Michaela Dives into Dream Theory

Michaela's mind-map on memory.  Picture taken by the Edge Team.

A two-year veteran of the Edge / IP program, Michaela did not take long to identify her focus for the year.  Having researched artists such as Henri Matisse, Joan Mitchell, Cy Twombly, and Judy Pfaff from 2014 to 2015, she entered September by pausing to consider her relationship to her influences.  Michaela concluded that those artists form a sort of artistic "collective consciousness," or memory, that she can tap into in order to inform her future work.  Inspired by this revelation, she embarked to trace the mechanics of memory by researching notable researchers including Franz Joseph Gall, Herman Ebbinghaus, and Karl Lashley (as well as their theories concerning phrenology, the spacing effect, and engrams, respectively).  She has compiled her inquiry using a mind-map (presented at right).

A metaphorical representation of Freud’s
conceptualization of the conscious and
unconscious mind.  Image located at
www.simplypsychology.com.

Most recently, Michaela has begun to explore the theories of Austrian neurologist and father of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud.  During a recent meeting in Edge, she explained to the faculty that she was interested in Freud's theories concerning the conscious and unconscious mind.  She pulled up a web page via Simply Psychology that she was using to analyze the two parts of mind; she also highlighted a visual metaphor from the site that allowed her to better process the two (presented at left).  The Edge faculty then pushed her concern further by asking about her dreams.  This question prompted a discussion in which Michaela recalled her own recurring dreams, elaborated upon her process of lucid dreaming, and began to interpret not only her own reveries but also those of the Edge Team.

Moving forward, Michaela has declared that she wishes to explore Freud's thoughts on dream theory more deliberately.  Who knows? Perhaps dreams will form the basis for her third and final exhibition at Kildonan...?

Stay tuned for more on Michaela's journey!

(If you have a thought or resource for Michaela, please post in the comments section below.  We would love to hear from you. Also, for more on Henri Matisse, check out his Artsy page here! )

FINAL: Misha Tours 56 Leonard St.

It all started with an image.  One day, knowing Misha's interest in land development and real estate, Micki brought him a brochure.  It depicted 56 Leonard Street, a 60 story skyscraper under construction in Tribeca, NY.  As Misha intuited, 56 Leonard is not just any building.  Designed by Pritzker Prize (@PritzkerPrize)-winning Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meruon (@HerzogdeMeuron), the structure boasts 145 "spatially innovative" homes ranging from 3,000 to 17,000 square feet stacked one upon the other in jutting, irregular arrangements (as described by the firm, the building consists of "houses stacked in the sky.").  When finished, 56 Leonard will also house a specially-commissioned work by Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor (for more info on Kapoor's work, please click here to view his Artsy page).  Soaking in all of these details, Misha felt spellbound.  He was captivated by that one image.

Since this initial hypnosis, Misha infused 56 Leonard into his work, even crafting a paper model of the building in his art class.  A break arrived, too, in the winter.  Returning from Killington, Misha was traveling with a Kildonan parent who happens to be wedded to one of the building's developers.  Misha detailed his interest in the building, and not soon after, an agreement was met:  he would tour the building with the developer.

If Misha felt inspired looking at the pictures of 56 Leonard, he felt even more so while touring the space.  The materials are hand-picked; only the finest elements (such as Turkish marble) compose the living spaces.  The view from the 40th floor too, he stated, was amazing; notably, it sells for $17 million.  The clientele do not find this price a stumbling block either, for at least 92% of the living spaces have already been purchased.

Misha's experience does not quite end there either.  After submitting a resume to the developer in search of an internship, Misha has secured an internship with Alexico Group (@AlexicoGroup)'s The Mark Hotel (@TheMarkHotelNY), is speaking to a NYC real estate agent, and will perhaps explore the Silo Ridge development in Amenia, NY.

These opportunities evince, first, the power of IP:  the real, meaningful work that can come from independent time, compassionate contacts, and passion-based learning.  More specifically, of course, they speak to Misha's talents and to his budding professional skills.  We are proud of him, and we invite you to celebrate with us by posting in the comments section below on Misha, 56 Leonard, Anish Kapoor, The Mark Hotel, etc.

Description of 1st image:  Concept art of 56 Leonard Street, top right.  Photo located at therealdeal.com.  Kildonan and its IP program claim no ownership over the picture above.

Description of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th images:  Misha pictured in 56 Leonard, left.  A shot of the building from the street, at right.  The view from the 40th floor of 56 Leonard, bottom right.  All photos taken by Misha.

Misha Tours 56 Leonard St.

It all started with an image.  One day, knowing Misha's interest in land development and real estate, Micki brought him a brochure.  It depicted 56 Leonard Street, a 60 story skyscraper under construction in Tribeca, NY.  As Misha intuited, 56 Leonard is not just any building.  Designed by Pritzker Prize (@PritzkerPrize)-winning Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meruon (@HerzogdeMeuron), the structure boasts 145 "spatially innovative" homes ranging from 3,000 to 17,000 square feet stacked one upon the other in jutting, irregular arrangements (as described by the firm, the building consists of "houses stacked in the sky.").  When finished, 56 Leonard will also house a specially-commissioned work by Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor.  Soaking in all of these details, Misha felt spellbound.  He was captivated by that one image.

Since this initial hypnosis, Misha infused 56 Leonard into his work, even crafting a paper model of the building in his art class.  Recently, too, a break arrived.  Returning from Killington, Misha was traveling with a Kildonan parent who happens to be wedded to one of the building's developers.  Misha detailed his interest in the building, and not soon after, an agreement was met:  he would tour the building with the developer.

If Misha felt inspired looking at the pictures of 56 Leonard, he felt even more so while touring the space.  The materials are hand-picked; only the finest elements (such as Turkish marble) compose the living spaces.  The view from the 40th floor too, he stated, was amazing; notably, it sells for $17 million.  The clientele do not find this price a stumbling block either, for at least 92% of the living spaces have already been purchased.  For the visual impressions of Misha's trip, please consult the photos placed throughout the post.

Misha's experience does not quite end there either.  After submitting a resume to the developer in search of an internship, Misha has secured an internship with Alexico Group (@AlexicoGroup)'s The Mark Hotel (@TheMarkHotelNY), is speaking to a NYC real estate agent, and will perhaps explore the Silo Ridge development in Amenia, NY.

These opportunities evince, first, the power of IP:  the real, meaningful work that can come from independent time, compassionate contacts, and passion-based learning.  More specifically, of course, they speak to Misha's talents and to his budding professional skills.

What do you think of Misha's work? Have you seen the building, and are you familiar with Anish Kapoor's work? Please post in the comments section below on Misha, 56 Leonard, Anish Kapoor, The Mark Hotel, etc.

Description of 1st image:  Concept art of 56 Leonard Street, top right.  Photo located at therealdeal.com.  Kildonan and its IP program claim no ownership over the picture above.

Description of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th images:  Misha pictured in 56 Leonard, left.  A shot of the building from the street, at right.  The view from the 40th floor of 56 Leonard, bottom right.  All photos taken by Misha.

Adam Leipzig: "How to know your life purpose in 5 minutes" @ TEDxMalibu

As the academic year trickles away, our seniors are beginning to adopt moony faces.  Their heads fill with longings for the future, and they begin the arduous process of bidding Kildonan farewell...with not a small amount of sadness and loss.  For months they have concerned themselves with administrative tasks concerning post-Kildonan life:  filling out applications for colleges, internships, and scholarships, writing essays, securing financial aid packages and living conditions, etc.  But now, as the spring renders us daft, once more they embrace the stirrings that led them to this process in the first place.

To help them center themselves, we would like to offer the preceding TED Talk (@TED Talk).  Author, educator, CEO of Entertainment Media Partners, former senior executive at Walt Disney Pictures (@DisneyPictures), and supervisor of some 25 films, Adam Leipzig (@adamleipzig) reminds us that we should not wait to we actualize our passions.  Through a sequence resembling a guided meditation, he encourages us to cement our dreams by considering five questions:  (1) Who are you?, (2) What do you do?, (3) Who do you do it for?, (4) What do those people want or need?, and (5) How do those people transform as a result?

One of the most difficult things that happens when you meet people for the first time is they ask you this question:  'So what do you do?' And, if you're like some of us, that's a really challenging question sometimes.  Particularly if you're in these moments where you're between things, or you're feeling vulnerable, or it isn't defined.  Or what you seem to do isn't what you really do, or what you're paid to do isn't how you define yourself.  So when people ask you this question, 'So what do you do?,' ... here's what you do:  you just say the very last thing you called out.  How what you do changes the people you do it for.  For example, you might say, 'I give kids awesome dreams.' ... Or you might say, 'I help people look and feel their best.' ... Or you might say, 'I help people get great work into the world.' ... And then, that little snippet that you just said becomes your personal elevator pitch.

What did you think of Leipzig's presentation? Please post in the comments section below.

Max D. Travels to NEMCON

We in IP pride ourselves on our efforts to break down the physical walls of the classroom, to encourage one another to seek our passions well beyond the boundaries of the IP building (and Kildonan, more generally).  In keeping with this philosophy, Max D. approached the IP team one day with an exciting request.  Inspired by Trey's visit to NAMM, he explained that he wanted to attend a convention himself.  He was not sure when or to where he would depart, but he knew that he wished to connect with individuals who were just as passionate about magic and illusion as he is.

The IP team worked closely with Max on the research process.  Together, we discussed a myriad of possible conventions, travel plans, ticket prices, and the professional magicians in attendance.  After weeks of careful consideration, Max decided that he wished to attend the New England Magicians Conference, Inc. (NEMCON), held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cromwell, CT from March 6th-7th.  These dates happened to coincide with the beginning of Kildonan's spring break, so after a quick performance with his chapter of the Society of Young Magicians (SYM), Max was off.

During his time at NEMCON, Max was able to explode his understanding of magic and illusion.  He noted fondly that Tom Mullica was a skilled emcee for his deft handling of humor and his ability to play up to diverse audiences.  He also explored the wares of a variety of vendors, and all told, he brought back many interesting "magic" samples to begin integrating into his routine.  Perhaps the central highlight of his experience, however, was his ability to interview the professional magicians in attendance:  Mullica, Jon Armstrong, and 17-year-old Ryan Lally.  In conducting these conversations, Max was not only able to practice his verbal conversations but also learn tips and seek inspiration from the greats in his field.  * For an example of his budding interview skills, please click here. *

Back in the IP building after spring break, Max described the experience as "mind-boggling."  When asked why, he had this to say:  "I feel like everything is coming together.  I know what I want to do now."

Any thoughts on NEMCON? Have you ever attended yourself, or would you recommend another magic convention to Max? Please post in the comments section below.

Description of 1st image:  Max at NEMCON with Roger Dreyer of NYC magic retailer Fantasma Magic (@FantasmaNYC).  Photo taken by Max's father.

Description of 2nd image:  The performers of NEMCON.  From left:  Stephen Bargatze, Rick Merrill, Ryan Lally, Jon Armstrong, and Tom Mullica.  Photo taken by Max's father.

Khaled: J.R.R. Tolkien and Children's Literature

In addition to producing content for his graphic novel and collaborating with Shane, Khaled has been exploring the theory behind fantasy, mythology and fairy tales.  This search has led him, inevitably, to English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor J. R. R. Tolkien.  K. did not jump into a re-reading of The Lord of the Rings, however.  Instead, he began researching an article by Maria Popova (@brainpicker) and a lesser-known work called Tales from the Perilous Realm, a collection of short pieces, fairy tales, and an essay called "On Fairy-Stories."

In this latter piece, Tolkien argues that there is no such thing as "children's literature" as we know it.  He writes:

Among those who still have enough wisdom not to think fairy-stories pernicious, the common opinion seems to be that there is a natural connexion between the minds of children and fairy-stories, of the same order as the connexion between children’s bodies and milk. I think this is an error; at best an error of false sentiment, and one that is therefore most often made by those who, for whatever private reason (such as childlessness), tend to think of children as a special kind of creature, almost a different race, rather than as normal, if immature, members of a particular family, and of the human family at large. (347)

Though he finds this sentiment stimulating, K. disagrees.  He presents his position by arguing that a certain dream logic is bastardized in children's literature.  According to him, other branches of literature honor this logic while that directed toward children distort it, introduce it haphazardly, and never explain its functioning.

What do you think? Do you side with Tolkien, with K., or with a position in-between? Please leave a comment below.  For your enjoyment, enjoy the following trailer to Tolkien's own fairy-story:  The Hobbit (The Battle of the Five Armies).

Sir Ken Robinson: "Bring on the learning revolution!" @ TED2010

Four or five years ago, English author, speaker and international advisor on education Sir Ken Robinson (@SirKenRobinson) delivered a TED Talk in which he criticized the linear, factory model of education.  In such a system, Robinson explained, educators/​schools employ static curricula to lead students to a pre-determined "output" or skills base.  He went onto to assert that the world needs a supportive, agricultural framework of education that supports children as they organically formulate answers to their own questions using a personalized curriculum.

We have moved closer to Robinson's conception over the past five years.  BUT...have we enacted the revolution that he demands?

But, you see, there are things we're enthralled to in education. Let me give you a couple of examples. One of them is the idea of linearity: that it starts here and you go through a track and if you do everything right, you will end up set for the rest of your life. Everybody who's spoken at TED has told us implicitly, or sometimes explicitly, a different story: that life is not linear; it's organic. We create our lives symbiotically as we explore our talents in relation to the circumstances they help to create for us. But, you know, we have become obsessed with this linear narrative. And probably the pinnacle for education is getting you to college. I think we are obsessed with getting people to college. Certain sorts of college. I don't mean you shouldn't go to college, but not everybody needs to go and not everybody needs to go now. Maybe they go later, not right away.

...

There's been a lot of talk about dreams over the course of this few days. And I wanted to just very quickly ... I was very struck by Natalie Merchant's songs last night, recovering old poems. I wanted to read you a quick, very short poem from W. B. Yeats, who some of you may know. He wrote this to his love, Maud Gonne, and he was bewailing the fact that he couldn't really give her what he thought she wanted from him. And he says, 'I've got something else, but it may not be for you.' He says this: 'Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths, Enwrought with gold and silver light, The blue and the dim and the dark cloths Of night and light and the half-light, I would spread the cloths under your feet: But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.' And every day, everywhere, our children spread their dreams beneath our feet. And we should tread softly.

For a post discussing Robinson's "RSA Animate:  Changing Education Paradigms," please click here.

For a post discussing Robinson's "How schools kill creativity," please click here. 

For a post discussing Robinson's "How to escape education's death valley," please click here.