During the clay workshop, a 7 year old boy shapes a ball of clay and etches the word ‘roll’ into the surface. He tells me, that it is a rock. And after a moment says, “Hey, it is a rock that rolls, Rock and Roll, Get it!”

gail tarantino

The children advise others’ on how to make a ball while sitting at the play dough table.

“So you keep rolling until it is not a straight line. Then you pat on it, when you don’t have a straight line and roll it in circles again.”
Lilah 4 years

“Until the cracks are sealed up”
Anthony 3 1/2 years

“First, take a big piece and make a big ball. I’m doing this!” (She makes a circular motion with her hand)
Gemma 3 1/2 years

Gail Tarantino

Mari, 3 1/2 years asks, “Why are we born?” I reply with a “Hmmmm, Why do you think we are born?  She thoughtfully reconsiders the question.

“Because we draw…because we paint…because we can play…because we can go to art class…because we can smoosh…because we can hold pencils…And, because we can play with playdough!

Other contributors to Mari’s question of why are we born: 

Miles:  “When we were a baby”

Henri:  “Because we can sit outside”

Leo:  “Because we run outside and stand in the sand”

Amicie:  “Because we are going outside”

Gail Tarantino

He has glasses, and little splatters on little t-shirts.  Like a little dot and on the outside bigger ones coloring it.  And the hippie says, “This place is boring…and says. hey, things are looking up here!”

 Described by a 5 1/2 year old boy during an afternoon class.

 Gail Tarantino

At one of our visiting artist residencies in the preschools of San Francisco, a 4 year old boy announces, “I really, really liked that project, can you bring it again next time…It really, really helps my mind!”

Gail Tarantino