As written in a past entry, in preparation for Wacky Art Camp, I had spent the beginning of the summer collecting sensory objects in the shape of wild animals. The “fellowship hall” transformed into an art studio that also simulated various habitats where the animals dwelled. The animals represented the various creatures found in Eric Carle’s beloved books. I even set up my tent with little logs placed in a semi-circle for the students to sit on at the tents entrance. The Eric Carle library was close by on a nearby table and had over 30 books primarily written and illustrated by Eric Carle as well as a few other animal books that connected to the theme.
The wacky art “studio session” consisted of three education centers visited in three rotations. The first rotation was a story at the campsite and Eric Carle Library and the students were encouraged to choose an animal of their choice to hold during while their classroom teacher read a story. I had also placed small drums close by along with a lantern inside of the tent.
There was a boy named Ira that chose the two drums instead of a soft animal. Ira continued to hold the drums and play them subtly. He took one in his right hand and one in his left and held tight. He preceded to place each drum on the ground and go back and forth from the right drum to the left. After, he put his right hand on the right drum and his left hand on the left drum. As we were discussing the art and animals in Eric Carle’s work I just kept offering a few notes of encouragement and excitement that he chose the drums as his object to hold.
I thought about stuffed animals of various furs and coats, some even had felt scales and the sheep had a course wool. I recollected back to my own childhood and asked myself what would I have chose? As I like soft t-shirts and only wear cotton clothing, one might presume that I would choose the softest animal I could find. There was a fluffy penguin and a wooly bison toy that seemed like they would fit the bill. Yet, I am also someone who sometimes wears stiff, structured jeans to bed or lay on the tile floor to sleep as I liked the firmness. Would I also be a drum handler as a child? Would peer pressure lead me to a soft animal or would I intuitively gravitate toward a drum on my own accord? I always was drawn to heavy items, even thick books like Little Women or War and Peace even without any interest to read them at that time. What about Ira? Was it a one time thing? Was it because of where he was sitting? Yet, he had many opportunities to choose an animal and yet he still chose the drums.
I thought about the mere sensory experience of drumming and the drum as object. I thought, would the stiffness and membranous nature of the drum bring aversion to some as it brings delight and comfort to others? Ira saw the drum as comfort more than a soft style toy. I will be interested to follow up with Ira and see where this introduction leads, it has definitely got my wheels turning.
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