black home schooling

Grab your flip flops, sunshades and imagination

Posted on by Voicesoflighthouses

Explore the Miami Beach Art Deco District through of the eyes children. Splash and Color is an 18 page multicultural coloring book featuring popular sites in Florida’s second most popular destination.

This year, Miami Beach Art Deco Weekend celebrates Florida’s Historic Coastal. These destinations alone draw tourists from around the world. Close to 100.00 visitors attended Miami Beach Art Deco Weekend last year.

The event has expanded, offering free fitness classes, a Classic Car Show, live jazz, an Artisan Market, Kids Zone, and more.

The Arf Deco Dog Walk adds a playful touch, while tours and sketch walks provide additional highlights.

The weekend not only honors Barbara Capitman’s contributions but also advocates for the preservation of the city’s rich architectural heritage,

Capitman’s unwavering vision and determination gave rise to the iconic Art Deco District, the first 20th-century neighborhood listed on the National Register of Historic Places. She was the founder of the Miami Design Preservation League.

elainemariefineart.com

splashandcolor.com

Grab your sunshades, flip flops & imagination

Posted on by Voicesoflighthouses

Splash and Color is an 18 page multicultural coloring book featuring popular sites in Florida’s second most popular destination.

Miami Beach is a hub of creativity. In December, Art lovers from around the world flock to its sunny shores during Art Basel; the United States biggest art fair.

Art Deco Weekend continues the momentum and fanfare on January 13-15. Its 800 plus Art Deco buildings are the largest concentration of Art Deco buildings in the world.

Explore the Miami Beach Art Deco District through the eyes of children. Splash and Color is an 18 page multicultural coloring book featuring popular sites in Florida’s second most popular destination.

splash and color.com

Freedom on the High Seas

Posted on by Voicesoflighthouses

After being rebuilt several times, the lighthouse was discontinued in 1880.

The island of Nantucket, once known as the “Whaling Capital” of the world, is featured in Herman Melville’s classic novel, “Moby Dick.” Melville’s fictional and infamous whaling ship, Pequod, was home ported in Nantucket.

The first Brant Point Lighthouse in Nantucket was built in 1746 after Sea Captains demanded a lighthouse to protect their investments.

Captains Prince Boston, Absalom Boston and Edward Pompey are a few of the known African American Whaling Captains.

elainemarieartist.com

Absalom Boston

When dreams take flight

Posted on by Voicesoflighthouses

During airshow season, the Blue Angels team is stationed at Fort Sherman Field, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. Their mission is to bring aviation to men, women and children across America. For over 70 years they have mesmerized over more than 450 million spectators.

It is in the nature of a child to dream. Adults sometimes dismiss these dreams as wishful thinking forgetting they once had childhood dreams.

As planes flew over his family farm in Georgia, Donnie Cochran began dreaming of becoming a pilot. The farm seemed to beckon the aircraft. Because the planes’ flight path was over the farm, the daily sighting became a ritual.

When he became older he pursued his dream and became a Navy pilot. The challenge of flying the fighter and flying off a Navy ship inspired him. In 1976, he graduated and was commissioned as an officer in the Navy.

In 1986, Commander Donnie Cochran became the first African American to become a member of the Blue Angel Flight team. He also made history in 1995 and 1996 by becoming the first African American Blue Angels commanding officer.

DonnieCochran

elainemarieartist.com

Serving in the shadows while shining the light

Posted on by Voicesoflighthouses

James Gould was the builder and first official keeper at St. Simons Lighthouse. After being awarded a contract to build the in 1807, he was appointed as the first light keeper at St. Simons. In 1830 he was paid $17000 to build a keeper’s dwelling. He served as light keeper for 27 years without an assistant lighthouse keeper.

Enslaved Black people often fulfilled the duties of a light keeper. They filled in when the light keeper was absent or sick.

In 1836, an elderly African American woman assisted in the keeping of St. Simons Lighthouse. She served while the lighthouse keeper was incapacitated with grout. James Gould was the Head Light Keeper during that time. He was the builder and first keeper at St. Simons Lighthouse.

Black Light Keepers

elainemarieartist.com

The Ultimate Superhero Test

Posted on by Voicesoflighthouses

You can not dream yourself into character, you must hammer and forge yourself into one. Henry David Thorea

I enjoy watching Star Trek mostly because of the dialogue. The series is replete with powerful quotes like this one: “Death is the Ultimate Character Test.”

I thought about this quote as I watched the Memorial Service for Colin Powell. His son Micheal Powell said that “We can’t emulate the resume of Colin Powell but we can emulate his eulogy.” That’s striking because our family members know us best. Colin Powell left a profound impression on his son that was exemplified in his personal and public life.

Just like the rest of us, Colin Powell had his flaws. But he was able to admit them.

At his core he was a thoughtful, kind and compassionate leader.

splashandcolor.com

Art must discover and reveal the beauty which prejudice and caricature have overlaid. Alan Locke

Posted on by Voicesoflighthouses

The Harlem Renaissance was a celebration of African American culture in the 1920s and 1930s. It was a rebirth of African American arts. Workshops highlight art by Aaron Douglas, Jacob Lawrence, Romare Beardon, Augusta Savage and William Johnson.

Thousands of African Americans migrated to the North between 1900 and 1920 to escape economic hardship and racism and to search for human dignity and financial opportunity.

The veterans of World War I who had fought “to make the world safe for democracy” were determined to make democracy work at home.

From this mass migration, urbanization, and military participation, a dynamic artistic community evolved.

The Walter O. Evans Collection of African American Art by Andrea D. Barnwel

splash and color.com

Book Review: Lily Brown’s Painting

Posted on by Voicesoflighthouses

Lily Brown’s Painting by Angela Johnson and EB Lewis is a positive and uplifting book that younger children will enjoy. This book highlights the creativity, strengths and love of a delightful African American girl. Lily has a zest for life, adores her family and especially her baby brother.

Lilly is a compassionate and kind girl with an active imagination. She explores the world through her art.

Children and their families will create a watercolor painting of the stars from the book, Lily Brown’s Painting.

While there is a reference to art by Van gogh, Lily also finds inspiration and appreciation in everyday occurrences and elevates them to imaginative heights. There are no limits to her creativity. Lily becomes one with her art often immersing herself in the paintings.

I love that the author, Angela Johnson shares center stage with the illustrator. There is a nice foreword by the artist, EB Lewis, about his creative progress.

Check out my website for lesson plans for this book and other art workshops.

splash and color.com

Justice Delayed

Posted on by Voicesoflighthouses

The painting “Bus” by Jacob Lawrence.

I love the artist Jacob Lawrence. I’m not alone —-one of his paintings recently broke an auction record to become among the most expensive works by an African American Artist. Lawrence depicted many social events in his paintings.

In the Jacob Lawrence workshop, students will learn about the US executive, legislative and judicial branches of government and discuss the role of the artist in society. Students will create a painting inspired by Jacob Lawrence. This curriculum meets National Educational Standards.

Jacob Lawrence’s painting “Bus” depicted life in the segregated South. The painting shows a bus with whites comfortably seated and blacks jammed in the back with empty seats separating the two races. It is painted in his signature gouache on paper with brown, blue and red color scheme.

To learn more about the Jacob Lawrence workshop and others, visit my website.

splash and color.com

Remember let us remember one book, one pen, one child, one teacher can change the world. Malala Yousafzai

Posted on by Voicesoflighthouses

The famed Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

On my first visit to Paris, I stayed at the Hotel de la Tulipe, a wonderful inn located near the Eiffel Tower. I traveled with a group of artists headed to Monet ‘s Garden in Giverny, France.

Grab, your flip flops and imagination. Explore Miami Beach’s Art Deco District through the eyes of a child in this delightful coloring book.

During my stay at the hotel, I befriended the Inn Keeper who told me about his creative and compassionate 5 year old. It seems his son wanted to make signs so tourists would not get lost in Paris. He showed me photos of the drawings.

The next day, I gave the Inn Keeper a copy of my Art Deco coloring book, “Splash and Color,” for his son. The following day much to my surprise, he told me his son had almost finished the coloring book and was researching the Internet to see what the actual buildings looked like.

Children have an insatiable curiosity. I’m glad my coloring book inspired this young Parisian.

Explore my a new website to see this coloring book, creative lesson plans and art.

Splash and color.com