Sep 03 2008
Stopping to Admire the Sunflowers
The sky was extra beautiful this morning after a rain shower, so I grabbed my camera and took a little detour on my way to work to capture these bright sunflowers. The sunflower is the state flower of Kansas so these occupy a special place for us Kansans. This fall I have noticed that they are above average in number and beauty.
I am teaching a course in visual literacy this semester. We study elements of design that students can later apply to projects that they will be working on, whether is is a website, a printed promotional piece, a newsletter, or any other kind of work that requires knowledge of the visual arts. It is absolutely one of my favorite courses I teach. It teaches a completely new way of thinking for many of my students.
Today I encouraged the class to take time to stop and pay attention to subtle details that others usually overlook. I remember as an undergraduate the first time my professor challenged me to do this. I have not viewed the world through the same eyes ever since. Of course with the day to day hustle and bustle of life, I often forget to take time to look closely at details, but occasionally on days such as today if something is particularly interesting, I do remember to stop and really see the world around me.
After spending most of my summer working on very technical projects with little need for aesthetic consideration, it is nice to be back in my visual literacy class and thinking about visual communication once again.
2 responses so far
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Hi Bill, just read your response to Lauren O’Grady’s post on her blog, about teflon coating. I hope you don’t mind, but I have used parts of what you said “No thanks, I just had a banana” to my weekly class blog. I thought it was particularly powerful and I know my kids will love it. My blog is at http://www.techno6.globalstudent.org.au I was going to link your blog to the quote - so if you would rather I didn’t do that, then please let me know. By the way, I adore your sunflowers. We have a few sunflowers here in Hawkesdale, Australia, but they do not occur naturally. I have planted the odd one in my own garden as well, because they are such a happy flower, so thank you for both your wisdom and your beautiful pictures.
Hi Marg,
Most of the sunflowers featured here were the field variety planted by local farmers, but there are many of the wild variety here as well.
I’m glad you liked “No thanks, I just had a banana.” I really enjoyed the Sally Ogden talk where I first heard this approach.
I’ve been teaching it to my own kids, and there have been a couple of times in adult situations it would have come in handy for me if I had only thought to use it. (I should practice what I preach.)
Thanks for the link to your blog. I will visit there shortly.