The words from the Simon and Garfunkel song—“Time, time, time, see what’s become of me…” roll around in my head. Layers of meaning as the knees creak and I catch a glimpse of myself in my iPhone when the camera shutter is backwards. (So scary) But really my revolving thoughts are about how much I have no time right now to think, to contemplate, to reflect, or to approach understanding of that which fascinates.  Saying anything in writing or in paint that may be meaningful, or creating a eye-opening exercise for class requires that stare-out-the-window kind of time.  So consequently, don’t ask me what the blog may be about or what we’re doing this week—I have no idea.

But I can steal something useful.  And then perhaps come up with something for class before the clock ticks too many times.  People need time to work on paintngs for the open studios, so that’s definitely on the docket.  We might do an exercise also, so be ready for anything.

My “loot” is the following list from Dee Dickenson, the founder of New Horizons for Learning, a premier educational resource at Johns Hopkins University School of Education. She lists 10 reasons why the arts are beneficial  for all “knowledge-seekers”–that’s us. ( www.education.jhu.edu/newhorizons )

1. They are languages that all people speak that cut across racial, cultural, social, educational, and economic barriers and enhance cultural appreciation and awareness.

2. They integrate body, mind, and spirit.

3. They provide opportunities for self-expression, bringing the inner world into the outer world of concrete reality.

4. They are an opportunity to experience processes from beginning to end.

5. They develop both independence and collaboration.

6. They provide immediate feedback and opportunities for reflection.

7. They make it possible to use personal strengths in meaningful ways and to bridge into understanding sometimes difficult abstractions through these strengths.

8. They merge the learning of process and content.

9. They improve attitudes, social skills, critical and creative thinking.

10. They exercise and develop higher order thinking skills including analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and “problem-finding.”

For those of you who take the time to hang out in your studios resist any thought that you may have that you are not being productive.  You are producing more of what the world needs. I salute (and envy) you.

As time marches on, so shall we.