Unboxing Childhood - through the manual arts

A story of how this podcast came to be and the inspiration behind the name.

I am so excited to welcome Patric Stolfok, who is a mentor to me as a teacher. He was an educator for 30 years teaching sculpture and other courses. We touch on his beginning story, coming to teaching and his observations of students over the past three decades.

See his work at: https://patrickstolfo.smugmug.com/

I speak about the difference between observation and seeing, and about different experiences I lead the students through from clay work in 4th and 5th grade to appropriate conversations in Middle School.

Episode 6 is a special one as I welcome Bob Thurrell. He is a friend and the teacher I learned under at 21 years old when I started my journey in Waldorf Teaching. I worked with him for five years at the Merriconeag (now Maine Coast Waldorf School) Waldorf School. We speak about:
His entry into Waldorf Education and teaching in general
His favorite woodworking project 
Ruskin Mill Projects and the work that they do
The importance of self confidence in the student
The need for becoming comfortable and feeling a passion in what you are doing
among other things. 

I welcome Milena Bica-Shibata, a designer of spaces and a maker to the podcast

We touch on her influences such as her upbringing in Albania, her husband’s Japanese influence and her children. 

We speak about beauty and what that means as well as the language of craft that can go beyond verbal communication on the eve of her moving to Japan with her family.

See her work at:  https://www.thewhistlingwell.com/

I speak about how and when I introduce the carving knife to my students. I realize that a parent knows their child best so I offer some guidance to look for to know if your child is ready for an edged tool.