"Art Escape" Smithsonian Museum, Washington D.C.

Reflection on “Art Escape” Smithsonian Museum


Washington D.C.
May 14-16, 2010


The journey began from the Amtrak Station at west Peachtree, Atlanta at around 8: 20pm after Dr. Hopkins, the group leader have accounted for all who have signed in. On the train we were given all the necessary information, and papers to choose our own museums to visit in the morning and the afternoon. We were also to table talk our sitting partners to know their expectation and why they chose to go on the trip. It was a long trip. By 11:00 pm almost everybody was asleep on the train. We woke up around 7:00am when we were by then at Manassas, Va. By 9:45 am we’ve arrived at the union Station in Washington DC. Participants were given final briefing and broke into various groups base on their chosen museum. I went with the group going to the African museum. It was a long walk, but walking so close to the capital and seeing the white house on foot was the most exciting thing to me. In the African museum I bought books on how to make drums and textile printing. Most of the pictures I took in the museum were Henry Mores sculptures and paintings and artifacts from the Fante people in Ghana, my home land. My next visit was to the Washington monument, Kennedy and Jefferson monuments. In my attempt to go to the American national museum I end up at national archives. After 20 minutes in line I decided to continue to go and see the original copy of the Declaration of Independence, hand written Constitution, the abolition of slavery and Georgia’s acceptance of the slavery amendment. I left the archives and finally walk through the Navy memorial to the National Art museum and the National Portrait museum. Overall, it was a trip of a life time. I did apply Daniel Pink Six sense to my visit. The designs I saw sparked my (design) creative thinking abilities. And hope to apply them in the near future... Every single work in Smithsonian has a special story to me in addition to what is written. People from all walks of life have come together to harmonize with the Art works.(Symphony) I felt the empathy when I saw the slavery amendment acceptance from Georgia and able to connect with the works from Africa especially the works from Fante people in Ghana, my place of birth. Meaning evolved from the works to me as I read some of the great saying on the walls of the American National Museum.
Quotes on wall
“Art ain’t about paint, it ain’t about canvas, it’s about ideas. Too many people died without ever getting their mind out to the world”
Thornton Dial Sr. 1993


“One can’t paint NY as it is, but rather as it is felt.”
Georgia O’Keefee, 1926
“Being in exhaustible, life and Nature are a constant stimulus for creative mind.”
Hans Hofman, 1880 – 1966
“Ideas are like... you choose them as your guides, and following them you will reach your destiny.”
Carl Schurz 1859, Boston
“I look at nature I see myself. Paintings are mirrors, so is nature.”
Arthur Dove, 1880 - 19466

In the mist of all theses, I was able to make time to have fun by looking and enjoying the kids on the horse merry-go-round opposite the information center on the park, play therefore took place. I hope to repeat this experience with my family this summer. And finally in the words of Michael Angelo “If I want to talk about the work I saw I will write a book” and therefore I chose to give my title to my experience as “Through the lenses of my Camera” Smithsonian DC as you look at the pictures I took while over there. Attached are some of the pictures I took.
By Martin Mensah

Action research through the camera-1

Art -at- work in our schools

Art Escape oo Smithsonian D.C. Through the lens

Reflection on May 8th, 2010 Class

Reflection on May 8, 2010 Class

The day started as usual with housekeeping information by the assistant director Raymond Veon. He followed the house keeping with a review on Howard Gardner’s book. “5 Minds of the Future. “ The music and drama group then performed a short skit on how to create a musical ensemble without vocal with found object and everyday class room material. It was very dramatic and captivating.
We then broke into our various class groups. John and Lisa class was merged together to discuss Daniel Pink and Howard Gardner’s book to prepare our mind for the post-test. After break we talked about plans for the art show at the Youth Art Connection Center. The day for the opening was moved from the 3rd of June to June 2 nd to accommodate all participants to be there. We agreed for the set up to be on the 1st and 2 nd of June, from 9:00am till we finish.
The next session was in the theater, it was lead by Dr. Hopkins who gave us information on the plans for the D.C. trip. The title of the trip was “Art Escape “to Smithsonian Museum at Washington D.C. The journey starts on Friday May 14 at 7:20 pm from the Amtrak station at West Peach tree Atlanta to Washington DC till Sunday May 16 Th, 2010, when we will be back to Atlanta. The day ended with post test, it was quite challenging, but this time it was not a surprise as one has prepared himself for the test. I am looking forward to the Washington D.C. trip.

Below are some pictures taken on May 8 th music and drama skit class

M.A.Jones Invitational Art Educational Fair, 2010

Reflections on the 2010 Invitational Art Education Fair

The M. Agnes Jones Elementary Invitational Art Education Fair has once again come and gone, Friday April 23rd , 2010, was the day.
The fair proceeded with several letters from the coordinator and founder Raymond Veon, reminding art educators about the show for 9 months. Teachers from K-12 in APS worked hard throughout the year to celebrate the day. In all 48 schools participating this school year was another success. I was please to see an increase in the attendance of parents that showed, especially from my school, C.W. Long Middle. The immediate past title holders of “BEST OF SHOW “Middle school division. I was also able to pull four teachers on our staff to come out and support the students. We hope to get more parents and teachers to come out next year. All it takes is to pass on the massage. It was a real celebration for all the lovers of the arts, students, parents, and educators. The works on display and the atmosphere at the show invokes all the six senses of Daniel Pink’s book, “A Whole New Mind”. Design, Meaning, Story, sympathy, Empathy, and Play.
I was so pleased with the brochure of the program. Veon did all he could to make a case for the arts and in particular visual art. Congratulation Raymond and thanks for the quote on page 11 of the brochure. The one that moved me was the one by Albert Einstein.
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”-Albert Einstein
I will also like to thank all teachers who came out during the week to help mount the works.
Long live the fine arts. Long live the visual arts, Long Live. APS.