Tag Archives: Bronx New York

Visit to the Bronx Museum

Posted on by

A week before the children went to the Bronx Museum. I spoke to them about a possible visit.

We started off by first talking about pastels. I didn’t teach them the entire summer and by the time I joined the program, they were already used to drawing classes via youtube videos. The day I came, they were about to watch a you-tuber explain how to draw with pastels.

I used that as my opportunity to teach them about art history. I taught them how to appreciate spaces that showed art and artist who used either pastels or paint.

Three days before the trip to the museum, I introduced Jamal Shabazz and told them it was his work they were going to see. They watched Legendary Photographer: Honor and Dignity, a clip on youtube of Sahabazz talking about his work and his career. I also made sure they knew that he was inspired by someone they knew, Gordon Parks (a founder of the school they attended). This bit of information made them excited.

On the day of the trip, there was a great stir about whether I should take three little boys who were full of energy. They had a rough time following directions all morning. I made the decision to allow them to attend the trip after remembering how excited they were when they learned about Shabazz and how vital it was for them to see images of people who looked like them in a museum. It was their first time ever visiting a museum!

All 17 children and 5 adults arrived at the museum. We met our educator outside.

We were early and the educator seemed disorganized.

We stood at the museum main reading panel. I always instruct the children to read each panel in museums instead of just walking and looking. However, the educator, dissuade them. She begin to ramble about how long it was and how we didn’t really have to read it… At one point it was like she was begging us not to read it.

During the reading, even the three busy ones listened. The educator cut everyone off after the first paragraph and then escorted the children upstairs to an art room.

She gave everyone a drawing board and spoke in depth about pencils. She had everyone try different types and then lined everyone up and told them to take one pencils and their pad. Next, we returned to the Jamal Shabazz show and she had the group sit down and draw a photograph.

She waited and they drew. Finally, everyone did a show and share. Well, really, no one showed. And no one shared. She asked who drew each picture and then spoke about the pictures. Not really allowing the children to speak about the work.

Around this time, the children began to lose patience.

Next, she told the children to go look at the rest of the exhibit… to Find a photograph and draw it. We were the only ones in the museum and I didn’t stress noise level. I also didn’t give the children any rules of how to behave (outside the talk they were given before we left the school). As I usual, they waited for the educator to give more clear directions.

She didn’t give them three minutes to follow that instruction. She changed her mind.

Actually, let’s look at some of his work together. The younger ones no longer paid attention and continued to view what they had started looking at. Here is a mini video:

She ushered the group into another gallery and we went back upstairs.

Upstairs she told them they were going to use water color. She took out huge water color sheets and asked me if I thought they could share. I told her I wouldn’t mind cutting the sheets in halves so each student could have their own.

The students painted and we returned to the school.

Ms. Edwinda….again

Posted on by

Ms. Edwina, what can I say?!

She is a force to reckon with.

I was walking in the Met when I noticed Ms. Edwina sitting on the bench in the Greek and Roman Art wing. She wasn’t doing much. Just watching people walk back and forth. It was a Friday and the place was packed with children.

I had just bumped into one of my former students, Syriana, who was roaming around with a summer camp decked out in purple tee’s.

Syriana! Is that you?

Hi Ms. Hurley!!!

I was surprised to see Syriana because I never saw someone who I knew in the Met. When I looked ahead and walked closer I couldn’t believe my eyes. Ms….Edwina?!

When I saw her, I waved excitedly. I couldn’t believe I ran into someone from my own community! Not only that, but an elder! Ms. Edwina (who I blogged about before) has the persona of Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey. I met her while attending Fordham University. We crossed paths so much she started to talk to me. She would compliment me on my outfits and how I carried myself – every time she saw me. Which meant a lot. She didn’t know her words meant so much. She was always cheerful. She spoke with hugs and each hug went a long way.

Once we crossed paths and she complimented me on my black and white outfit – that I felt totally good in. She got to me before my secret crush got to me, who didn’t think I looked great at all. Funny, I can still remember his words.

Really, Lilly? I can’t believe you are even wearing that.

What do you mean, Really, Lilly? What’s wrong with my outfit?!

He stopped talking to me when I demanded what was the matter. Not that what he thought mattered anyway.

I sat next to Ms. Edwina.

Omg, what are you doing here?

I come every year, Child, to check out the Met Gala.

The Met Gala?

Yeah, The Met Gala. She looked me in the eye. Surly you know what the Met Gala is?

Yeah, I do. (I wasn’t about to say no- after she said, Surely you know…)I had clips of news paper images in my head. That was what knew of the Gala.

….Well, every year after the event is over, they showcase the outfits for the public to see. Did you see the exhibition?

No, I noticed the ad in the phamphet but never thought about seeing it myself.

You should go! It is so good!!

Okay, are you going back-

Nope. I am resting these here legs chile.

I sat beside her and asked if she saw any other exhibition. I had just gotten emotional in the Afro-futuristic Period Room and wanted someone to share my sentiment with. But she hadn’t.

She continued, I walked into a wrong room by mistake!!

Oh, which room was that?

Her response was so funny, I asked her if I could record it it share with you!

Manny’s Knit bow Tie

Posted on by

Manny’s look is simply attractive. While talking to him, I noticed his bow tie and asked him where he found it at. It’s such a wonderful piece and fit in perfectly with his double breasted suit!

I come to the Garden…with my Aunts…

Posted on by

This past weekend, I had the wonderful opportunity to take my aunts to the African American Garden exhibition at the New York Botanical Gardens. For years they have visited New York, however, never went to the NYBG. They were surprised when they came and kept commenting on their views of da Bronx and The Bronx.

We only heard of the Bronx Zoo!

Wow! Trees in the Bronx and Flowers!!

Previously, I visited the exhibition and while I was there, I saw families walking though and sharing stories. This lead me to wonder, what stories my aunts would be provoked to tell once they too were at the exhibition!

After we got our tickets (which were given to us for free!), I told them there was a special exhibition I really wanted them to see and started the journey by walking ahead of them. But it didn’t matter because they didn’t follow me nohow.

First they stopped to talk to a mother and her one year old baby boy. He sat pulling up the grass, starring at them with big eyes. I just wanted to go! But- they had to tell Mom how cute the baby was…which made her day.

The baby was right next to the children’s garden where I usually would take my nieces and nephew but this day, I was being lead into it by my two aunts.

I wanted them to enjoy their visit so I didn’t complain. I went along with their agenda.

However, I had to stop them because I knew the walk to the African American garden was far and there was no way we could keep making detours. So, I told them there was another garden I really wanted them to see.

Ohh, Sorry, Lystria, we got carried away by the flowers and plants here!

This is what old people like! Never take old people to a garden!!

But, sorry, We’ll follow you!

I straightened my back and started to walk down the path. But I only took about five steps before Aunt Diane broke her promise.

Ohhh, Annie, look at the huge pink flower over there!!

This time they crossed the street and begin to look at the pink flowers. I decided to take pictures but as you can see, they aren’t really paying attention to me nor my camera.

Next, they took me to a space in the garden I have never been. It was too full of tranquility to complain or tell them how long our walk was getting. I must admit I started to worry that we would never make it to the spot I intended on taking them. Nonetheless, I sat and enjoyed the rushing water.

Below is the hill they refused to walk up…

Instead they sat and watched others walk…

They sat down for a while and even closed their eyes. While I starred at the water and people passing…then we started hearing noises.

O-ho! That’s a bull frog!

What you say Annie?

That’s a bull frog I hear!

Aunt Annie Bell got up to inspect the waterfall. She not only heard a bull frog but she saw snakes.

This created a small stir and soon people were joining them to see the snakes frolicking in the reeds.

Aunt Annie Bell was good at pointing out the animals and their sounds. She even knew the size of the animal before we saw it. She told us how huge or small it would be.

Aunt Annie Bell turned to me and said, Snakes are in here? It’s time to go! It’s time to go!!

I got up and begin to lead them to the African American garden.

But we didn’t get too far before we saw the trolley pass us which meant they wanted a ride. (I asked them at the beginning if they wanted to ride it but they both told me about the long walks through the woods that they take in Virginia…).

We waited for the trolley to come. And while we were waiting, we starred at the boulders across the street. It was very satisfying, listening to them talk about how marvelous God was in all his beauty. I had no other choice but to relax with them.

I never thought boulders could be so magnificent until I listen to my Aunt Diane.

Lystria, those rocks are just so beautiful. Look at how big they are! I never thought New York even had places like this. God is so good.

Aunt Annie Belle was sleeping but every time I looked at her, she was looking at me. I guess she had enough of the rock watching.

Aunt Diane soon took out her blue berry waffles which woke up Aunt Annie Belle. She didn’t offer though. She smacked her lips and told us how delicious they were. Then Aunt Annie Belle went back to sleep.

The trolly looked like it would never come so….

I asked a passerby to take pictures of us in front of the boulders.

And while we were smiling, the trolley came and left us.

They told me if it wasn’t such a beautiful day, they wouldn’t be sitting out there like that. So, I thanked God for the amiable day. And we sat down again and waited for the next one.

Finally the tram came and we were so happy.

The man who was driving us, told me he would first take us around the entire garden. None of us complain. After a while we began to nod off. Until we hit a bump and Aunt Diane sat up and said:

My Lord, he’s going to drive into a tree! Much prayer is needed!

A little while after that, we made it to the African American Garden and I got out my journal and pen. I was ready to document their stories about food and culture…

But they smiled and walked right pass the three types of sugar cane, the nutmeg tree, the small cotton field, all the rice grains, the peppers, the scraggly apple tree (that I shook until apples dropped ) and right out that garden. They told me to stay away from sugar cane because it’s bad for you and nothing else.

So, once again, I followed them.