at The Ace Hotel and it was probably one of the coolest hotels I've ever seen. The interior was more masculinely decorated than most places I've stayed, but everything about it was efficient, clean, beautiful and very progressive as far as the vibe in the lobby/meeting area was concerned. Everyone was talking or playing around on their phones and iPads. Nobody cared or thought it was rude, so I know that it represented new thought concerned with interaction. What fun! And it ties directly into James' thesis ideas about the digital realm, the physical realm of community meeting places and how they interact. I read that just about an hour ago and I have to say that I was impressed. In fact, it was just one more piece of evidence that James and I are meant to combine our visions to work together on this project...which is going to turn into more and more projects. We are going to work together for life and I can't believe how lucky I am for that!

Did I mention that we ate some yummy food too? We took in brunch at 'Inoteca in the Lower East Side on Saturday before we went to the New Museum and had a sampling of their brunch menu. DEEEEEEEELICIOUS!!! That evening we went to Brooklyn to see Jason Peters and ate at a lovely old restaurant. I think I remember the decor more than the food, even though it was delicious...I liked James' hamburger more than my beet salad, but it didn't matter. I was mainly just happy to get to see Jason and James. The company was the best! On Sunday, James and I visited a mixer that was happening on the floor of the ice rink at Rockefeller Center and had some sweet cheeseburger sliders and lobster quesadillas. That night we ate soup dumplings in Chinatown with Braden and finally, on Sunday we ate at Shake Shake and had some awesome cheeseburgers and mushroom burgers. After that, it was time to head to Baltimore for the conference because it began the next day (Monday.)

I'll write more about Baltimore and Washington DC in the next couple of entries...but for now, here are some pics of the New York part of the trip. I feel like the luckiest person alive and I thank God for all of the fun and learning that took place while we were there!

Sir Ken Robinson

Sir Ken Robinson is one of the people on the Advisory Board for the Blue School and he's coming to Oklahoma!!! I would really like to meet him. A board I'm on is talking about bringing him in a little early when he's already supposed to be here in November for the Creativity World Forum. We want him to give a talk at the Museum for leaders and educators. I don't know if it's going to work out or not, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Anyway, here he is and I love what he has to say....

Get Outside and Play!

Today is Easter so I'm home in big Ardmore, Oklahoma. I love the days when I get to spend time with my family because we not only eat great food, but we also have great converstations. Today was no exception. My brother-in-law, Samuel, and my sister Jenny just found out that they are going to have a baby boy and we're all very excited about this. A fun result of their expectant parenthood is that they are thinking a lot about how they are going to raise this child and his education. So today, Sam, brought up a great book that he's been reading. Richard Louv has written a book titled, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit Disorder.

I haven't read it yet, but Sam was telling me that the author, a child advocate, talks about the issue of children not getting outside enough these days. The reasons range from parental fear to children being "wired" with technology. He says that there are many resulting emotional and mental results, such as attention deficit dissorder. I belive in this!

I had already planned on trying to get the kids at our school outside and involved with nature as much as possible...from taking field trips, nature walks around the area our building is located in, to even studying plants and animals within our own walls. I believe that our spirit is tied to nature and when we deprive ourselves of time outside, we deprive our souls. And if we are really going to nurture all areas of life in our students, young or old, we are going to have to have to get outside and play.

I know that James will agree with me on this one too, because he already practices this much more than I do. He walks from his house to his parents' house on a regular basis; He walks to work; He walks to my house...and sometimes he even does this in the rain! I loved boot camp last summer because we were outside. There is something healing about feeling the wind on your face and smelling the trees and grass...even during alergy season! Even grownups like to play outside and I know we're healthier for it.

The really cool thing is that there is research to back up what I naturally believe is something we should include in our curriculum. I can't wait to get to the point where we can do these things!

To end this blog entry, here is a funny video that I found when looking for the book.

Progress and Fun!

Things are really moving along. The brick work is finished at the building and now we're talking about things like fixing the roof and skylights and so much more. The great news is that we got the loan! The details still need to be laid out as far as an interest rate and how long we'll have to pay it off, but I'm so happy to know that the bank is willing to help us. We've had the greatest rep to work with from the bank. I'll add names and the exact bank at a later time, but for now, I'm just going to say that I'm grateful. We're so blessed! What we're going to do with this building, and even the building itself, will bless so many in the future that we feel like we're just being guided through all of the things we need to do in order to be the conduit for all of it happening. I've talked about this before, but it's as if all of the goodness surrounding our ideas and this project seem to just draw the right people in.

Here are a few pictures from recent trips to the building!

East Side Brick - check!

West Side Brick - check!

James and Kyle Filming for the Documentary about the Building - Check!

She's so pretty!!!

Did I mention that I climbed up on the roof? It was a little scary!!!

Where we'd like to put a green roof and skylights...

We could probably see fireworks from up here on New Year's Eve and Fourth of July!

Looking down on the lot we hope to have someday!