This Side Of The River

In an economy such as ours, when everything is being downsized, cut or completely eliminated, it is so refreshing and encouraging to realize that there are those who go by the saying, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going!"
I recently was paid the compliment of being asked to address an art class at Christ the King High School, in order to show and advise the students the approach needed to enter the graphics and art field. The lecture was not held during school hours, but rather after school so it would not interfere with the students regular classes.
I didnt know exactly what the students would be interested in since many of them are now working with the computer, and perhaps consider what I had in my portfolios to be from the age of dinosaurs. However, even dinosaurs can be educational. As a commercial illustrator, I did many brochures for medical and instructional materials, including the illustrations for Johnson and Johnsons Baby Book and a series of portraits used for the Daily News column heads.
I entered the lobby of the high school at 3:30 p.m. with contents of the best of two different portfolios that I had used in my commercial years, and a series of slides that show the evolution to the fine arts stage in my life.
It was the chairperson of the Art Department, Susan Serowick, who greeted me at the door with an outstretched hand and a bouquet of flowers. She proceeded to escort me to the lecture classroom while explaining that there were approximately 25 students who had stayed especially for this lecture waiting for me. Some of them were looking forward to going into art for a living, and others were just interested in art. Serowick herself taught sculpture, but there was a class for acrylics and graphics.
When entering the room, I couldnt help but notice that most of the students were girls, giving me the perfect opportunity to include the particular needs of a woman in business in my talk. While it is true that opportunities for women are far greater now than before, there is still somewhat of a hindrance for women. Also, as in all my talks to young people, I try to indicate the absolute necessity of not getting discouraged by what every artist enduresrejectionat one time or another (especially when first starting out). So many excellent artists drop by the wayside because, being of a sensitive nature, they do not tolerate criticism well.
Serowick showed me the many facets of the students art that lined the walls, explaining that they had a wonderfully attended and received exhibition just the week before. One cannot emphasize enough the importance of effort and participation on the part of parents and teachers like Serowick, who take time out to lend their support to our youth.
While I had planned approximately one hour for the lecture, I opened the discussion to questions, then laid out the portfolios for the students to peruse. It was interesting to me to see which brochures they seemed more curious about. It has been said before, but it is so true that a teacher learns from the students as well as the other way around.
After noticing that an hour and a half had gone by, I gave out some prints that I had made for samples, and offered to sign them, which I did. They then presented me with a lovely card, signed by all, thanking me for coming. The card, along with the flowers, was such a thoughtful gesture that I will treasure them always.