The Gift of Inspiration!

No doubt about it, this is a busy time of year. Personally, many of us are preparing for the holidays, cooking and baking, decorating and shopping. I'm sure our teachers out there are experiencing the growing excitement from students and fellow teachers, anticipating holiday excitement and ... ahhh ... a few days off!
With this in mind, we planned for fewer calls for exhibits and art products, at least for a couple weeks. But, as has happened so many times with Traveling Exhibits, we underestimated the interest and demand. Calls continue to come in, in fact last week was a record for December. And so we ask, why? We know the value of each exhibit, we appreciate how important the experience can be. And now, we can say with absolute certainty, teachers, librarians, parent groups and art foundations see it, too.
The gift of inspiration...
There is no more valuable or lasting gift, than the gift of inspiration. Our exhibits featuring artists not only showcase the art, we show it big. This decision has been questioned occasionally, some feel the value of authentic size is greater. All I have to say is to look at our panel of van Gogh's Cafe-terrace at Night (Place du forum in Arles) in which you can SEE each brushstroke and glimse the genius that was van Gogh. Now that is inspiration.
We go on to present each artist, not as a biography, but as the story of a real person who lived and breathed and had the flaws that make us human. Escher was not a great math student? Hard to believe, but I know there are lots of kids out there that can relate. Hokusai was eccentric? That's an understatement, but how many of our students out there fall out of the small box called "normal?" Seeing how real, less than perfect individuals could create art that the world treasures, now that is inspiration.
Standing together, students and teachers, side by side and experiencing art, talking about it, even touching it,
now that is inspiration.
What started as a new product a few years ago at Teacher's Discovery has taken on a life of it's own, and we look forward to 2009 with the goal of inspiring more children and more adults. We will help you find more funding options and the opportunity to bring more exhibits to your school or library. We will be unveiling our new series of exhibits, another way to truly inspire all who view them. A sincere, heart-felt thank you to everyone who has helped host an exhibit, your number is growing and growing.
And, an invitation to all of you who have yet to host ...
the gift of inspiration, the year-round gift, is in your reach. Visit our site, give us a call, see why, even during the busy holiday season, our phone is ringing like crazy!

An Actual E-conversation

Teacher from New Jersey:
I received it (the exhibit) this morning! I'm too afraid to open the box because I want it so badly to meet all of my expectations!

Lisa (our Traveling Exhibits coordinator):
Open it! I promise you won't be disappointed.

Teacher:
I cannot tell you how wonderful the exhibit was and how it brought our walls to life! you were so right about everything!!!! The teachers embraced it and the children, even as young as they are, really understood the concept ...
This is such a wonderful concept and I wish you and your company nothing but success!
You'll be hearing from us in the spring. We're looking at Monet!

The moral of the story: sometimes, even if it seems too good to be true, it can be true! Check out all our beautiful exhibits. We promise, you won't be disappointed!

Google celebrates Magritte!

I love Google, who doesn't? But I especially love when they subtly change the famous Google icon to celebrate something. Today, Google celebrates Rene Magritte, the painter from Belgium who gave us some of the most interesting and mysterious paintings of the 20th century. Today, Rene Magritte would have been 110.
The 20th century gave us many memorable works of art, Picasso and Dali, Warhol and Pollock. But the work of Magritte stands alone in it's originality and dream-like quality.
Traveling Exhibits does not have a Magritte Exhibit (yet!) but we have a wonderful Prestel book called Now You See It-Now You Don't about Magritte. Hardcover, 28 pages, beautiful book. I like to think of this series from Prestel as simple, not simplistic. A wonderful overview and interesting story.
We also created a fun computer games to reinforce art history called 20th Century Art Challenge Game. Just $29.99, it will be available Dec. 12, pre-orders are welcome.
Has anyone noticed that the advertisement for the ABC television series called Eli Stone looked similar to...




credits:
Son Of Man, 1964, Collection of Harry Torcyzner, Mohegan Lake, New York
Google
ABC Television

Escher in Ohio!

Thank you to Linda in Ohio for sharing these wonderful photos! She rented the Escher Exhibit and her students, in fact the entire school, loved it!
A Traveling Exhibit is a fabulous centerpiece for any lesson. The Escher Exhibit is unique because of the wonderful opportunity to cross curriculum with math and art. Students and staff alike are fascinated when they can see the minute detail of these amazing drawings and prints. When students and staff can stand together and discover the intricacies, discuss and share about it--magic happens.
Bring the magic to your school-just give us a call!
(248)276-4913

Our Own Catrina

La Calavera de la Catrina was a 1913 zinc etching by Mexican printmaker Jose Guadalupe Posada. As you may know, it was the etchings of Posada that inspired Diego Rivera. In the Rivera Exhibit that features A Sunday Afternoon in the Alameda Park, you can see Catrina front and center.
Our own Traveling Exhibits coordinator, Lisa, paid homage by creating this fabulous costume for our annual Halloween party.
She won first place in the costume contest (of course)!
As you celebrate Día de los Muertos, you may want to share this picture of Lisa-Catrina with your students!

We Have A Winner!

Traveling Exhibits sent three versions of our catalog out this fall, one to middle and high school art teachers, one to elementary schools, and one to libraries. Each catalog had its own quiz contest, each with a different drawing date. The first winner was drawn from our correct entries from middle and high school, and our winner is...

Arthur S. from Texas!

Arthur will be hosting a Salvador Dali Exhibit for free this month!

Thank you to everyone who entered. Based on the number of responses, we will definitely be sponsoring more contests!
Bookmark this page, as we will be announcing the other winners and giving you updates on the success of the Great American Button Exchange programs!

Bringing Inspiration to New Jersey!

Traveling will exhibits will make its debut conference appearance in New Jersey! Lisa, our coordinator, is in New Jersey this week for the AENJ Fall Conference. She is displaying two new exhibits, Escher and Degas, in the registration area (can't miss them, they are spectacular!) If you are going, stop by and see Lisa.
This picture is of Lisa and our newest team member, Roze. They are wearing our limited edition, signature, inspire. t-shirts! Inspiring students and adults alike is the foundation of what we do in Traveling Exhibits and is the goal of every product we make. Think about who inspires you, and how you inspire others. It is very powerful and not to be taken lightly. You can inspire big decisions, like careers, and big ideas, like acceptance and understanding. Keep an eye on this space, new products from project: inspire. are coming soon!