One. Lethbridge, AB – A grade 8 student at Master’s Academy & College in Calgary Nick Rodrigues is the winner of the “2009 Calgary Junior Idol” Competition. (Category of the age 13-17). Nick, 13 years old, has been singing since he was able to talk, and now acts and models professionally as well.
Two. Holt, Norfolk, England. Kieron Williamson is 7 years old. His last exhibition of paintings sold out in 14 minutes. Starting price for a simple pastel picture by Williamson was $ 900.
Three. Watercolours by Tim Gardner were among the savvy mix of artworks on show at the Conmemporary Art Gallery in Vancouver.
Four. An exhibition of works on paper by Jack Shadbolt, at the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery at UBC, was an important contribution to British Columbia’s art history.
Five. Yannick Nezet-Seguin is a Montrealer, who makes his debut at New York’s Metropolitan Opera conducting “Carmen” on New Year’s Eve. There is a You-Tube video of him as a kid at 10, powering his way with unmistakable gestures through Ravel’s Bolero in a school classroom. He seems to know no fear, and to expect others will follow wherever he leads. He began his conducting career leading the choir in which he had sung at a Montreal Cathedral.
Happy New 2010 Year to all my readers! Best wishes of good Health, Happiness and Prosperity to you, my dear friends! Catch the link: Happy New 2010 Year!
I like to think of boredom as a moiunatn to climb. When my son comes to me with nothing to do, I say hmm . So interesting, nothing to do. And I imagine he is climbing a moiunatn. And he gets frustrated, because it is hard having nothing to do. And I let him be frustrated. I let him climb that moiunatn. Sometimes he gets REALLY frustrated. I still stay back, letting him go on up, no lecture from me on the richness of his life, no suggestions. Just hmm . And then a little while later, I notice silence, and he has found that set of encyclopedias I bought at the library book sale, or he is building yet another Lego space ship, or he and his baby sister are hiding in the tent, or looking at a photo album. And I know that he climbed the moiunatn of boredom and is coasting like surfer down the other side, completely absorbed in something totally self-created, self-directed. It’s in those moments that I’m truly in awe of my kids, seeing what they create, what they invent. They are so amazing and we can thank boredom for reminding us.
Dear Ivanpioola, first of all, thanks for your insightful comment. I completely agree that boredom sometimes leads to creativity. And it is so wise of you to create your own pedagogical atmosphere around you elder child allowing him to be self-created, self-directed. Using his own potentials of imagination without being coached or lectured by you. It is wonderful! Keep it up. Good luck.
Valentina