Upcoming Conference

Register by October 18 and receive complimentary book

REGISTRATION

We know this is planned on a Saturday. (Intentionally so you don’t have to stress about the availability of a substitute). We know you might be tired, (teaching is tiresome along with invigorating). BUT, the planners of this conference want you to have this experience that will inspire you (we all need inspiration periodically) — maybe for this year or even next year. 

Join colleagues from across the state (some that are so ready to connect with you). Come and experience the courage, the passion, and the energy Americans Who Tell The Truth (AWTT) portrait subjects (the portraits will come alive) and teachers (who have actually used the portraits in their classrooms) will share.

Use it, store it, ponder it — but most of all have an amazing experience — even on a Saturday! Teaching Truth, Hope, and Creativity: How the Arts Can Deepen Curriculum. You will received a complimentary copy of Portraits of Racial Justice or Portraits of Earth Justice, if you register by October 18! The frosting on the cake: 6 contact hours are included.

Maine Educator Professional Development Opportunity 

Thomas College, Waterville 

Saturday, Nov. 5, 8:45 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

REGISTRATION

In addition, you will have access to the film Truth Tellers (no cost) for 24 hours. If you’ve never seen the film or wish to see it again, this is a chance. Meet Maine artist Rob Shetterly who has created over 250 portraits. He will be unveiling his latest painting at the conference and the subject will be on a panel. The film has been created by Maine Film Maker, Kane Lewis Productions. Richard Kane will also be at the conference.

Ashley Bryan Resources

Grades 4-12

Some of you might remember my blog post last year at this time as a follow up to visiting Ashley Bryan at his home on Little Cranberry Island. Elementary music educator Kate Smith and I traveled by boat to visit Ashley to learn more about his work. It was an amazing opportunity – Kate went back to school excited with ideas on how to incorporate Ashley’s work and attitude about life into her everyday lessons and school community. Ashley, now 96 years old, has written and illustrated many children’s books – Beautiful Blackbird and Freedom Over Me to name two of my favorites. Ashley is truly a treasure who has committed his life to kindness, truth, fairness, art and education. I am grateful for what he has given not only to Maine, but to the world!!

The Ashley Bryan Resource & Activity Guide is now available and is free for educators. Several Maine educators piloted the resources and it was completed in collaboration with the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Three guides

• Grades 4-6 English Language Arts and Visual Art
• Grades 7-12 English Language Arts and Visual Art
• Grades 7-12 Social Studies

The short 15:48 minute version of the film I Know a Man … Ashley Bryan is the companion to each of them and can be accessed at THIS LINK. I’m sure once you view the video it will give you ideas on how to use the resources in your classroom. It is available for a 72-hour period for $1.79.

The Resource & Activity Guide is a collaboration of the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Kane-Lewis Productions in Sedgwick, Maine. Any questions please contact: Melody Lewis-Kane at melody.lewiskane@gmail.com

Ashley Bryan Film

Community support

March 17 at 6 pm – Portland Youth Film Festival, Portland, Maine Screening and Q&A of “Ashley Bryan´s World” at the Portland Museum of Art

Synopsis: I Know a Man … Ashley Bryan  is about this 93-year-old creative wonder who skips and jumps in his heart like a child. He served in a World War II all-Black battalion and experienced the racism of a separatist Army and the horrible carnage of D-Day.  As a result he dedicated his life to creating beauty and joy, spreading love and awe through his art. He’s a poet/illustrator of over 50 children’s books, makes magical puppets and sea glass windows from found objects inspired by his African heritage. Ashley lives on the remote Cranberry Islands, Maine and has been using art his entire life to celebrate joy, mediate the darkness of war and racism, explore the mysteries of faith, and create loving community. His life story and the art he makes from this wellspring of experience is an inspiration to people of all ages.

For more information please email ashleybryanfilms@gmail.com.

 

 

Ashley Bryan

I Know a Man

I Know a Man … Ashley Bryan celebrates the life and works of an extraordinary Black artist whose life sends audiences across all races and ages a message of joy, kindness, peace and inclusion.  Ashley Bryan has visited many Maine schools to share his stories. He was born in 1923 and has written and illustrated many children’s books. Most of his subjects are Black American. He was the U.S. nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2006 and he won the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for his contribution to American children’s literature in 2009. Ashley Bryan’s “Freedom Over Me” was short-listed for the 2016 Kirkus Prize.

A documentary of Ashley’s life is underway but help is needed to tell his story to the world. You can contribute at Kickstarter by going to:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/818742863/ashley-bryan-film-outreach-and-distribution

Take a look at the trailer by CLICKING HERE. Part of it is filmed at the Ashley Bryan School on Islesford Island (off of coast of Maine).

Please take a look at this Kickstarter, consider a contribution, small or large, and let your friends know about it.

All contributions are tax deductible as the project’s sponsor, the Union of Maine Visual Artists, is a 501(c)(3) not for profit educational organization.

More info on Ashley Bryan and the films

I Know a Man … Ashley Bryan (2016, 73 min) and Ashley Bryan’s World (2016, 32 min) are two important new films by Richard Kane and Robert Shetterly that can help spark needed conversations about race and racism in our country. In a media environment where Black males are often portrayed in a negative light, or only portrayed in connection with tragic news, I Know a Man … Ashley Bryan celebrates the life and works of an extraordinary Black artist whose life sends audiences across all races and ages a message of joy, kindness, peace and inclusion. We need your help to tell his story to the world   http://www.mainemasters.com

Ashley, now 93 years old, is a spiritually deep, creative wonder whose experience in an all-Black battalion in World War II exposed him to the  carnage of war and the reality of institutionalized racism. In response he dedicated his life to art — creating beauty and joy, spreading love and peace.  During a recent radio interview Ashley spoke about how the smallest kindness offered to another acknowledges them as a valued human being and can begin to make the world a better place.

He does this every day with his person and, so powerfully, with his art — magical puppets and sea glass windows made from found objects inspired by his African heritage — and his paintings, poetry, stories and illustrations found in over fifty children’s books, many published by Atheneum Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.

Ashley Bryan’s World

Film created by Richard Kane

Painting by Rob Shetterly

I Know a Man … Ashley Bryan (2016, 73 min.) and Ashley Bryan’s World  (2016, 32 min) is a story about this 93-year-old spiritually deep creative wonder who served in an all-Black battalion in WWII and experienced the horrible carnage of D-Day.  As a result he dedicated his life to art — creating beauty and joy, spreading love and awe.  He’s a poet/illustrator of over 50 children’s books, makes magical puppets and sea glass windows from found objects inspired by his African heritage. Ashley lives on the remote Cranberry Islands, Maine and has been using art his entire life to celebrate joy, mediate the darkness of war and racism, explore the mysteries of faith, and create loving community.  His life story and the art he makes from this wellspring of experience is an inspiration to people of all ages.

The film opens with Ashley telling a hilarious story from his new book Can’t Scare Me to awestruck children.  But soon after the film delves into the horrors he experienced in World War II at D-Day.  “When you experience the tremendous carnage,” he asks, “Why does man choose war … that destroys everything you’ve built up?  I lived through the time of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and that did it.” The film then explores his world as an African American experiencing racism from early on when his father “was given the mop and the broom”, a reference to the 1943 Gordon Parks photograph.  He quotes Marian Anderson admonishing “to keep another down you have to hold them down, and therefore cannot rise and soar to the potential within you.”  He takes comfort in and spreads beauty through the spiritual content of his art – his linocut prints exhorting “Let My People Go” and his beautiful sea glass windows of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  So we begin to see his art as his way of spreading joy and peace in a less than perfect world.

Viewing opportunities
Reel Pizza, Bar Harbor

MIFF-By-the-Sea Film Festival

I Know a Man … Ashley Bryan (73 min.)

September 17   1:15pm

September 19   6:15pm

Camden International Film Festival

Rockport Opera House

Ashley Bryan’s World (32 min.)

September 18   10am

Stonington Opera House

I Know a Man … Ashley Bryan (73 min.)

September 22   7pm