Dear Friends:
The theme of this year's Creative Mind Conference, sponsored by the
P. Buckley Moss Foundation for
Children's Education, was "The Full Spectrum of Ability."
I can tell you from my own personal experience as someone with a learning
difference that most learning different children have other gifts and
that those gifts can help them learn. It's very important that these
kids feel respected for their interests and abilities. Good self-esteem
is vital to their future success.
The Foundation's annual Creative Mind Conference is a professional development
program built around special dynamics and activities to provide the
most meaningful and up to date research-based learning and materials
to promote the integration of the Arts for all students, but especially
for students who learn differently. This year's conference was held
this past Saturday, Sunday, and Monday at the Antiochian Village in
Ligonier, Pennsylvania. The sessions were filled with hands-on activities
and exercises that covered the full spectrum of ability and ways of
connecting and engaging students of varied ability levels. The participants
came excited and ready to learn and left more excited about being a
teacher and better prepared to meet the individual needs of students
in their classrooms. The conference ended Monday with a tenth anniversary
celebration of the Foundation that included a pizza party and birthday
cake. Congratulations!
I wish to thank all the presenters and participants for making the conference
so successful. Special thanks to the Foundation's Program Coordinator
Dell Philpott and Executive Director Bob Almond, as well as members
of the Professional Advisory Council (Boo Elkins, Jane Burnette, and
Dr. Carole Grove) and Board of Directors (Randy Myers, President; Jan
Fedorenko, Vice President; and Mariann Peterson, Treasurer) for helping
plan and staff the conference.
I regret that I was not able to be at this year's conference, but I've
been on the road constantly this year and felt that I needed one weekend
off to recharge my batteries before a very exciting November schedule.
Next year's conference will be held October 28-30 in Sweet Briar, Virginia,
much closer to home, and I know I'll make it to that one.
Kaye McCrory leads a project titled "A Quilt is Worth a Thousand
Memories." Participants experienced sample activities from an integrated
arts unit focusing on the collage artist, Romare Bearden.
I went to Washington, DC, last Thursday to see my doctor
for my annual physical (and my annual scolding). While I was in town,
I visited an old friend who used to work for me when The Moss Portfolio
was located in Falls Church. Elyse Savitch now owns her own gallery
in Georgetown, and it was fun visiting with her and touring District
Fine Arts.
From Washington, I drove to Radford, Virginia, with my daughters Patty
and Ginny to celebrate my oldest daughter Mary's birthday. We went to
lunch and had great fun teasing Mary about her age.
Pat celebrates Mary's birthday with Patty (left) and Ginny (second
from right).
I arrived in Radford just in time to watch my granddaughters
Kate and Sarah get ready for their high school's homecoming dance. They
were so lovely, and I have to play the proud grandmother and share a
picture with you.
Sarah (center left) and Kate with their escorts for the homecoming
dance, PatrickWebb (left) and Will Price.
I made it back to my home in Mathews, Virginia, in time for Halloween,
but I rarely get any trick-or-treaters. My neighborhood doesn't have
many children. Instead, I'll show you a picture of Halloween, Italian
style. As many of you know, my daughter Becky and her family live in
Cortona, Italy, and her daughters Sofia and Michela dressed up as a
mummy and a witch. In fact, all the girls in their group went as witches,
except Sofia who had her heart set on being a mummy. At first she felt
a little out of place, but after receiving so many compliments on her
unique costume she felt much better!
Michela the Witch and Sofia the Mummy enjoy Holloween Italian style
in their hometown of Cortona.
This weekend I'll be in Columbus, Ohio, visiting my long-time
friends Lester and Mary Borlo and their daughter Suzi Campbell. They
own the Gallery Art Center, and I'm very much looking forward to being
with them and many of my Ohio friends this weekend for a show where
we'll be releasing a new print titled Our Lady of Mount Carmel Park.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Park, Pat's painting for the edition to
be released at Gallery Art Center, Columbus, Ohio this weekend. For
more information call the gallery at (614) 442-1109.
Star City Quilt will be released this weekend at a show without
Pat at The Apple Barn Gallery in Buchanan, Virginia. For details call
the gallery at (540) 254-6677.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University - Hokie Land will
be released this weekend at a show without Pat at Collector's Showcase
and Framing in Dublin, Virginia. For details call (540) 674-0232.
Well, I'm off to pack for Ohio. 'Til next week; take care.
Love,
Pat