The exhibition Thomas Day: Master Craftsman and Free Man of Color opened last month at the Renwick Gallery. Georgina Goodlander chatted with Jim Baxter, an exhibits specialist at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, who created architectural Components inspired by Day's work to complement the pieces of furniture on view.

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"Little children are fearless and passionate. They know who they are and what they like. No hesitation. Just excitement in their voices and smiles on their faces."

I spent my week in the spirited company of 12 five and six year olds and two tireless assistants. We had a full curriculum that spanned across many different artistic mediums- painting, drawing, paper mache, clay, and mixed media.

It could be said that my students gained exposure to a variety of mediums. At five years old, they started the rudimentary foundation of drawing with an introduction to shadowing, texture, and color theory. It could be said that they learned the basic techniques of still life, narrative illustration, and self-portraiture. And, most importantly, they practiced coloring neatly inside the lines.

Or it could be said; we painted cherry blossom trees to life, bowing under the weight of their flowering branches. Together, we garnished proud peacocks with jeweled plumage. We sculpted a holding place for our dreams and wishes. We were explorers, taking an imaginary trip to the far reaches of the world to find rare and mythical animal hybrids, and then documented our findings in colored pencils. We were magicians, taking newspaper, glue and some paint and creating our own rabbits rather than just pulling them from a hat. We were in advertising. We made ourselves the product with our nutrition facts, our ingredients, self- portraits, and our favorite things displayed on a box of our favorite colors. We were inventors, building time machines with wings to fly us back to the times of cavemen. Most importantly, we were artists.

My favorite quality in children has always been their confidence. Before my students scrambled into their seats on Monday morning, they were already artists. Children are artists because they want to be, because it’s fun and limitless. They have yet to be branded with the layers of doubts we carry into our adulthood. Even when faced with a challenge, as long as they were provided with the steps, they dived in headfirst. With their firm knowledge of the fact they are artists, there was only so much I could teach them.

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If you are wondering how to improve morale, encourage collaboration and limit stress in your workplace -- without spending too much money -- maybe you should consider getting an office dog. CNN London reports that research have shown that office dogs can reduce stress. Read more here.

After reading this article, we thought we should introduce everyone to VisArts' office dog, Holly. She's a hit at the office and great with all of our visitors!

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Having been here since August, "Ground Cover: Roots of Liriope" by Israeli-American artist, Dalya Luttwak, has attracted many visitors as it pays tribute to the artistic values that VisArts serves. With a large crowd filling the Ground Floor Atrium of the Arts and Innovation Center in Rockville Town Square, VisArts proudly inaugurated Dalya Luttwak  last night as the first artist of the "InSight" Series.  

The InSight series at VisArts generates site-specific installations in non-traditional exhibition spaces. Placing contemporary art in public spaces usually thought of as pass-throughs (halls, atriums, and lobbies), VisArts encourages active looking, sociability, interaction, and encounters with art in architectural space. 

Co-sponsored by the Israeli Embassy, the opening reception celebrated Luttwak's work of art.  Visitors greeted and met the artist as they learned about the process and concept behind the creation of the piece.  It was an evening that was enjoyed by all.

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From top to bottom: Marcus Mackey, Jason Lee, and Devon Miller

As the end of summer is quickly approaching, the VisArts staff are sad to say goodbye to some of our greatest and most dedicated interns. In these past four months, Devon Miller, Marcus Mackey, and Jason Lee have gone above and beyond in their roles at VisArts.

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