Author: Marla McLean

I am visual artist & educator living and working in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
I completed my Masters in Studio Art from New York University studying in New York City and Venice, Italy.
I have a BA in Education and Social Art from Godard College, Plainfield, VT.
I teach art (as the Atelierista) at School-within-School at Peabody, a Washington DC, Reggio Emilia inspired public school.
I am adjunct faculty at The Corcoran College of Art and Design, currently teaching, Art and Science-Developing Creativity (graduate level.)
I received the 2008 Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Art Teacher from the DC Commission on the Arts and DC Public Schools.
I exhibit and participate in art projects/exhibitions nationally and internationally.

11 Nov

And say simply, Very simply, With hope, Good morning.

And say simply, Very simply, With hope, Good morning.

What questions are we asking children? In what ways are we listening to children? How does the 100 Languages of Children facilitate deeper and more meaningful expression and …

 
By Marla McLean
Filed under: 3 year old children, aesthetics, art, Atelier, Atelierista, beauty, conversation, creativity, diversity, early childhood, equity, Happiness, heart, inspired, intent, Kindergarten, love, Maker Spaces, Marla McLean, materials, meaning, Medically Fragile, painting, preK children, project work, public school, Reggio Emilia, studio learning, Trauma Informed practice, Uncategorized, vulnerable, Wisdom
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10 Jun

“The way we see the world shapes the way we treat it.” Falling in love with Nature (Part 2)

“The way we see the world shapes the way we treat it.” Falling in love with Nature (Part 2)

Mama Miti Children’s Book Watch “I will be a Hummingbird” short here.

 
By Marla McLean
Filed under: art, Atelier, Atelierista, awe, climate change, creativity, early childhood, earth, environmental stewardship, Global Children, global competence, heart, inspired, Joy, Kindergarten, Maker Spaces, Marla McLean, materials, meaning, mother earth, project work, trees, Uncategorized
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10 Jun

Falling in love with nature (Part 1)

Falling in love with nature (Part 1)

 
By Marla McLean
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08 Mar

“Optimism is our instinct to inhale while suffocating. Our need to declare what ‘needs to be’ in the face of what is. Optimism is not uncool; it is rebellious and daring and vital.” Ava DuVernay

“Optimism is our instinct to inhale while suffocating. Our need to declare what ‘needs to be’ in the face of what is. Optimism is not uncool; it is rebellious and daring and vital.” Ava DuVernay

This year, when I asked kids if they knew who the Dr Martin Luther King was, I knew what I did not want to hear. I did …

 
By Marla McLean
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01 Jan

“The magic is… change the world.”

“The magic is… change the world.”

It is January first. A new year. And despite being on this planet for quite a while, and teaching in public school for 20 years, there is …

 
By Marla McLean
Filed under: 3 year old children, aesthetics, art, Atelier, Atelierista, awe, beauty, creativity, curiosity, darkness, earth, Embodying, explore, family, grow, imagination, inspired, intent, Kindergarten, love, Marla McLean, materials, meaning, Medically Fragile, metaphor, PreK, project work, Reggio Emilia, solstice, Uncategorized
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13 Nov

A careful considerate gaze or I am because you are

A careful considerate gaze or I am because you are

…

 
By Marla McLean
Filed under: 3 year old children, art, Atelier, Atelierista, Autumn, awe, beauty, bottle-caps, Citizens, climate change, community, Consructing, conversation, creativity, curiosity, early childhood, earth, explore, garden, global, Global Children, global competence, grow, Happiness, heart, imagination, Innovation, inspired, Joy, Kindergarten, leaves, Light, love, Maker Spaces, Marla McLean, materials, meaning, metaphor, moments, monarchs, NAREA, objects, observation, painting, PreK, preK children, process, project work, Rainbow, recycle, reflect, Reggio, Reggio Emilia, seasons, Sketching, social action, Studio, studio learning, Ubuntu, Uncategorized, vulnerable, winter, Wisdom, wonder
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14 Jun

And so, How Are You Different Than Nature?

And so, How Are You Different Than Nature?

It is the night before the very last day of the 2017-2018 school year. I just couldn’t let the year end without giving you this …

 
By Marla McLean
Filed under: activism, art, Atelier, Atelierista, change, climate change, community, conversation, creativity, early childood, earth, earth day, environmental stewardship, global, global competence, heart, imagination, inspired, intent, Kindergarten, love, Maker Spaces, materials, meaning, metaphor, mother earth, observation, parade arts, PreK, recycle, reflect, Reggio Emilia, school, social action, upcycle, values, Wisdom, wonder
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10 Jun

I hope beautiful things live forever

I hope beautiful things live forever

  Balance. This year, in addition to the daily creating and expression and relationship building in the studio/atelier, I engaged and facilitated a Mardi Gras/Speak for Living …

 
By Marla McLean
Filed under: activism, aesthetics, art, Atelier, Atelierista, awe, beauty, Burning Man, change, Citizens, community, Consructing, conversation, creativity, early childhood, earth, Educating for Creative Minds, Embodying, explore, global competence, grow, heart, humility, imagination, Innovation, inspired, love, Maker Spaces, Marla McLean, materials, meaning, metaphor, moments, Movement, project work, public school, recycle, Reggio Emilia, Uncategorized, vulnerable
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02 Apr

Finding tongues in trees

Finding tongues in trees

…

 
By Marla McLean
Filed under: activism, art, Atelier, Atelierista, awe, beauty, community, conversation, creativity, early childood, earth, garden, grow, Kindergarten, love, meaning, metaphor, preK children, project work, reflect, Reggio Emilia, trees, trees, Uncategorized
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26 Mar

“Where did you come from? Would you like to come in?”

“Where did you come from? Would you like to come in?”

 
By Marla McLean
Filed under: activism, Atelier, Atelierista, change, Citizens, community, conversation, creativity, early childood, global competence, humility, Kindergarten, love, Marla McLean, preK children, project work, reflect, refugees, Reggio, Reggio Emilia, social action, Studio, studio learning
Comments: 1