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Bad Behavior
The red truck suddenly swerved into my lane, as I sat patiently waiting for the line of oncoming traffic to pass so I could make my left hand turn. My eyes opened wide at the imminent impact. But...
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Summer Project: 1965 VW Beetle - Part 9
Take a look at these before and after pictures. Two months ago, Barney was nothing but a dangerous rust-bucket with gaping holes in the floor and a body slowly succumbing to the inevitable corrosion...
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Teaching Conceptual Art
"Anyone here an artist?" I ask. A few hands go up."Anyone here who would rather be taking a different class?"A few hands go up again."Who thinks the class could be cool, but are not sure if you'll be...
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Artist Market at St Josaphat Hall
This morning I stopped by St Josaphat Hall on East 33rd street to preview the first annual Sparx in the City Artist Market, sponsored by Convivium 33 Gallery owner, Alenka Banco.Artists do indeed...
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Shop Talk
"When you're making chips, you're making money."That's the mantra of the machine shop, and Cleveland area component manufacturers have been filling up the chip bins.Surprised? Cleveland has been...
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Afternoon at the Zoo
It was one of those weekends that happen every now and again, where you say “We should do something…but what?”On such occasions I like to play tourist, grab the camera, and explore Cleveland by the...
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Marian Wright Edelman at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
The auditorium was filling up quickly. "Darn!" I thought, "Too late to get an aisle seat..No, I think I see a few empty rows down near the stage." I hurried to throw my purse and jacket across two...
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Overheard
Overheard at a party last night:Republican 1: I've voted Republican for the past 30 years, but this time I'm voting for Obama. Republican 2: But he's BLACK!Republican 1: I lost $40,000 this week. How...
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Finger Painting: We go back to the Basics
"I want this group to be able to do things you don't normally do in your regular art classes." I stood in the center of about ten students gathered in the art studio for the first organizational...
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Reflection among the Graves
I remember exploring an old country church cemetery in Hiram Township near my grandmother’s house, when I was a little girl. I was fascinated by the inscriptions on the headstones, and with the...
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Preparing for the Day of the Dead
The invitation in the mail read" Mambo Muerto! "According to legend ... when the best benefit party of the year collides withNovember 1, Day of the Dead, El DiadelosMuertos, the undying spirit of...
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Summer Project: 1965 Volkswagen Beetle - Part 10
Finally! After nearly 3 months in limbo, the Barney the Blue Beetle is back on the blog.Tempted as I am to smugly scoff as The Optimist's ambitious September completion date became distant memory, I...
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The Max Hayes Art Club, and a Case for Experiential Learning
I have always believed the axiom "Experience is the best teacher" which, I suppose, is one of the reasons why, even as a student, I was drawn to the classes where you worked with your hands. I always...
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Another Soldier Story
My students call it the "ghetto security system" although I prefer the term "old school" to "ghetto". Regardless of the moniker, the cowbells wired to the top of my classroom door are pretty effective...
View Article"Mom, I have the best gift for you...ever!"
All I Want for Christmas is You from Hugh Bickley on Vimeo. A week before Christmas my 16 year old, Brian, began dropping hints. "You're gonna love your present from me this year.""What? No last minute...
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Potty Talk
This may very well be the most unconventional topic I've ever blogged, but hey, inspiration rarely follows convention, now does it?However, the story does begin at the high school:It was the last day...
View ArticleThe 200 Day School Year: Reactions From the Teachers' Lounge
Last night I listened to Dick Feagler and his Friends on WVIZ discuss Governor Strickland's education plan for the state of Ohio, slated to be piloted in the Cleveland Municipal Schools. When Mr...
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Max Hayes Blows Glass.
"I keep looking at your blog, and I see you haven't been writing.""You know, I've been starting to go back into your archives to read some of your old stories, since there's nothing new.""When are you...
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Clean-up Crew
"Hey MB! If you're not busy this morning you should come out here. We're working at a school that I think you would love. It's built like an old stone castle, covered in ivy ."It was the third time...
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Adding Color to Cleveland Walls
Last week I finally stopped by the Recreation Center at John F. Kennedy High School on Cleveland's southeast side, to view the mural being painted this summer by neighborhood teenagers.The project is...
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