Good thing I have good walking shoes. And an Unlimited metro card. Run around time has begun.
Started the new Pace class yesterday. They are an awesome group. I introduced Liz Lerman’s Critical Response Process (thanks to Unlocking the Classroom for putting my eyes on it) as I’ve been not 100% pleased with how feedback sessions go in creative situations. I wanted to practice on work that wasn’t theirs. I asked them to choose a play we were all familiar with. Perhaps it’s a sad state of theater that we couldn’t find a common play. I went to film. Someone suggested Star Wars, but not everyone had seen that either. Somehow we ended up with a certain film about a man who overcomes his disabilities, class and a single-parent up-bringing to become an influential–albeit, haphazardly so–figure in history. Yes. That movie. But that’s not important. What’s important is that we practiced the process, with them taking turns as the writer and responder while I facilitated and they got quite good with it in a short period of time–giving and receiving feedback in a meaningful way. And it really made a difference that the artist drives the conversation with their own questions about their work. We will see how the semester goes, but I am quite hopeful and so glad to have found this new way of workshopping plays right off the press.
Started at Teachers and Writers yesterday. I am meant to assist with their programs this year and to work on my own writing. I am so excited. When I was taken to my new office, I almost started to cry. A lovely little room, filled with light. A red wall, two other walls of glass and the third wall with a window, from which you can see the Hudson. A little red hand-painted public school chair that was apparently found on the street. I have never had a room of my own in which to write. It does make all the difference.
I am familiarizing myself with their programs and am astounded at how far reaching they are and what a lovely history they have, being founded by many, but Herbert Kohl and Muriel Rukheyser, who are two personal heroes. Much to do. Much to learn. Much to look forward to.
carla ching 