Creative Play

Nadi Spencer and I were admiring her piece of art during an artist's reception at the Tulare Historical Society. It was a rendering of a finished mural done at the Three Rivers Elementary School. I had watched the students work on the mural each time I drove by and wished the students at my husband's school, La Sierra Charter High School, could have such an experience. Nadi told me what she charged and when she was free.  Less than a year later, after receiving a donation from the Phylon Foundation, and a Grant from the Board of Supervisors of Tulare County, we completed two murals. The students worked along side this Master Artist, producing something beautiful for their school, learning to complete a complicated project, working together as a team, "Even with people you don't like," as one student wrote in a paper about the project.   These students are at risk of drugs, gangs, and poverty. Horizons were broadened, 51 students hands made the murals, and had fun ...

...And a New Year begun. It's hard to wish everyone happy new year with two wars that we are engaged in, and one in Gaza, the economy tanking, and so forth. But hope springs eternal, and with the new administration maybe some of the negative will move in more positive directions over this new year.  I have gone back to my regular middle names A. Blair and will leave Hussein to those whose mothers gave them that name, first, middle or last. We voted in the President I so wanted and soon he will be official the one and only. Right now the old is still there, and things feel headless, and worrisome. He keeps adding as many devastations as possible, and then throws in something good here and there. It will be a relief when the old guard goes.