“Every tomorrow is created in a yesterday, through a today. We need to know what we were to know what we’ll be.”
Paulo Freire’s quote expresses the gratifying feeling and satisfaction that remained in our souls after the 21st Art Fair: Art and Tenderness.
Through art, the children from Early Childhood Education could explore and represent their senses, access memories, assign value to what is symbolic, express and share perceptions and meanings with their peers, family members and the whole community.
Through various artistic languages, we witnessed a true network of connection between people, feelings, memories and stories, envisioning the connection between past, present and future. At school, we make memories with the children every day. And some of their experiences here—which will be forever imprinted in their bodies and souls—could be shared through this exhibit that was a celebration of life, art and reunion— after all, this was the first event in which families could actually be together again at the school since the outbreak of the pandemic.
“It was really exciting to be able to welcome families here again. On the first day of the exhibit, I was very excited, with watery eyes, because after a long period of great distance and many challenges, it was so wonderful to witness a group of parents entering the school, children excited about their presence, sharing and verbalizing the joy of having so many mummies and daddies at school. be.Living values the physical presence of families, so the Art Fair was a very important milestone for all of us, it meant resuming a daily life that has this proximity in its essence. It was such a special moment!” says Camila Maia, Early Childhood Education coordinator at be.Living.
Camila says that she felt the happiness of the whole team, who were willing and open for this meeting, and that the children were very much involved and curious. “Some children had never explored the school space with their families. Then we could see the children showing their favorite hangouts in the school, sharing the spaces they enjoy and where they make bonds every day, in addition to the works of art. I felt that the families were also very happy, moved by the moment of sharing and by the exhibit itself, and curious to understand how the work was done. It was a general feeling of joy and excitement that we could be close to each other again.”
For Claudia Mariuzzo, arts consultant at be. Living, who collaborated with the idea of the exhibit, the 21st Art Fair had a very positive balance and unique moments for all involved. “It was a different experience that brought a lot of learning. We have been experimenting, shaping ourselves and reinventing ourselves to try to create a new normal from our old normal. I felt that the children were involved and took much ownership of this work, which proposed more days of immersion, and were able to share this experience more deeply with their peers, really forming a network of meaningful connection for them and for all who shared this beautiful event.”
