Slow food for thought movement

I saw some amazing student art from Gunn, Paly and Jordan students today at Palo Alto Art Center, part of the third Youth Speaks Out event. The pieces, drawings, painting, photography, graphics and ceramics, were from five PAUSD teachers’ and posted anonymously, along with unsigned “artist statements” about the work.

I know personally the woman who organized the show, a local mom/activist, but I will refrain from mentioning her by name, in keeping with the vibe of the show — although I was glad for her name being on the poster and enjoyed and was inspired by our chat today.

The work pictured above, a detail from a piece that depicted a Mexican tricolor flag morphing into Old Glory, with little vignettes, reminded me of Enrique Chagoya and the Orozco murals.

About a year ago I clipped an article from the Paly paper in which a student said something like “My Dad says I should study computer programming and we think ‘coding’ should be mandatory at Palo Alto High so that we can all get good jobs someday and hopefully become billionaires” which made me rather sad, but the work I saw today was like a field of poppies blooming, each one a wonder. I called Terry and got her to meet me back at the Center because the show is closing.

More on Speedy Gonzalez: here.

Peter Selz book with Enrique Chagoya cover art

I am tempted to contact the teacher, Deanna Messinger, and try to put the student in touch with Enrique, who I saw from across the room last night at Paula Kirkeby’s 80th birthday party, at Santa Clara University’s De Saisset Museum — I did greet Kara Mara, Ms. Chagoya, from about 20 pesos I mean paces.

unsigned student art from Youth Speaks Out in Palo Alto

This caught my eye because I had seen Penn and Teller’s movie about Vermeer and his technique — this student does the opposite and uses free-hand to balance the technology, as she explains in her statement.I think both of these students work with Deanna Messinger at Gunn.

There were also some incredible ceramics in the show; I think they work with Jordan King a new teacher here who studied at San Jose State.

Terry noticed and shot this beautiful flowering tree in the courtyard of the art center

Carolyn Digovich did a miraculous job producing Youth Speaks Out; every piece in the show is a potential life-changer. “Kudos” does not say enough in this case. (It’s a Greek word and was probably pronounced, as the British still do, “Cue-doss”).