LG, Zada, Congo, and Halsey (in the Barn at Camp Timanous- photo by Tomm Polos)

It is that crazy time of year when we run around like chickens with our heads cut off trying to do way too much! Partys, events, school, and not to mention the usual things we are responsible for like, yard work, house work, homework, walking the dog, feeding the family, the dishes, football games to watch and of course finding time for art work. It's a crazy time of year! It feels like some irresistible tread wheel that I want to stay off but always seemed to get tricked into jumping on. It is that time a year for thinking about others, especially those less fortunate, or those non profits all for good causes that want our money. It is that time of year when a fool is soon parted from his money. My wife LG presented us with some choices for giving back the other night for "family meeting".

Family meetings take place every week..usually on Sunday night after dinner. We start by taking turns to commend each person in the family for something, then we talk about issues or the week ahead. Issues are usually about the kids doing more of their fair share of work or screen time problems or somebody (our 14 year old) leaving his stinky socks laying around etc.. the coming weeks schedule is usually the main topic. Because many of the issues are dealt with at "Family Dinner" that happens at least 5 times a week. We are far from the perfect family, if there is such a thing. but it's important for us to connect at least once a day around a table where we are all equal.

So LG brought home a bunch of options for us to donate $200.00 the other night at family meeting. We talked about each one asking lots of questions, sometimes too many questions and almost driving LG to the brink of mental tsunami. We decided that each person could use their $50.00 for whatever they wanted to donate too. That worked out well. Halsey wanted to help the outdoor one, Zada wanted to help the animals, and LG and I the schools. and that was perfect.

The next day LG was interviewed and we appeared in the local newspaper.

http://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2014/12/01/organizations-community-celebrate-giving-tuesday/19750011/

I often think about the Presidents. The question is how would their presidential years look like in a cartoon. History is measured and remembered by the various movements and events that happened during certain time periods in the past. When you think of President Nixon you might think of "Watergate" maybe with Nixon doing a cannonball off a diving board with some cocktail waitresses holding trays of martinis and Vietcong hiding in the bushes nearby the Watergate Hotel. This is the process that happens when I begin to think about a president and their triumphs, short comings, or eventual downfall. Jimmy Carter sitting on his Georgia plantation porch with Bob Dylan, or Bill Clinton on an inter-tube with the bridge to the 21st century being shot at by a pirate ship the SS GOP. Ronald Reagan standing in the desert with dinosaurs and Nancy with her patent red dress smiling and oblivious to the world problems and environment behind them. I love the history, the old cartoons especially from the late 1800's and early twentieth century. I love the challenge and freedom of painting a "cartoon" of what the president might be remembered for many years from now.

This fall I had a chance to show some of my art at the West End Bakery in West Asheville.  This seemed like a perfect opportunity to paint the the last three Presidents. I started four oils in August and spent every extra ounce of free energy working in my studio below my house painting.  There were batik landscapes, presidential portraits and new kid portraits of Halsey and Zada.  It was alot of work but the process is rewarding and seeing all the paintings together with some ceramic facejugs displayed in a public setting is the reward.

The day finally came for the hanging. We got there and didn't have a ladder or a hammer and not a lot of time...but we got the batiks up and 2 presidential portraits....But we regrouped and a week later went back in with a ladder and hung everything else...the work will be up till December so head on over grab a cinnamon roll and coffee and ponder the art.

Congo's West End Bakery Show

Mike “Congo” Congleton is a professional artist and art instructor. One of his favorite mediums is batik, which he learned from African artist Olabayo Olanini. Working with a handmade brush, Congo paints with dye between layers of wax on linen fabric. “The batik process is challenging because of the importance of working in layers,” says Congo, “but the resulting vibrance of color is rewarding.”

Many of Congo’s paintings are reminiscent of the years he spent teaching and sailing in the Caribbean. Though his color palette has changed since moving to the mountains of Western North Carolina, he continues a personal quest to capture the spirit and light in nature.  At his studio in West Asheville, Congo works with batik, watercolor, acrylic and oil paint on canvas.

The Portraits

Painting portraits is like writing a novel.  There is a beginning, the adventure, a part when you think all is lost, and the moment when it all comes together.  Painting portraits truly feels like magic as the energy and spirit of the person begins to appear. There are so many great parts to a portrait and that is why I like to paint starting out with a grid.  The paintings start out grid by grid, but don’t always stay inside the grid and often paintings begin to take a life of their own as they evolve and capture the uniqueness of the person’s personality

The Presidents

Congo was influenced by his Dad,  Jake Congleton who was a history teacher at Groton School in Groton Massachusetts. One of his favorite things to do as a kid was to go to the School House where history came alive. In the School House there is a hall of presidential portraits and personal letters from every president to the School dating back to George Washington. “I love the history of each of those letters and love the challenge of capturing a presidents term in one painting.  Almost like one of those old political cartoons.” Says Congo about painting Presidents

As a middle school art teacher at Carolina Day School, Congo also works with ceramics, environmental sculpture, and photography. He earned a BFA from the University of Massachusetts, and has studied oil painting with Eric Winter in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Congo shares his mountain home with his wife, two children, and Bandit the Dog.

For commissions, larger pieces or just hanging out on the porch come visit the studio in West Asheville. Contact Michael T. Congleton at 828-273-2974.

Advisory Movie

It took one advisory, and one morning break to film. It took several days to edit and put all the pieces together. Thanks to Lila who gave up her break to be an announcer. Maria who filmed it, Brooks who stood there in moral support, and Kylie who laughed at us. It was fun!

The NEW home run king!

http://youtu.be/fQazaLlxkjQ

Advisory Nerf Baseball Home Run Record

Congo Nerf Baseball October 2014

Advisory creates a community of students and teacher who help each other stick to their goals. A support system that helps us feel safe and comfortable being ourselves without scorn or disapproval. My advisory is like my second family or my camp cabin that works together to accomplish personal, academic or long term goals. Winning IM games, sportsmanship, improving our work habits, and focus in the classroom. Advisory meets every morning before first period.  Advisory is my favorite time of day. I'm still drinking my "hot beverage" and the day has all it's potential and possibilities.  I like seeing my students every morning, and talking with them about real things. What are "real" things to a middle school kid? They are sometimes simple, sometimes complicated, almost always embarrassing, and topped with a little confusion for good measures.

Baseball is my favorite sport. I especially love the pick up games, whiffle-ball, stickball, and softball are like a "hot beverage' for my soul. Nothing starts a day better than some "Congo's Nerf Baseball" game. The rules are simple, but sometimes complicated. Embarrassing things can happen, and confusion about the rules is a daily occurrence. The opportunities to talk with them about the real things in their lives is easier when the nerf ball is bouncing off the chickens for a home run and "the chicken rule" goes into effect which means the pitcher has to dance around like a chicken. The world is much simpler when a good pitch comes into your wheel house and you suddenly realize that opportunities don't come around every pitch and you better take advantage of each opportunity.  Good sportsman ship is a must when you play Nerf Baseball, because nobody wants to be that guy who takes nerf too seriously. however the home runs do count and we do keep track of how many are hit by each student.  And we have been keeping track for at least 5 years. Last year Jack Riley (class of 18) hit 34 home runs from Spring 2013 till the Fall of 2013. Last week, Otto Thom (class of 19) hit his 35th.... which is only half of Barry Bonds record breaking year. But still impressive non the less. The best part is his good attitude about it. Letting others bat before him and being a good leader in our advisory. So we made a movie about it to document this great occasion. We based it on Hank Aaron's 715 hit. Man, I love baseball!

     On this first week of school I find myself sitting in front of my computer dreaming about being outside. I love school, teaching, being the art teacher at CDS. My job doesn't feel like a job and I never dread going to "work".  But what I really love is camp! Camp Timanous. I love being part of a greater community that nurtures and watches out for itself. It is home in the summer, the tall pine trees, the old dusty cabins, the cold clear lake, and the people. The people are friendly, cheerful, positive, and real. My family has been at this camp off and on since 1928. When I arrive back at camp in June, Mallards cabin is the same, the friendships start right where they left off in the previous summer or summers. Timeless. All friendships pick up where they left off.  I've made some of my best friends in life at camp and friendships are ageless. People I probably wouldn't have ever meet otherwise. Campers, older counselors, young counselors, staff, and directors!
     Every summer something new and amazing will take place at camp. A bird nest on the eaves of Mallards cabin just outside from the campers bunks. Loons calling out at night below a full moon glittering on the lake. The stars! A Bear! A Moose! A camper works through his homesickness. A counselor finds his voice and his creativity in front of camp during announcements.  An eagle flies over instructional swim. The newest "I think I heard a  fisher cat" story. New skits and a movie project. New Head Counselors, New Chapels. New friendships!
     Every summer the beginning of camp is full of energy and possibilities, the middle is of achievements and the end comes too quickly. The last day of camp is awkward, sad, and full of too many emotions that your body goes into shock. It remains the same in many ways each summer giving structure to each year but not definition. The morning walk, the coffee with the old timers, dips, and the flag raising ritual. The Barn is full of excitement, fun, traditions, and crazy counselor announcements. The stories, the history and the legends.
     At camp there is always something going on that is fun. It is fun because the counselors make it fun because they are having fun! Twilight League, Free Swim buddy themes, birthday speeches, baseball scores, "WEST COAST", capture the flag, cookouts, camping trips, grand daddy gorilla hunt, horse races, movie night, thunder storms, counselor stories, and the list goes on! It is all fun! I love the fun! there is so much fun to be had at camp. It is easy, if you are fun the fun will happen. I never drive to work, I walk everywhere except when I'm on the golf cart. A simple walk down the path will get you there. Just follow the pine needle road to "somewhere over the rainbow" and you'll be at Camp Timanous. Where what is most important are body, mind and spirit. My summer home.
     If school could be like camp this world would be full of more generous, considerate, confident, cheerful, and happy people. We all want to belong or be part of a great community. Camp Timanous is a great community.
    How do we turn our school, CDS into a great community? The answer is, the potential is already there! It takes the people in the community to recognize the specialness and the special talents within and take the lead role. The journey begins this week. Im ready! Let the fun begin!!!

10th annual Congo/ Lammers Hoops Tournament

 Hoop legends John Ruhl and Thomas Freeman

One of my favorite events every year is the knock out hoops tournament that takes place in the CDS middle school.  We start around the same time as the NCAA tournament and usually end around the same time.  Anyone who wants to be in can join...Boys, Girls, 6th through 8th. Mr. Lammers on the West side of the school takes all the advisories on that side of the building and I take all the advisories on the East side.  Mr. Lammers has 2 Regions (John Freeman and Mac Gourlay) and I have two (John Ruhl and James Nevant). The games are head to head the 1 seed plays the 16 seed and so forth just like the real NCAA tournment. When it gets down to the final 4 they all play for the finals. There have been some great wins and upsets in he past.  Colin Coleman looked like he was cruising to the title in 2009 when Zach Maag came from nowhere and claimed the championship that year. John Freeman won as a 6th grader and a 7th, but Candler Rice had a great run his 8th grade year to ruin John's chance at a three-peat. Other greats, John Ruhl won as a 7th and 8th grader in the first ever tournaments, Mac Gourlay powered his way to a championship in 2013, and James Nevant dominated his 8th grade year in 2008.  The champion gets to sign his name on the backboard of the hoop.  It's tradition!

http://youtu.be/fLa1AwY4CY0

Past Champions:

2014-?

2013-Mac Gourlay (West)

2012-Candler Rice (East)

2011-John Freeman (West)

2010-John Freeman (West)

2009- Zach Maag (Congo)

2008-James Nevant (Congo)

2007-Ricky Modrzynski (Congo)

2006-John Ruhl (Congo)

2005-John Ruhl (Congo)

Pinhole Photography Spring 2014

It is Spring at CDS Middle School and that means!!! Pinhole photography

What is Pinhole Photography?

The Pinhole Camera is a simple camera without a lens and with a single small aperture, a pinhole – (a pin sized hole in the side of the camera)  a light-proof box and a shutter door that is used manually. The students can make them out of just about anything, but we generally use the large oatmeal containers to make our own pinhole cameras. (the oats make pretty good cookies!) The one below was built by Henry Chandler in the spring of 2013.

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The objective of this project is to learn the photography process using a pinhole camera. To be responsible with the darkroom privileges, and helpful with taking care of equipment and chemicals. To take at least 6 excellent A range photos, or 3 excellent photos at home or 1 excellent photo on World wide pinhole day. 
http://www.pinholeday.org/

Other links that will help with this project

http://users.rcn.com/stewoody/

http://www.abelardomorell.net/

http://www.camera-obscura-lucida-shop.com/CameraObscura.php