How Jelly Roll Morton Invented Jazz - New Children's Book

Jelly Roll Morton claimed to have invented jazz - and many fans agree! A jazz pianist and composer, Jelly Roll performed across the country, but New Orleans was home to Ferdinand Joseph Lamothe.

Jelly Roll's music incorporated minstrel, ragtime, the blues and Caribbean sounds to create the sound that became known as jazz, and later performed swing. His hit recordings include:

• King Porter Stomp
• New Orleans Blues
• Dead Man's Blues
• Original Jelly Roll Blues
• Black Bottom Stomp

A colorful and popular musician who started Jelly's Last Jam.

performing in brothels at 14 and gained fame in the 20s and 30s, Jelly Roll died at the age of 50 (or close to 50, as there are different years attributed to his birth). His story and music regained popularity in the 90's when Gregory Hines portrayed him in the Broadway musical

How Jelly Roll Morton Invented Jazz  is a new biography and children's book by Jonah Winter and beautifully illustrated by Keith Mallett (release June 16, 2015) that brings together two naturals: music and art.

Children have an innate love for both music and art, and as an artist and jazz fan I'm excited to share this new book that introduces children to the sounds and colors of jazz.

As an admirer of Keith Mallett's art, I highly recommend this book to share with a special child in your life - and you'll like it too!

à la prochaine,

Shirley

Art for Christmas - How to Buy Art for Children

Art is a gift that continues to give long after the holidays end. Instilling the love of art in children is a gift that lasts a lifetime. A gift of original art is a personal value you can share with the child, and help them develop their own love and appreciation for art. Art education and art appreciation is the perfect holiday gift for a special child in your life!

5 Tips for Giving Art to Children

1. Children love color

Whether the child you're buying for loves bright, bold, audacious colors or prefers muted pastels, children are inspired by color in their environment. What are the child's favorite colors? What colors don't they like? Ask questions to help determine the color choice when buying art for children.

2. Choose a subject they enjoy

Jewels of the Sea by Shirley Monestier

Giving a child an original art work of a subject they are interested in opens the child's eyes to how art can be part of their everyday life, not just an activity for play or school. If the child is interested in sports, many sports-themed artworks art available as prints or original art pieces. A child who loves music may appreciate art featuring their favorite instrument or musician. A nature-lover may appreciate art showcasing animals, or a beach scene.

3. Personalize it

Can the artist inscribe the painting with your child's name? Can a sports figure in the piece wear the child's team number? For young children especially, personalizing the art with something unique to the child makes them excited about the artwork and helps them relate to the piece.

4. Discuss it

When you give a child a piece of art, explain to them why you bought if for them: what features of the art piece made you think of the child? Ask the child to discuss the art with you, what do they like about the piece, do they like the colors, how does the art make them feel? Tell the child what kind of art you like - and what kinds you don't like - to help the child understand that its OK to like some pieces more than others, and to understand better why they do or don't like specific art pieces.

5. Share the artist's story

artist Shirley Monestier in her studio in Bordeaux, France

When possible meet the artist in person to understand their story, or do some research to find out about the artist. Understanding who made the piece, what their story is, helps kids understand and get excited about the artist's creativity process and inspirations.

Children love art, and are inspired by color and creativity. This year, give a special child in your life an original gift of art, and start them on a lifelong passion. 

I invite you to visit my online art gallery for original art gifts this holiday season:

www.shirleymonestier.com

a la prochaine,

Shirley

A Visit to Whitney Museum of American Art and the Jeff Koons Exhibit

Jeff Koons is one of the most popular artists alive today; his latest exhibit Jeff Koons: A Retrospective is at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City until October 19. Koons is an American artist born in 1955, who is know for his bright, colorful and whimsical paintings, sculptures and reproductions of everyday objects. In 2013 his "Orange Dog" sold for $58.4 million - the highest sale price for any living artist.


Jeff Koons is widely regarded as one of the most important, influential, popular, and controversial artists of the postwar era. 

~ Whitney Museum of American Art 

With 150 objects in the exhibit dating back to 1978, the exhibit is on 4 floors of the museum and in the courtyard. The entire city of New York appears to be paying homage to Koons:

• Split-Rocker is a giant living plant sculpture on display at Rockefeller Center
• a limited-edition gold Dog Balloon purse is on sale at HandM  and Koons is curating an exhibit at the 5th Ave store 
• a 6-story billboard of the Dog Balloon proclaims Fashion Rocks from the side of the building

To respond to the huge crowds and public enthusiasm for the exhibit, the Whitney expanded its hours to include Mondays on September 1.

Cat on a Clothesline by Jeff Koons

Purple Heart by Jeff Koons

Michael Jackson and Bubbles by Jeff Koons

Play-Doh by Jeff Koons

Moustache Lobster by Jeff Koons

A friend in NYC attended the exhibit in early September, and the lines were out the door and around the corner. While waiting, she overheard several families with young children discussing the sexually graphic nature of some of the art, and that they would not be visiting several rooms of the exhibit. When my friend visited those rooms, she did note that there were many children with their parents visiting that part of the exhibit.

The exhibit is open:

• Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 

          Saturday, Sunday                                     11am - 6pm

• Friday                                                         11am - 9pm

Visitor rates are:

• General Admission                                    $20
• Ages 19-25, over 65 and FT Students:      $16
• Members and 18 and under                       FREE
• Fridays from 6-9pm                                    Pay As You Wish

Jeff Koons: A Retrospective will be on display at the Centre Pompidou, Musée national d’art moderne, Paris, from November 26, 2014–April 27, 2015; and the Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain, June 5–September 27, 2015.

a la prochaine,

Shirley

The Artist's Way for Parents: Raising Creative Children

Art brings such joy and purpose to my life, I can't imagine living in a world without art. And yet, I understand that not everyone shares an artistic view of the world. But I believe art can be nurtured and encouraged, particularly when started at a young age.

I recently discovered the book The Artist’s Way for Parents: Raising Creative Children by Julia Cameron. I was not familiar with Cameron's book The Artist's Way, but understand that many parents wanted her to write this book to help them encourage raising children to be creative and to practice art.

I also understand that for some, encouraging creativity in their children does not come naturally. So I welcome Julia Cameron's efforts to provide a how-to book for parents who want to raise their children to experience and appreciate creativity.

The Artist's Way for Parents is written in a very straight-forward, easy to understand way; with exercises and activities parents can use with their children:

• storytelling
• a walk in the park
• making music
• creating art

Julia Cameron is an artist (poet, playwright, and filmmaker), and many of the ideas she shares are activities she used in raising her own daughter. 

Every child is creative. And every parent is creative. Your child requires joy, and exercising creativity, both independently and together, makes for a happy and fulfilling family life.

~ Julia Cameron

I think The Artist's Way for Parents would make a wonderful gift for any parent and child in your life!

à la prochaine,

Shirley

Using Technology to Stimulate Children's Interest in the Arts

Children have a natural interest in observing and creating art: every parent knows that providing their child with crayons and paper can occupy an entire afternoon, and the art produced can decorate an entire refrigerator! Every parents prepares for the day their child gets their first harmonica, or toy piano: and the endless "music"

As children become older and their schedules are full of gymnastics, swim lessons and play dates there is less and less time reserved for creating art. In previous generations, the kids had "Art" and "Music" as part of their school schedule. Now budget constraints have eliminated the arts from many schools.

Kids today love technology and are very comfortable using smartphones, tablets and laptops. I'm excited to learn about new apps and games for kids that stimulate their interest in the arts.

Here are some art and music apps that will develop your child's love of the arts:

1.  MoMA Art Lab is a free app from the Museum of Modern Art in NYC for kids age 7 and up with nine activities to create artwork inspired by MoMA's collection, including Henri Matisse and Alexander Calder.

guides you through different styles of modern art and then lets you give it a try yourself, just like a great teacher would do.

~ Cool Mom Tech

The MoMA Art Lab app is free at the Apple Store.

2.  Mini Monet Creative Studio and Art Club for Kids is a free-form drawing app where kids can join the art club to share their drawings and earn point for drawing. The system for earning coins for sharing is a little confusing, but its not necessary to participate to use Mini Monet. Designed for ages 4-8.

Mini Monet is $1.99 at the Apple Store. 

3.  Mibblio is a music app that combines stories and music to form MIBBLETS: illustrated songs with loads of musical features that enable kids to read along, sing along and jam along.  

Download the free Mibblio music app for kids for iPad at the Apple Store. The first Mibblet is free, additional Mibblets are $.99 each.

4. Zebra Paint is a coloring app for young children - around age 3-5 - to fingerpaint with their fingers and choose their own colors for the 24 templates.

Zebra Paint is a free Android app, Zebra Pro is available for $.99.

I love how technology and art come together to help children appreciate the arts. How do you foster a child's interest in the arts? Tell me: I'd love to share your tips!

à la prochaine,

Shirley