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     Greetings from the meadow!

     Heartwood is very quiet right now, but I can feel the approach of autumn in the summer evening air, and with that feeling comes the anticipation of the return of the children. Our 23rd Fall Program will begin in September, and we are in the planning stage. This leads me to rethink our approach to learning...

     Every child is a gifted child. The developing child is a developing artist. Exposure to a stimulating multi-cultural environment of art, music, dance, theatre and nature encourages the growth of a robust and adventurous imagination. The courage to strive and persist comes from inner drive and the love and encouragement of teachers and mentors. The learning environment is set - the tools are made available and easily accessible. There is no judgment given. And the artist flourishes.

Unfortunately, in many situations children are compartmentalized very early. “Artists” are identified and singled out, often to their detriment, as they become self-conscious in their creative work and overly dependent on the critical acclaim of their peers and elders.

April Frymier leaps across the circle
in Barbara's Room

     They sense that their worth as people is relative to the degree of astonishment and praise that they are able to evoke by the production of works that “surpass their years.” They lose the delicious self-fulfillment of complete immersion in artistic creation. They also tend to get themselves categorized early as non-thinkers and don’t receive the encouragement they need to develop other aspects of their characters. But these baby “artists” are in the minority, and although they suffer from one side of the coin of combined definition and competition, the vast majority of children suffer from the other side - that of having their artistic gifts go unrecognized and un-nurtured.

     In an atmosphere that is non-judgmental, non-competitive and nurturing, where the focus is on the process of creative work and its inherent pleasures, and not solely on results, children will experience and express their own unique artistic identities. In competition, one person’s success represents another’s failure. In non-competition, one person’s success represents another’s potential.

     Please come to Heartwood this Fall and share your gifts with us!

For seven years during the 1980’s, Michael enriched the Heartwood community with his music. He composed and performed for Heartwood’s touring theatre productions and accompanied dance classes. This Fall, Michael will teach his music syllabus, “Percussion Discussion,” a class for adults and teenagers. This class was very successful and popular last Fall, concluding with a performance at Heartwood’s December Celebration. Michael and his students also accompanied two Movement for Health and Centering classes. Inquiries about his class are welcome.