In 1851, James Abram Garfield convinced the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute to hire him as a janitor in exchange for college tuition. He woke hours before the first classes, took pride in keeping the facilities as clean as possible. By the time he was a sophomore, the college promoted him from cleaning toilets to a […]
Serbian artist Maria Abramovic is known for her provocative, avant-garde performance pieces exploring the limits of body and mind. Her 1974 piece “Rhythm 5” featured a flaming wooden star. After jumping in and lying down in the middle, she promptly passed out from the fumes and had to be rescued. Another piece, 1977’s “Imponderabilia”, had […]
Here’s what I learned from a recent ten-day digital detox (no Instagram, Facebook, Google, or online news). Social media can be a powerful place of connection. I could not successfully attract new students to the studio without it. It’s a great way to share my writing and feel like I am putting something of value […]
BE calm. BE kind. BE project. Note: This is an abbreviated version of the BE project curriculum. Full versions will be shared with any school or district that has undergone a BE project staff training. Neuroscientists believe that humans have between 50,000 and 70,000 thought a day. That’s a lot of thinking! And the […]
“What’s the best personal comeback story in all of sports?” I asked my husband, fairly certain his answer would be Monica Seles or Michael Jordan. He thought about it for a while. “Maybe George Foreman.” I squinted at him. “The grill guy that named all of his sons George?” David smiled. “You’re the librarian. Go […]
When I pick Izzie up from school each day, we have a tradition. “Tell me something you know right now that you didn’t know this morning,” I say. She then shares what is on her heart, something that interested or inspired or infuriated her. Did I know engineers expect that omnidirectional tires will make parallel […]
