The Healing Power of Art

I have never been as proud of being a teacher as when I learned what the teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary did for their students. I cannot think of a single teacher I know who would not have done the very same thing. Taking care of our students is what we do. Teachers are heroic every day - it just doesn't make the news. This time it did.

It is amazing to me how quickly the teachers instinctively reacted to the threat, hiding and barricading their students. They saved so many lives. And of course I wanted to know about the art teacher. Some stories say she locked her students in her office; some say in the kiln room, and called 911. All I know to say to these teachers is "Thank You."

What can we do as art teachers to express our sorrow and support and offer some measure of comfort to the teachers and students of Sandy Hook Elementary? I have found a number of efforts online you might want to join. (Or perhaps you'll create some others.)

The first response through art I found was an image from artist Jeremy Collins, the image you see at the top of this page. This is his latest comment on his Facebook page:

"Because of you, almost 500,000 people have seen this now from eight countries. Thank you to all for the stories, emails, and notes. I planted a seed and went to bed, all of you turned it into a garden many are benefiting from."

You can order a print here all profits go the the Sandy Hook victims' families.

A different artistic effort to offer comfort for Sandy Hook students is called 600 Monsters Strong. I'm not sure their name is the best choice but their aims are pure, "Bringing friendly handcrafted monsters to children in need worldwide." Initiated as a response to the Sandy Hook shootings, their belief is that there are children in need of a monster friend everywhere.

From Facebook:
"Crafters love to give, and there are children in need of a monster friend everywhere. Our goal, after providing monsters to Sandy Hook, is to be THE place for knitters and crocheters to donate their monster creations, so that we can distribute them to children around the world who are affected by gun violence or are in need of a pal, in honor of all of the kids of Sandy Hook Elementary. We are here for the long haul, folks. There are a lot of kids out there who need us."

Snowflakes for Sandy Hook is a project in which all your students can participate. The aim of this project is to fill the new building for the Sandy Hook students with snowflakes that will greet them when they return to school in January (at a different building). Snowflakes can be sent to the Con-necti-cut PTSA.

I'm sure there will be more, so please share with me any I have missed or any you are starting. What would we do without the healing power of art?