This Blessed Plot, This Earth, This Realm: Week 1 of AXP Magic

Week One of AXP was exhausting and exhilarating at the same time. We were really lucky with our excursions, seeing Spamalot on the first night, which was so much fun in its own way. I love seeing shows multiple times and being able to compare musical choices, budgets, creative choices and improvisational skills. The kids got some of it but Leslie, who was sitting a few seats down from me, was dying with laughter.

I enjoyed my CE class and the things they came up with. They liked to laugh, enjoyed listening to music, for the most part enjoyed sharing and if they didn't, wrote some really insightful things. I'm always impressed by what they come up with. I'm not sure I would have been as eloquent as some at their age. And of course, others are still very immature. Well, they still have time....

"Today I discovered that it wasn't very hard to make friends at arts express." -Sydney D.

"We sing weird songs on the bus." -Debbie

"My goal is to play By the River in music class correctly." -Hunter

"I discovered that British comedy is mostly in their actions, more than their words." -Allison

"Today I discovered that if you are positive all the time you will find yourself having more fun than before." -Amber

"My discovery is that I can learn a lot of people's names." -Toni

"I discovered that a person named Cole died and inspired people to start this program called arts-x-press." -Misael A.

"Today I discovered that there is no right or wrong in art." -Kianna

"During dance, we were trying to think about who inpsired me, I thought about as I was yelling Goodbye to my family. Who got me up in the morning? who made me want to be a better person? It was as simple as the sky was blue: Anna, my six-year-old sister was my inspiration. She loves me so much and as I sit here writing, I love her too! What an amazing discovery and I got in from dance!" -Matt

Yesterday we talked about what inspired us that started with the same name as us as: Sam is inspired by salmon, Sydney is inspired by salami, Matt is inspired by masterpieces, Debbie by dance, Allison by art. Today we discussed more in depth about what inspires us and how we might express that. Here are some of our examples.

by Sam

by Stephanie

by Gracelynn

by Morgan

by Taryn

by Jafeth

by Lily

On Sunday night, the kids were lucky to see West Side Story at the chance theater. You can kind of see in the picture below how the stage was set up. There is a row of seats on one side, the long stage in the middle (where the kiddos are standing... they took over the stage at intermission) and seats on the otherside facing the other seats. All the action took place in the middle, right in their faces, and also behind and above them. It was such a great show, really up close and personal, and the kids were entranced (and shocked and even let out some gasps and shrieks throughout the show). They did not want to stop asking questions during the talk-back. I'd go back and see if again if I could but they are sold out!

Festival of the Arts and Pageant were the same as usual although there were a lot of new artists being exhibited at FOA. It was nice to see some new blood and a slightly different layout instead of feeling like you see the same thing every single year. Pageant was a lot more subdued this year, which I appreciated, and it was slightly shorter than usual! They picked some great pieces of art though, including several Norman Rockwells and a lot of statues and sculptures.

Staff putting on their own Pageant piece

toilet seats at pink at FOA

Misael, Matt and Stephanie

me and Al Pal!

Hunter's raku pot

the "Allisons"

The kids did a great job at the Parent presentation and the talent show was nice and short because they were very collaborative- lots of HUGE groups doing skits which always cuts down. I didn't get to enjoy the party because my diabetic kid had low blood sugar and we needed to monitor that but if that was the worst thing that would have happened all week, I'll take it.