Posts Tagged ‘Anne Kofler’

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In Today’s News

June 1, 2020

Christo – an old friend

Yesterday, at his home in New York Christo, known for massive, ephemeral public arts projects died at the age of 84. My connection and admiration for Christo goes beyond seeing images of his work. I visited New York City in 2005 to view The Gates in Central Park – 7,503 fabric panels that Christo and his wife Jeanne-Claude had installed. It was an amazing experience that I shared with my younger son and his friend on their first trip to New York when they were 14.

Several years ago there was an education director at the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland who greeted my 8th graders with something I’ve repeated over and over. “When you visit the museum think of it as visiting friends. Each time you come, you will meet new friends and some of your old friends will be here to visit with again.”

At the Merrill Auditorium with Anne, Jean-Claude and Christo, 2005

It doesn’t matter which museum I visit, whether in Maine, out of state or in another country, I think of that story. This connection or friendship happens not only with art work but also with artists through reading and learning about their lives. And some of my “old friends” include Christo and Jeanne-Claude.

After that trip to NYC I collaborated with my colleague and friend, art teacher Anne Kofler and we “wrapped” our school in Union in celebration of Christo and Jean-Claude’s visit to Maine. They spoke at the Merrill Auditorium in November 2005.

Before our visit Anne and I had our K-8 students from Union Elementary and D.R. Gaul Middle School create artwork on 3″x12″ white drawing paper using black sharpies. They started with their names in the center and went around and around with contour lines. Every student and staff member participated with the idea that everyone has an important part in the school community (and world) and that each of our parts are important to the whole. Without everyone doing their part there is a hole. I’ve had that same feeling recently.

We exhibited the student (and staff) artwork each touching and lining the walls up and down the steps, wrapping the entire building. We contacted Christo and Jean-Claude letting them know of our work and invited them to school while in Maine. Sadly, they weren’t feeling well but Jean-Claude called the school to let us know they had received our invitation and with regrets could not visit.

Student installing the wrapping of Union Elementary and D.R. Gaul Middle Schools, 2005.

Anne and I made a book to illustrate what we had created at school and the impact it had on our students. We attended the presentation that night at the Merrill and hopped into the line where attendees were having their posters signed by the artists. We presented the book to them – it was a special night to remember.

Along with his late wife Jeanne-Claude, the artists careers were defined by their ambitious art projects that quickly disappeared soon after they were erected. They never used any government funding to support their work. In 1991 they self-financed their $26 million “Umbrellas” project in which they installing 1,340 blue umbrellas in Japan and 1,760 blue umbrellas in Southern California.

Christo’s next project, L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped, is slated to appear in September in Paris as planned.

Sadly Anne is gone having passed in May of 2016. Jeanne-Claude died in 2009 at 74 years old and now I say so long to my old friend, Christo.

Posted in Communication, Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Food for thought | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments »

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Good-Bye Jim and John

October 2, 2018

Educators 

Many of you knew Jim Stampone but most of you did not know John Hilker and, Jim and John didn’t know each other. I wish they would have met. Sadly, they both passed away in September leaving behind memories for me and others, made through our connections working and playing.

Interestingly enough both Jim and John were grounded in their beliefs and weren’t afraid or hesitant to express them to protect someone’s feelings. They cared deeply about education and ignored and bended the “rules” in exchange for what was in the best interest of kids. Both were educators who touched thousands of learners of all ages in their careers.

Jim with “Bud” and “Bart”

Jim Stampone was a high school art teacher for many years at Falmouth High School. I met Jim and saw him each year at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts for the annual Maine Art Education Association conference. He was an artist through and through. My most vivid memory of Jim was one of the  weekends he was in the blacksmith workshop. He created a large and amazing piece knowing that it would look great in his garden at the farm he lived at and it would fit well traveling home on his old truck. Jim’s long hair and beard, faded blue warn overalls and big smile endeared him to many. I was sad when he chose to leave his art classroom but happy for him that he had chosen to move on to farming and creating leather into beautiful pieces. He and his wife owned Winter Hill Farm near Freeport and lived in the 1865 farmhouse. They raised an ancient breed of New England dairy animals called Randalls. He touched so many lives while on earth I’m certain his teachings will continue on for many generations. Great Salt Bay Elementary Art Teacher Karen Hight said about Jim – “Stampy”: “The last time I saw Jim we talked for quite awhile and he told me then that he felt like he’d had an amazingly full rich life and he was grateful. I feel so sad about his passing, but mostly I just feel grateful. He was an art ed rock star and he taught all of us so much!” 

Jim died of a heart attack and will be greatly missed. A memorial is planned for Jim on November 24, 2:00 p.m. at Falmouth High School. JIM’S OBITUARY.

John Hilker started his career in teaching as a special education teacher but what he really was, is far greater! Perhaps the only true renaissance man that I’ve known. He had a rough exterior which stemmed from having little time for people who wasted time and money on what he called “frivolous ideas and behaviors”. I worked with John at a middle school. I think it was 1982 when a student of John’s showed interest in technology. John bought a computer kit using his own money and the two of them set to work building a computer. I think it was a Commodore. They learned side by side and it was the first technology instruction that took place in our large school district. Not long afterwards John moved to the math classroom, then to social studies and writing. It didn’t matter which class John actually taught everything integratively. He moved students to the center of their learning long before it was the thing to do. He realized that kids needed to drive their learning based on their passion. John and I worked on a team designing interdisciplinary lessons – the Holocaust, Greek studies (history, architecture, archeology, mythology, and more), Tesselations, bookmaking and on and on. In an earlier life he had bought the tools to teach himself how to weave and to throw a pot. Some of the best work stemmed from the collaborative team I was on – no one appreciated and respected the place for the arts in education more than John. Our team led the transformation of the school from a traditional junior high to a middle school. He was a walking “google” in many ways. Eventually he was the first to fill the position of district wide technology coordinator. He didn’t take anything too seriously, least of all himself. One time while hanging artwork in the school hall I kicked off my clogs to climb the ladder more safely. I assumed when they went missing that one of my middle school students had taken it. But no, the kids said “Mr. Hilker has them in his room on a pedestal.”

John died of a heart attack and unfortunately there will be no service. I’m sure he’d want folks that knew him to do something nice for a child!

I will miss John and Jim and I am so appreciative to have known and learned from these amazing educators. I hope they’ve connected and that they are causing trouble and laughing together in a better place! And, I’m sure that John is united with our friend Anne Kofler.

These two photos were provided by retired art educator Frank Chin. Thank you Frank!

1998 – Haystack Mountain School of Crafts MAEA conference.

Posted in Food for thought | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments »

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Art Teacher, Colleague, Friend

May 13, 2016

Saying good bye is never easy

IMG_3033_2We learn from our parents, teachers, experiences, and many of us are fortunate to learn from friends. One of my most important teachers has been my friend and colleague, Anne Kofler. Anne sadly left this world at the beginning of this month. I’ve been fortunate to call Anne a friend and colleague for some 18 years. She was the elementary art teacher (downstairs) and I was the middle school art teacher (upstairs). We bounced ideas off of each other, laughed over silly things, worked side by side on K-8 art exhibits and curriculum development, and most importantly collaborated on numerous BIG ideas. I don’t know anyone that collaborates like we did. Our main goal was always to help everyone involved know that they were important and without their contribution there was a void.

My favorite collaboration was the time that every student (300) and staff member (45) made a domino out of 9″X12″ black construction paper. One sides dots reflected a math problem, the other was their birthday in dots. The day before February vacation we set up the dominoes in the gym for a big domino drop. Imagine those 345 papers – the slightest of air knocked them down. It was quite the feat setting them up – everyone who helped had an important role. At the designated time students and staff poured into the gym on their tippy toes. It was absolutely silent as our State Senator tapped the first domino to set off the drop. 690 eyes followed the chain reaction and the loudest cheer rocked the building when the last one fell. YES, it worked and there was a smile on everyone’s face knowing that without their domino in place it would not have worked.

Anne went about her work in a quiet steady way – always experimenting with new ideas to apply to lessons. Her greatest gift to her students were her own travel experiences. She always explored with an eye towards how to turn her learning into a lesson for students. Anne was a teacher through and through – I am saddened by her death but know that she lives on in everyone she touched including thousands of students. We knew of her impending death so I was able to spend hours with her and thank her for what she gave to me, our students, and both my sons who she taught elementary art. In Anne’s honor I hope that you take the time to thank a teacher and let them know how much they mean to you.

Anne Philbrick Kofler
Sept.9, 1945 – May 2, 2016

Anne color2Anne Philbrick Kofler of Alna, Maine passed away on May 2, 2016 at her sister’s home in Alexandria, Virginia. She was born in Alexandria, VA on September 9, 1945 to artists Jane (Philbrick) Kofler and John Kofler. She grew up in the community of Tauxemont, outside of Alexandria, and attended Hollin Hall Elementary School and Mt. Vernon High School. Living in Tauxemont gave Anne many cherished childhood memories such as community picnics, 4th of July celebrations with neighbors, attending Mt Vernon Unitarian Church and attending summer camp at the Highlander Folk School in Monteagle, TN.

After graduating high school, Anne went to Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY from 1964-1970 where she earned a BFA. Her son Marshall was born in Brooklyn in 1970. When he was one, they moved to Maine finally settling in Alna, ME in 1980.

In 1979, Anne attended the Shelter Institute, then in Bath, ME, an owner/builder school. By 1980, with encouragement from the school owners and the help of students, she began building her own home in Alna on land once owned by her grandparents. She lived there until her death.

Anne was an art educator for 25 years first in Damariscotta, ME and surrounding towns then further up the coast in the towns of Friendship, Union and Washington. She came from an artistic family. Her grandfather,Allen Philbrick, was an artist, her grandmother, Edith Kellogg Philbrick, a pianist, her father a painter and her mother a painter and stained glass artist. It was this background that led to her career as arts educator. Together Anne and her students, kindergarten – sixth grade, explored the world through art.

An avid traveler, in 2010 Anne realized a life long goal of a trip around the world with stops in Viet Nam, Cambodia, India, Africa and Italy. Others trips took her to Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic and Slovakia), Russia, Hungry, France, Cuba,Turkey, Thailand and China. Inspired by her travels, upon retirement, she began painting folding screens. She completed one on Kenya depicting Giraffe Manor, Karen Blixen’s coffee farm outside Nairobi and a safari scene from her experience in the Masai Mara. She was working on one that was to depict highlights of her trip across Rajasthan in 2013 when she died. If not on the road, she enjoyed a good book, gardening and, in later years, her greatest joy was spending time with her grandson Dominic. Together they read, explored museums in Washington, DC and enjoyed the summer sun in Corolla, SC.

Anne was predeceased by her parents. She is survived by her son Marshall Kofler and his wife Dee Zamora of Arlington, VA, sister Susie Kofler of Alexandria, VA, brother John Kofler of Chantilly, VA , beloved grandson Dominic Kofler along with cousins in New Orleans, Houston and Ann Arbor and her uncle’s wife Elaine living in London, Ontario.

As per her wishes, there is to be no funeral service. She asks only that her family and friends find joy in the extraordinary journey of life we shared.

Posted in Community | Tagged | 2 Comments »

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Dancing and Children

October 21, 2012

Sigh…

Recently Karen Montanaro sent me a photo (posted below) of a young child dancing in front of a painting by the Irish painter, John Lavery. The painting of Anna Pavlova was created in 1911. A further search lead Karen to a blog post with information about the painter and the artwork. It reminded me of a book called Dancing in the Streets by Barbara Ehrenreich that includes the traditions of dancing that are embedded in many cultures around the world. Our need as human beings to come together and celebrate through dance is a natural part of development. We can’t locate the origin of the photograph but is certainly is wonderful!

And from there another email this week from Anne Kofler with a short video of dancers who move into the shape of an elephant. Turns out it was a commercial. I sent it on to Karen Montanaro who confirmed that the dancers Pilobolus had a performance that includes the elephant. You can check it out at this blog as it was performed on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, July 2008. I know they’ve performed at Bates Dance Festival and Portland Ovations. I understand Pilobolus has other connections to Maine. The work dates back to the early 1970s. You can learn more about them in this Portland Press Herald article from 2010.

Speaking of Bates Dance Festival I just received their electronic newsletter. They’ve celebrated their 30th year and had quite a summer with wonderful performances. You can read all about it on their site. They have amazing opportunities for Maine students, along with young and veteran dancers from around the world. If you are not familiar with the program: Founded in 1982, the Bates Dance Festival is a summer program of Bates College whose mission is: to bring an artistically and ethnically diverse group of outstanding contemporary dance artists to Maine during the summer months to teach, perform, and create new work; to encourage and inspire established and emerging artists by giving them a creative, supportive place in which to work; and to actively engage people from the community and region in a full range of dance performances, workshops and discussions. Maine arts educator Nancy Salmon has been with Bates Dance Festival for many years along with dedicating many years to promoting arts education in Maine!

Posted in Communication, Community, Creativity, Dance | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »