My visit to the Hood Museum of Art was the start of a great journey. It began back in February. https://jenniefitzkee.com/2024/02/17/a-kandinsky-painting-at-last/ when I visited the museum. When I returned to school I was excited to show children the real Kandinsky painting I saw.
And now, children’s art from our Art Show is featured on the Hood Museum’s FaceBook page. Really! How did that happen? Here’s what I wrote to parents:
Hi Families,
The Aqua Room Art Show will be the featured post on the Hood Museum’s FB website Monday afternoon. Really! The Hood Museum of Art is at Dartmouth College. How did our Art Show masterpieces get there? It’s a good story. In the words of a Jennie story,
It Happened Like This…
In February I visited the Hood Museum with good friends. And there it was…. a Kandinsky painting. I have always wanted to see one, because of Eric Carle. When Carle was a high school student in Nazi Germany, his art teacher showed him ‘forbidden art’, works of five abstract artists. Kandinsky was one of the five. The art changed Carle’s life. When we prepare for our annual Art Show every year, I always show children this art. They love it!
After my Hood Museum visit I wrote a letter (not an email) to the Deputy Director of the museum, telling him how ‘moved’ I was at seeing a Kandinsky painting. I told him how important art is, and I told him my class was preparing for an annual Art Show. I assured him I would show children the museum’s Kandinsky painting. I told him I would follow through with pictures of the Art Show, and perhaps a child would want to recreate the museum’s art.
He was thrilled! I had the nicest response, and I sent him photos of the Art Show. While children did not choose to recreate the Hood Museum’s Kandinsky, they loved his art, and a couple of children picked a different one to recreate. The museum was quite taken by your children’s art. They asked to share this story on their FaceBook site. It will be posted Monday afternoon. I hope they share many art photos! You can do a FaceBook search for Hood Museum of Art.
I am so proud of your children! Picasso was right when he said, “Every child is an artist.”
Jennie
Their Hood Museum of Art FaceBook post is absolutely wonderful. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. It’s their story, my story, and the art children created. I am deeply humbled and thankful.
Art is more than inspiring. It gives meaning to what we feel and see. It gives children open eyes.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
That is so wonderful! I love the picture of you they featured on the Facebook page. It’s perfect. Just think one day these students can say they were on display at the Hod Museum of Art! What a great start to life. And you made it happen.
Beautifully said, Darlene. Thank you! I think (hope) the parents can one day tell their children, “Your art was featured at a museum.”
As an aside, it’s amazing what a letter will do. Since I mentioned Harrod’s in Amanda in England: The Missing Novel, I thought it would be nice to have a Harrod’s bag on my display during school, library and bookstore visits. So I wrote to Harrod’s in London and asked for one. A couple of weeks later I received a box full of the well known green bags with gold lettering with a nice letter enclosed.
Yes, yes! A letter works wonders. Mine was handwritten, not typed (even better.)
I’m not surprised that Harrod’s responded to your letter and sent you a box full of their bags and a letter. That’s really wonderful, Darlene! 😀
That’s lovely Jennie, I checked out their post, well done all!
Thank you, FR!
Wonderfully inspiring.
Thank you, Norah. 🥰
Yowza! Look what heartfelt passion plus a handwritten letter can jumpstart! Congratulations to one and all!
It certainly can (and did) make a difference. Thank you, Will!
Good job, Jennie. It always helps to talk with people and tell them what you do, you know, sell yourself. Now your kids are in a museum showcase, and not just any museum. Remember, ‘Unseen and Untold is Unsold’. Your kids’ art is really getting the pub because you told the right people about it.
Well said, Steve. People spend too much time telling others what is wrong or complaining. If we took the time to tell others what is right and say thank you, wonderful things happen.
This is a wonderful tribute to you and your teaching.
Thank you, Deborah!
Jennie this is amazing I searched for the museum and by the power of Facebook I was transported across miles to find and read the article , and bonus there you were with your cup along with some of the lovely paintings from the Aqua Roomers. Keep flying Jennie keep inspiring the children 💜💜💜👍💜
I’m so glad you found the museum and the article, including my Kandinsky coffee mug. Thank you for your kind words, Willow. I will keep flying and working to inspire young children. 💕
Excellent Jennie I know you will 💜💜
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Hi Jennie, you are a magician. I never cease to be amazed by what you manage to achieve.
That’s so nice, Robble. Thank you. 🥰
Jennie, you are a national treasure.
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I agree with Jacqui.
❤️
Kids’ schoolroom art in a museum, that’s a big WOW! And they took it seriously, setting your Aqua Roomers on a path to art appreciation beyond their years. Just lovely.
Best wishes, Pete.
It was quite an honor and a big deal. Thank you so much, Pete.
How awesome is that. I checked out the post and loved it. Keep inspiring your students, Jennie.
Thank you, Carla!!
A lovely Facebook showing. Congratulations to you, Jennie, and the students
Thank you so much, John.
You are welcome, Jennie.
Jennie, you continue to help inspire your students to greater heights. The museum gets kudos as well for being a first-class operation who also “gets” it.
The museum definitely ‘gets it’ and deserves high praise. They certainly got a huge thank you from me. Thank you for your kind words, Bruce.
How wonderful! Kudos Jennie.
Thank you, Cindy!
I didn’t even realize this museum existed! I’m excited to check it out sometime, since it’s in my neck of the woods. I love Kandinsky’s work, too!
I hope you get to visit, Maggie. Kandinsky’s art is wonderful!
Congratulations to you and the Aquaroomers for your Hood Museum Facebook feature!!
Thank you, Liz! It was quite wonderful. 🥰
Totally cool, Jennie. Having an art show displaying the kids’ artwork is one of the best ways of teaching them them the vale of art. I enjoyed the Facebook post and left a comment over there.
Thank you, Pete. Yes, very cool! And, treating their art like a masterpiece empowers children. My favorite is having the children give a title to their framed art. Did I tell you that two children titled their art after the Boston Dynamics robots, Spot and Atlas? Of course I told Boston Dynamics. Thank you for reading and commenting on the Hood Museum FB page.
I remember your wonderful stories about connecting with Boston Dynamics. It just occurred to me that you might enjoy a middle-grade book by a fabulous author (Jasmine Warga) who appeared at our last author festival. She’s hit it bigtime. I personally connected with her book Other Words For Home, but A Rover’s Story is a good match for The Wild Robot and Spot and Atlas. https://jasminewarga.com/a-rovers-story
The One and Only Ivan meets The Wild Robot? OMG! The book is in my Amazon cart. My kids still talk about Curiosity. This will be perfect for my library group read aloud. How wonderful that you connected with Jasmine. Thank you so much, Pete!
I got the book at the library today!!!
what a wonderful turn of events and real world connection for them
Yes! ❤️
Inspired art! A product of your energy and enthusiasm Jennie! Everybody is an artist. Kids can do it!
That art museum looks great! I love art museums. Kandinsky is amazing!
Well done Jennie. You turn kids on.
Thank you, Opher! I do love Kandinsky. This was quite wonderful. One day I want to see a Franz Marc painting, one of his blue horses. Marc and Kandinsky were friends, and their art changed Eric Carle’s life. I remember the day it dawned on me that the ‘blue horse’ in Carle’s Brown Bear, Brown Bear book was his tribute to Franz Marc. Big wow!
I think that art and all creativity comes from humans operating at their best! I recently went to a Hockney exhibition that was wonderful!!
Keep on helping those kids to grow Jenny!
You are right, Opher. Lucky you to see a Hockney exhibition. I’ll keep on helping kids.
Love Hockney and he only lived five miles away!
Wow!
What a great story! Thanks for sharing!
I’m glad you liked it, Wynne! Thank you!
Hi Jennie, thank you so much for this wonderful post!
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Charles!
Inspiring and profound post Jennie 😊🙏😊
Thank you, Kamal!
Always welcome Jennie 😊😊
I am impressed and proud of you and the opportunities you give your children. This is a great post, Jennie.
That’s so nice, Dan. Thank you!
I adore the Hood Museum. Kandinsky is an exceptional painter. His works always evoke Something…
Yes! Thank you for your comment. I hope to see another Kandinsky sometime, and a Franz Marc. I get to the Hood once a year and always enjoy their exhibits.
You’re a legend Jennie! 🙂 xx
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