Michelle Houts's Blog, page 7

Mo says, “You missed it.”

 

This message isn’t from me.

It comes straight from Mo to my computer to  you.

You aren’t allowed to know what happened here today.

Seriously.  I’m not allowed to photograph any more.  Honestly, he threatened to publicly shame those who attempted a shot.

(He didn’t remember I already snapped this one!)

I’m not allowed to blog.

Why?

Because.  We, the fortunate 400, were here.  We were at the Mazza Museum. In Findlay, Ohio. On November 10, 2012. We experience something that no photograph, no blog post can recreate.  Our own personal accounts of this experience likely won’t even be enough to accurately share the feelings and excitement in the room this weekend.

So, that’s it, I guess.

Next time, be here.

And to find out more about next time, visit The Mazza Museum. Visit it online. And then visit it in person.

Because nothing is the same as being here.

With a stunning watercolor painting in the background, J...

With a stunning watercolor painting in the background, Jon paints for the Mazza audience, turning a single black line into a labrodor retriever.

Born and raised in Cincinnati, a young Jon Muth headed to New York with $500 and a dream of painting for a living.  When it became clear he would need to eat to survive, he decided to attempt comic book art and graphic novels.  After the birth of a son, Jon’s focus shifted toward creating children’s books that impact young minds.  Come on Rain,  written by Karen Hesse, was Jon’s first book for young readers, and it was awarded the Golden Kite Award from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Well known for his Zen series, Zen Shorts, Zen Ties, and Zen Ghosts feature a very large panda named Stillwater.  Jon’s watercolor paintings and ink drawings have graced the pages of many more books for children as well as a collection of poetry selected by Caroline Kennedy.  Jon’s work is influenced by his studies in Japan and England, but likely it is most influenced by his love of children – his and those who read his books.

All of this, and we’re not done yet.  Stay tuned.  Mo Willems is up next.

Confessions of a Non-Illustrating Author

He’s color blind.   He’s artistically challenged.  And he was a child who couldn’t read in fourth grade.

How, then, did Gary D. Schmidt come to stand before us at the Mazza Museum of Art this morning as a Newbery Honor-winning author?  Because a fourth grade teacher took a personal interest in him.  She gave him books, even if they were considered too immature for his age level. She gave him confidence.  “She gave me words,” he told us.  But even as a young adult who could read, he wasn’t at all sure what he would do with those words.  An interaction with a Monet painting at age 18 changed his colorless view of the world. And now, he uses the colors of Monet to color his words as he writes.

So, what if?  What if a fourth grade teacher hadn’t invested her time in a struggling fourth grade reader?  What if Gary Schmidt hadn’t touched a Monet? Would we have Wednesday Wars?  Would we have Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy?  What about Okay for Now?  Or his newest book What Came from the Stars?  I doubt it.

The amiable Gary D. Schmidt greets a new friend at the Mazza Museum.

Knock, Knock – Who’s there? – It’s David Ezra Stein!

The Mazza Fall Conference continues with yet another Calecott winner.  David Ezra Stein confessed that his 2011 Caldecott was inspired by a knock-knock joke.  Maybe you’ve heard it.  It goes:

Knock, Knock

Who’s there?

Interrupting chicken

Interrupting chicken….

Bock, Bock, Bock!

Perhaps it’s funnier in person.

But nothing’s funnier than listening to David Ezra Stein read Interrupting Chicken in person.  With the fascination of children hearing a favorite story for the umpteenth time, this audience of teachers, librarians and college students sat raptly drawn to David’s chicken voices.

David introduced us to an illustrative technique known only to him as “Stein-lining.”  See him demonstrate this method used in his newest book Because Amelia Smiled here.

David Ezra Stein challenges the audience with “What is it?”, a drawing perspective game from his childhood.

Creamed Tuna Fish and Peas on Toast – a less than beloved meal – and book?

Do you like creamed tuna fish and peas on toast?  No?  Well, according to Philip Stead, his grandfather really, really, really disliked this dish served to him every Friday.  So he buried his supper in the back yard.  Many, many years later, Philip turned the story into his first children’s book, aptly titled Creamed Tuna Fish and Peas on Toast.  It turns out, according to Philip, that the book Creamed Tuna Fish and Peas on Toast was about as well-received as the dish creamed tuna fish and peas on toast.  Still, it launched a career that he and his wife, Erin, had long dreamed of.

Redemption wasn’t far away.  A Sick Day for Amos McGee, authored by Philip and illustrated by Erin, won the 2010 Caldecott Medal. This book has been embraced with such endearment, it’s bound to become a classic.  And then, Bear Has a Story to Tell, a precious tale of a very patient story-teller, was released in 2012.

The Steads live and work in a renovated barn in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Welcome to the Buckeye State, Phil and Erin!  We love you!  And after listening to you this morning at the Mazza Fall Conference, we might even reconsider how we feel about creamed tuna fish and peas on toast. (The food and the book.)

The Mazza Medallion of Excellence for Artistic Diversity

Isn’t that a mouthful?

This evening, artist David Macaulay joined a prestigious list of Medallion recipients which includes Ted Rand, Robert Sabuda, and Paul Zelinsky to name just a few.  With great enthusiasm, Dr. Jerry Mallett welcomed before  a packed house the British-born, architecturally-trained, RISD instructor who introduced young readers to a fresh perspective in informational picture books in 1973 with the Caldecott Honor-winning Cathedral.

And this was just the beginning.  Pyramid, City, Castle, and Mosque soon followed.  So did a Caldecott Medal in 1991 for Black and White.  The Way Things Work  fascinated readers of all ages with explanations of inventions both ancient and modern and their amazing connections. It’s easy to see why this artist would win an award for artistic diversity.

 

And then…..we heard from David Macaulay.  With depth and humor, David shared with Mazza Fall Conference attendees images of  his art, raw and unedited. He shared his past and future work, leaving us with a sense of what happens when the scientific mind intersects with insatiable curiosity and fabulous talent.

So, you want to see the Medallion?  It is itself a work of art designed by Ohio artist Betty Fulmer.

And that, folks, is just the beginning.  Come back tomorrow!

Let the blogging begin!

So, today begins the Mazza Fall Weekend Institute!

And yours truly will be blogging almost-live, up-to-the-minute updates on the action! Can’t wait to watch as David Macaulay is awarded the Mazza Medallion this evening! And tomorrow? Oh, get this – two famous Steads, one amazing Stein, an unforgettable Schmidt, one Muth, and the one and only Willems! All in one day?

So, if you’re registered, I will see you in a few short hours!

And if you’re not,

Stop back soon! I’ll make sure you don’t miss much!

The Schoolhouse Saga: Phase One – Done!

Many folks have been asking about “the little red brick schoolhouse.”  Well, that little building has stirred up the neighborhood in recent weeks.  That’s because in early September it finally became obvious that something was going on.  Since then, the schoolhouse has shed its shed, gained a whole lot of new slate, established its own Facebook page (Search pages for:  The Little Red Brick Schoolhouse) and had its bell rung! Here’s a peek at the progress:

The old shed is coming off.  We once believed this shed was added for machinery storage after the school was closed in 1940.  But I recently learned that it was part of the school as early as the 1920s and maybe before that.  It was for coal storage.           

 Here’s the beautiful new bell tower built by Kenny.  The bell is from a one-room schoolhouse in Carthage, Indiana.

 

Cranes are amazing.  The usually-quiet corner was all a-buzz with activity and neighbors who stopped to see the bell and tower lifted.

One very special witness was Sally, a 92-year-old neighbor who attended the school as a child.  It was such an honor to have her there!

Kenny said it would fit perfectly. And it did.

 New soffits and eaves going up.

Doesn’t she look purty?

 

What next?  everyone asks.  Well, obviously windows, doors, brick restoration…. but all that will have to wait.  The Schoolhouse Fund is dry and winter’s on the way.  So, we’ll cover up the now-exposed windows, shut the door and wait for spring.  Looks like I’d better get busy writing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Children Are Artists….

All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.   ~Pablo Picasso

The Mazza Museum International Art from Picture Books not only showcases the work of the world’s finest illustrators in children’s literature, it is also committed to nurturing the artist in every young child.  Every year, the walls of the conference room are adorned with art inspired by the keynote speakers’ work.  These special works of art are the masterpieces of the budding young artists of Washington Local Schools, guided year after year by Art Specialist Jeri Madsen.  Dedicated to both her students and the Mazza Museum, Jeri has spent countless hours bringing these colorful works to every Mazza conference.  As Jeri prepares to retire, I’d like to thank her for the visual feast she and her students prepare each year.  And since, this post is really all about Jeri and her students, I’m going to be quiet now.  And let the art speak.  Feast away!

   

 

 

                                                              

All I can say is, “WOW!”  With this kind of talent and this kind of leadership, I wouldn’t be surprised if one day one of these young artists’ artwork ends up on a different Mazza wall.  Say, the gallery itself? Well done, students of Washington Local Schools.  Don’t ever let the artist grow out of you!

Mazza Friday

It happens every year.  We get to Friday morning of the Mazza Summer Institute and we wonder “How? How can this day even hope to live up to the previous four?”  This past week, we’ve heard from children’s book illustrators and authors whose work could be described with words such as:

adorable, interesting, bold, subtle, delightful, even creepy, inspired, beautiful, messy, meticulous,  comical, authentic, timeless

We could have called it a week, said our goodbyes, and returned to our homes with contented sighs, singing the praises of Mazza, its staff, and the amazing keynote speakers we’ve heard.

It’s a good thing we didn’t.

Imagine missing this:

This is author/illustrator Peter McCarty of Hondo and Fabian fame. His sweet cat/dog story won a Caldecott Honor in 2003, and Peter hasn’t slowed since.  With Moon Plane, Jeremy Draws A Monster, and Henry in Love to name just a few, Peter has experimented with several media, confirmed his creative process of starting with the illustration, and discovered that flawed work is authentic work.  What a profound statement.  Well, we sure appreciate Peter McCarty for who he is and the flaws that got him here.

Okay, we’ve already played “who is this person” once this week. But let’s do it again.  Ready?  Who…. is….. this????

You got it.  It’s Miss Frizzle from The Magic School Bus book and television series.  Oh, and who is that other guy?  That’s Bruce Degen, illustrator and co-creator of the ultra-successful concept.  While many know Bruce Degen in this manner, still others recognize his work on the Jesse Bear series and/or the Jamberry books. What you might not know is that Miss Frizzle was inspired by another great teacher.  Her name?  Miss Isaacs.  Her job?  To successfully teach and motivate a young Bruce Degen.  I’m sure she’s since forgiven him for drawing her with all that frizzy hair.

A fountain of knowlege in both science and social studies, Bruce designs his books to be both educational and enertaining.   I’d say today’s keynote address was also quite educational.  And entertaining.

Then, just like that, it’s over.  Mazza director Ben Sapp has called his staff and the Mazza volunteers forward.  Thank-yous are said, and then Administrative Assistant Kerry Teeple is handed the microphone. Kerry sings, her voice the only sound in the crowded room. And her words, the only words we need to say to one another as we part company.

  God be with you til we meet again.

God Bless.