Elementary school is my least favorite memory. I was a very good student and had some really great friends, but I really didn't like my school, and with only a couple of exceptions, I didn't like my teachers. I was very bored in class. I had come from a really good pre-school and kindergarten, and knew from the first day of the eight years I spent in elementary school that this place was different. It was very confining and not conducive to quick learners who need to be fed ideas at a rapid rate, like me. Fortunately, all that changed with high school, which I loved, and college, which I loved even more. But it's the "Old School" memories that Gothic Arches wants us to depict this week, and to me, the elementary years define "old school".
Saturday was my favorite day of the week in my old school days. There was a routine: I had art classes at the museum with some really good teachers from 9 AM to Noon, I'd have lunch with my mom, and then I was free for the rest of the day. On rainy days and on days when there was no one else to play with, I'd spend hours in my room drawing, cutting, pasting, painting and hand-stitching doll clothes. For two hours on Saturday, I was allowed to watch TV. Maybe it was a reaction to the inflexible rules and lack of imagination at school, but whenever possible, I'd spend those two hours watching as many of the, then new, black and white Japanese horror films like "Godzilla". At the time, I never really realized that they were in black and white. To my imagination, the blood was red and the monster was green! It is my elementary school that I remember in black and white!
So in honor of those days, I have pieced together my black-and-white school room with the addition of a possible in-color scene from a make-believe movie: "The Attack of the Killer Apple!" (Japanese horror film titles always ended with exclamation points!). The school room image is from one of my own books and the apple, words and letters are from a Chinese children's flash card. I just happened to pick up a couple of boxes of these last week at the Chinese New Year celebration I attended at our beautiful Chinese Cultural Center. I used some artistic license: It isn't Japanese, I know, but it's as close as I could get since the Matsuri celebration isn't until this weekend, where hopefully I can pick up some Japanese cards, as well. The base is scrapbooking paper and for the hand-written part, I used a white Sakura gelly roll pen.
This was lots of fun, and therapeutic! It helped me turn a not-so-great memory into a terrific one! Hope all your memories are wonderful!
Oh Barbara, this is fab!! I laughed out loud when I saw your arch... and I love your story. Mine is green - yuck!! Funny that this challenge brought back so many memories, yet I enjoyed the taking part!! :-) xoxoxo
Posted by: Rosie | February 18, 2008 at 02:57 PM
fabulous arch, love the black&white and red!!
Posted by: femmy | February 18, 2008 at 03:10 PM
Barbara
your arch is fantastic and it was interesting to read about your childhood and school days. thank you for your comments about my Dad. It has been a hard month as this is our second birthday without him....and since my b-day is in February we had a large celebration all month! Sending hugs to you for tomorrow!!!
Posted by: Nancy Maxwell James | February 18, 2008 at 04:13 PM
This is great. I hated primary school too - similar reasons.
Posted by: Paula Hewitt | February 18, 2008 at 05:07 PM
Wow! This is great!
Posted by: Caryl | February 18, 2008 at 05:45 PM
Barbara there is always such a surprise in your artwork. Fantastic Arch.
Posted by: Barbara | February 18, 2008 at 06:58 PM
I love your arch and your story.
Posted by: Susan | February 18, 2008 at 07:06 PM
I loved reading your "story" and your arch is wonderful..
Posted by: Elaine | February 18, 2008 at 07:06 PM
I love what you did with this arch, very surprising. Beautiful.
Posted by: Marina | February 18, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Boah wow Barbara this is a stunning arch. Love this colors and images. Nice. Awesome.
Posted by: Sandy | February 18, 2008 at 10:38 PM
What a great story and fabulous arch! I love the colors.
Posted by: Linda | February 18, 2008 at 10:45 PM
What a uniquely beautiful "old school' arch! Well done!!
Posted by: Gayle Page-Robak | February 18, 2008 at 10:55 PM
Really unique arch....love it!
Posted by: Donna | February 19, 2008 at 12:00 AM
It's a very beautiful arch, lovely
Posted by: filetta | February 19, 2008 at 12:40 AM
This is stunning.
Posted by: Hermine | February 19, 2008 at 01:15 AM
This is wonderful! Love it!
Debby
Posted by: debby | February 19, 2008 at 05:02 AM
fantastic !
absolutely gorgeous, really !!!!!!!
Posted by: Francoise | February 19, 2008 at 07:37 AM
Gorgeous! Very strong arch love the images you used
Posted by: Nellie | February 19, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Oh Barbary, thanks for sharing your wonderful memories of your school days. The story of the Japanese films had me laughing out loud!! I can remember them, too!!
Love the graphic arch to go with it all!
Posted by: Frieda Oxenham | February 19, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Fantastic idea, looks beautiful.
Posted by: Silvia | February 21, 2008 at 04:15 PM