THE TASTE OF MEMORY. 4 12/17/2020
My final day of quarantine and I’m ready to taste my freedom! A joyous way to begin my day with our fabulous students creating amazing artwork.
Our fun warm up involved each student miming a kitchen utensil or piece of silverware, while the rest of us guessed what it was. Laughing together even though apart is a great way of destressing and connecting.
Participants had previously collected utensils and silverware that held a special meaning or significance for them. Susanna, who was joining our class again, held up ivory chopsticks, which her father had given her 50 years ago and engraved with her name. Pun displayed a green chopping mat. It was a gift from her sister who has since passed, and so holds very special memories. So Sim held a precious rice bowl given to her by her aunt 40 years ago. She uses it to make special rice cakes once a year. JuLisa carefully showed a large pair of scissors in a brown sheath which her Mum had given her 40 years ago. These were an essential tool in the garment industry. 20 years ago, her oldest son gave her a coffee mug emblazoned with, “Best Mom ever”, which she drinks from every day.
The image of a building where Jing Wei grew up as a child was printed on her treasured mug. Friends who also lived there had it specially made and brought to the USA for her. RuPing chose a patterned ceramic bowl she bought 35 years ago when she first arrived in the USA and which she uses every day for rice. Hui Fen selected a wooden rolling pin, which she’s had since 1983 when she decided to learn some cooking skills before she migrated to the USA. Even though the restaurant was not successful she has kept the rolling pin and uses it at home.
Sook Fong has kept the knife she bought from a Chinatown supermarket in 1978 to cut fruit. The supermarket might be gone, but the knife has kept its edge. The bowls Margaret showed were bought out of necessity back in the 1970s for when her family came to visit. One was a deep red inside and although it looked lacquered was only plastic, and another ceramic bowl, though chipped, Margert felt was still totally serviceable. Almost all of our students shared cooking and eating utensils which they had in their possession for many years. Lao Yu however chose a double knife sharpener, bought as a gift from her son. He wanted to make her life easier when he realized how tiring it was for her to sharpen knives using a stone. It was terrific hearing the stories that such everyday objects evoked.
Our fun warm up involved each student miming a kitchen utensil or piece of silverware, while the rest of us guessed what it was. Laughing together even though apart is a great way of destressing and connecting.
Participants had previously collected utensils and silverware that held a special meaning or significance for them. Susanna, who was joining our class again, held up ivory chopsticks, which her father had given her 50 years ago and engraved with her name. Pun displayed a green chopping mat. It was a gift from her sister who has since passed, and so holds very special memories. So Sim held a precious rice bowl given to her by her aunt 40 years ago. She uses it to make special rice cakes once a year. JuLisa carefully showed a large pair of scissors in a brown sheath which her Mum had given her 40 years ago. These were an essential tool in the garment industry. 20 years ago, her oldest son gave her a coffee mug emblazoned with, “Best Mom ever”, which she drinks from every day.
The image of a building where Jing Wei grew up as a child was printed on her treasured mug. Friends who also lived there had it specially made and brought to the USA for her. RuPing chose a patterned ceramic bowl she bought 35 years ago when she first arrived in the USA and which she uses every day for rice. Hui Fen selected a wooden rolling pin, which she’s had since 1983 when she decided to learn some cooking skills before she migrated to the USA. Even though the restaurant was not successful she has kept the rolling pin and uses it at home.
Sook Fong has kept the knife she bought from a Chinatown supermarket in 1978 to cut fruit. The supermarket might be gone, but the knife has kept its edge. The bowls Margaret showed were bought out of necessity back in the 1970s for when her family came to visit. One was a deep red inside and although it looked lacquered was only plastic, and another ceramic bowl, though chipped, Margert felt was still totally serviceable. Almost all of our students shared cooking and eating utensils which they had in their possession for many years. Lao Yu however chose a double knife sharpener, bought as a gift from her son. He wanted to make her life easier when he realized how tiring it was for her to sharpen knives using a stone. It was terrific hearing the stories that such everyday objects evoked.
Participants selected one of these objects and penciled a frame that showed its proportion. Next, they outlined it and added details. After the excess pencil was erased, color was applied using the method taught last lesson of dipping the brush marker in water. We played music as students worked, bending dedicatedly over their drawings. Once they were happy with their finished artwork and it had dried, they erased any pencil marks. This process was repeated for other utensils. A Mad Lib acted as a writing prompt, helping them put into words the stories they had shared earlier in the class.
We won’t be meeting for the next 2 weeks because of a break for Christmas and the New Year; however, we encourage our students to complete their artwork and display it along with their writing on complementary colored cardstock which can be slipped into a plastic sheet of their book.
Spica and I want to take this opportunity to wish all of our students and their families, the staff and volunteers at Homecrest Community Services and all of our friends and followers a healthy and happy holiday season. May 2021 bring everyone peace and joy in your creative pursuits.
We won’t be meeting for the next 2 weeks because of a break for Christmas and the New Year; however, we encourage our students to complete their artwork and display it along with their writing on complementary colored cardstock which can be slipped into a plastic sheet of their book.
Spica and I want to take this opportunity to wish all of our students and their families, the staff and volunteers at Homecrest Community Services and all of our friends and followers a healthy and happy holiday season. May 2021 bring everyone peace and joy in your creative pursuits.
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