National Art Education Association

Kaleidoscope: A Creative ExperienceAuthor(s): Carolyn YatesSource: Art Education, Vol. 24, No. 4 (Apr., 1971), pp. 28-33Published by: National Art Education AssociationStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3191624 .

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CR Carolyn Yates Some things are worthwhile just because they are fun. That's how we feel about creativity, and that's the philosophy behind Kaleidoscope.

Kaleidoscope is a creative art experience for children. Sometimes more, never less. It's designed for children from kindergarten through the sixth grade. They begin the experience in a motivational room, a "walk-through" area with color changes, music played on a vacuum-cleaner-powered harmonica, a flashing display of color slides, a rubbing board, and other unusual exhibits designed to help the imagination soar. After a lossening-up period of 10 to 15 minutes of creative calisthenics, we take them into the studio workshop where for the next 45 minutes they experience the joy of creating works of art using a variety of media. Kaleidoscope doesn't take the place of classroom instruction. It's intended as a supplement to formal instruction. The idea for Kaleidoscope came from Donald J. Hall, president of Hallmark Cards, Inc., after he had taken his own elementary school-age children to a workshop exhibit at Halls Plaza, one of the two Hallmark-owned

retail stores in Kansas City. It occurred to Mr. Hall that Hallmark was particularly qualified to develop a traveling art workshop that would bring the creative experience to children. Corporate Responsibility

Although we've taken Kaleidoscope into a few large cities for special events, we try to keep to smaller cities'of from 15,000 to 100,000 population. We feel there is more need for such a program in the smaller towns.

Wherever we go, people ask what Hallmark gets out of Kaleidoscope. The answer is satisfaction and good will. Corporations have a responsibility to perform public service. This is just one way that Hallmark is meeting its responsibility. We're not educators. I'm a professional designer. But we wanted Kaleidoscope to be educationally sound. So we asked Rachael Chambers, an elementary school art teacher with a master's degree in art education, to join us as associate director. Rachael, who was with the project from the begining, brought many good educational ideas to the project, plus a practical knowledge of children that I suspect

one learns only under fire in the classroom. Others involved in planning Kaleidoscope gave us the parental point of view. That, too, was invaluable.

We thought we had a good show, but there were too many butterflies in evidence when we took it to Topeka, Kansas, for a tryout. Educators Like It

We needn't have worried. The reception was tremendous. And it's been like that everywhere we've been-from Kansas to the East Coast. Children love it. So do teachers and school administrators.

Charles M. Dorn, chairman of the art department at San Fernando Valley State College and former executive secretary of the National Art Education Association, said, in his opinion, Kaleidoscope incorporates sound learning practices and "I would think youngsters having this opportunity would have been encouraged to move further in expressing their creative needs both at home and within the regular school art program."

Erleen V. Lindeman, principal of Meadowlark Ridge Elementary School in Salinas, Kansas, said "Never in my life in education have I witnessed

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anything like it. The moment each child walked in, his spirit was captured with texture, color, and sound. Immediately there was reaction, response, and freedom to create."

Sue M. Johnson, supervisor of art for the Tulsa, Oklahoma Public Schools, said "I have never seen interest greater from students, faculty, and parents ... the very young will remember it for a lifetime."

R. Wayne Nelson, coordinator of cultural and fine arts for the Lawrence, .Kansas, Unified Schools, said he was particularly interested in the sudden impact of Kaleidoscope on children from underprivileged areas. "Their rather sullen approach to the whole idea of 'art' exploded at almost the instant they walked through the entry and became suddenly a part of an activity involving their awareness and intense participation."

Mrs. Betty Hess Lewis, art teacher at East Pike Elementary School in Indiana, Pennsylvania, called Kaleidoscope "an experience of a lifetime"; and Joseph Todak, supervisor of art for the Amsterdam, New York, Public Schools, said he

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felt Kaleidoscope was "one of the finest experiences our children have enjoyed."

The endorsement of educators is necessary. Without it, we could not continue the program, nor would we want to. But Kaleidoscope is for children, and what they say about it is especially rewarding. Lots of Fun

One of my most prized possessions is an encaustic banner, done in the best Kaleidoscope style and mailed- a burlap post card to "Kaleidoscope, Hallmark, Kansas City, Mo." The message, like the address, painted with crayon, said it all: "Lots of fun. Loved it. Elmira, N.Y." Three red hearts drawn above the signature gave it just the right touch.

We try to schedule about 50 children at a time. That's the ideal number, but we've had half again as many in the workshop due to scheduling error. Children enter Kaleidoscope through a yarn archway that takes them into the motivational area called "The Idea Room." The first impresison is created by a walkway of imaginative artwork embedded in plastic. It was done by professional artists using the same materials and techniques that the

children use in the workshop. The walkway leads to the various motivational units.

One stop on the journey through the Idea Room'is the "Imagine" unit. Here, children are asked to look through various openings, where they see their faces mirrored above imaginary characters such as Lucy and Charlie Brown, a lion, a policeman, a fireman, and an astronaut.

Also, there's a device with a pencil fastened in permanent position. This is the "Try" unit. The thing to be tried is writing by moving the paper instead of the pencil. It's difficult. Try it sometime.

At a "Listen" station, there are music boxes enclosed in a clear plastic cube. The stems are outside so the children can wind them and listen to the sounds while they watch the mechanical workings.

At "See" there's a flashing color slide presentation from three hidden rear screen projectors. At "Look" the children study a picture through transparent colored plastic to see the effect of color on color.

The "Touch" display is a textured surface of familiar objects embedded in a plastic mold, from which the

children make crayon rubbings. Another "Listen" unit gives the

children an opportunity to hear musical tones made by pulling perforated paper across a harmonica. Power for the harmonica is supplied by a vacuum cleaner. Activities Popular

Then it's through the bell archway, where jingle bells and wooden beads dangle and tinkle joyously as the group moves on to a new experience. In the studio workshop, the children make encaustic banners, transparent collages, fun glasses, decorated cardboard geometric shapes, and colorful designs using yarn. Each child sets his own pace. Most work fast enough to complete all seven projects. Others elect to concentrate on only three or four projects. Teachers have been delighted with the performance of pupils who had never shown much interest in classroom work. And we've been told that youngsters who are disciplinary problems in school behave like angels at Kaleidoscope.

Probably the most popular activity is making "fun glasses." The shapes are precut in the form of mod sunglasses. The children stick colored transparent paper over the eye slits,

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and color designs of their choosing on the frames. Another activity is geometric shapes. They are precut and scored so that they form cubes and pyramids when folded and joined together. Felt-tipped pens are used to create imaginative, multicolored designs. Yarn in a rainbow of hues is used to make yarn jewelry bracelets, armbands, medallions, and glue-down designs.

Transparent collages, created by attaching random precut colored shapes to sticky paper, and the encaustic tables are always popular.

All children let you know what they're thinking about when working in the melted crayon medium. We see a lot of contemporary America on encaustic banners: Love, the peace symbol, Old Glory, Black Power, the ecology flag. And in one of our

first stops, one little boy wrote "Welcome Home Daddy." We learned that his father was due home from Vietnam that evening. Handicapped Children Cheered

One of the most rewarding aspects of Kaleidoscope is the effect it has on handicapped children. Children with severe hearing defects are cheered by being able to see and feel music at the music box unit in the motivational area. One little girl, almost sightless, was able to enjoy her visit because of the exceptionally bright colors. And a small boy who seldom spoke because of a severe speech defect became so excited about his experience that he talked about it all the way home. His mother told us later than when he became withdrawn, she would remind him of the good time he had at Kaleidoscope, in order to make him talk. Special education teachers have warned us not to expect much from their charges, then expressed wonder at the children's accomplishments.

We try never to discourage a child. Our philosophy is that creativity is good, in and of itself; and we encourage each child to be proud of what he has created.

The volunteers who supervise the

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various activities in the workshop keep things moving, make sure that supplies are within reach, answer questions, praise work shown to them, and perform emergency first aid for the infrequent but inevitable nosebleed or upset stomach.

Kaleidoscope could not exist with the local volunteers who staff it in the various towns we visit. Hallmark provides the materials-about a ton for each engagement of the two touring units-but it's the responsibility of the local sponsor to arrange for staffing and scheduling of groups. Community Involvement

Our co-sponsors have included such groups as PTA councils, community art museums and art leagues, public and parochial school systems, chambers of commerce, recreation departments, and civic organizations. One of the best, believe it or not, was a men's civic club. They volunteered their wives! That's the one instance in which no volunteer had to hurry home To cook supper for her husband. Seriously, one of the good side effects has been the high degree of community involvement that has resulted. The volunteers really work hard. Some

actually thank us for giving them the chance to help! Volunteers do not have to be members of the sponsoring group, nor affiliated with it in any way. In university communities, many students have served. Education majors and graduate students particularly enjoy it.

Many of the materials used at Kaleidoscope-felt, burlap, clear plastic, paper, cardboard, yarn, etc.- are scrap from the production of Hallmark products. But many of the materials are not-crayons, staples, marking pencils, and the like are all purchased by the firm for Kaleidoscope.

Everything the children make at Kaleidoscope is theirs to take home. Upon entering the workshop, each youngster is given an "I've been to Kaleidoscope" paper bag, in which to accumulate his creations.

Kaleidoscope creativity kits which include a 40-page instruction booklet and a sampling of materials used in the workshop also are available if desired by the co-sponsor. These creativity kits cost 50 cents each, 10 cents of which goes to the co-sponsor to help defray expenses. The remaining 40 cents helps at least

partially to defray the cost of packaging, handling, and shipping These kits are not a Hallmark product and not for sale in Hallmark retail outlets. Units Are 'Leapfrogged'

The logistics of keeping two Kaleidoscope units on the road are formidable. Deft juggling is often required so that the two units always are scheduled within 300 miles of each other. This allows our driver to "leapfrog" the units. It works this way: He delivers one unit to town A and sets it up. Then he drives back to town B, where Unit 2 has just closed, dismantles it, and loads it in his custom built trailer, takes it to town C, and sets it up. Then when Unit 1 closes, he drives back to town A, loads up, and delivers that unit to Town D. Each unit has its own trailer.

Kaleidoscope is scheduled for 10 days in each town, during which an average of 3,000 children participate. It always opens on a Wednesday and closes on the Friday of the following week. An associate director spends the first three days-Wednesday through the first Friday-of Kaleidoscope's schedule in each town, training volunteers and

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attending to the many details that arise. Presently, Miss Janice Tapper, who came to Kaleidoscope after teaching experience at the elementary, secondary and college levels, is traveling with Kaleidoscope.

Every piece of Kaleidoscope furniture was designed for function and portability. Everything folds or comes apart. About 2,000 square feet of floor space is required to accommodate the exhibit. But it fits nicely, if tightly, in an 18 foot trailer. All surfaces were selected for their ability to withstand wear and tear. Much use is made of vinyl and plastic. Most of the furniture, which is child-size, was constructed by Hallmark cabinet makers in the company model shop.

Since our national tour began in February 1970, the two Kaleidoscope units have visited more than 45 cities and entertained some 125,000 youngsters. In the beginning, we used to wonder if people would think it was as great as we thought; if the potential co-sponsors and school administrators would be willing to make the commitment required. Booked Almost Solid

There were never any great

problems in securing bookings, but at first few people had heard about what we were doing. That's changed. We haven't had any national publicity yet, but the word has spread. Parents, teachers, and school administrators who have experienced Kaleidoscope have passed our story on to their friends and colleagues.

Kaleidoscope now is beginning.to swing back toward Kansas City. Next school year will find it in the

Central Plains states, and there will be a western tour the following year. We're booked almost solid through May 1972, with only an open week here and there.

Although Kaleidoscope spends a short time in each locality, it's our hope that its philosophy lingers long afterwards. Children can perform all the Kaleidoscope activities at home using available materials. They don't have to use the same materials or make the same things. That's not the point. The point is that art is fun. Creativity is fun. The experience of creative expression is exhilarating. That is the message of Kaleidoscope.

Carolyn Yates is Kaleidoscope Creative Director, Hallmark Cards, Inc.

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