My journey to NAEA School for Art Leaders 2017 began just before NAEA New York 2017
via am email.
The email piqued my interest for SAL.
In New York I made a point to attend one of the SAL 2016 cohort
presentations which confirmed my desire to be a part of SAL.
Fast forward to the first week in July. I am packing for a week at Crystal Bridges
facing my fears and uncertainties as well as a fair amount of imposter
syndrome. To allay my fears I knew I had
to take a Robin McKinley book. It didn’t
really matter which one, although the cover for Chalice speaks to me with its
warm, comforting colors and William Morris feel to the border. In high school, I won a copy of "The Hero and
the Crown". After an enjoyable read, "The
Blue Sword" followed and I was hooked on Robin McKinley and her female “I’m not
ready to fill these shoes but here I am to push forward blindly” hero. I wanted to bring a McKinley book to SAL
because I felt (and still do) like an imposter.
Thinking of myself as an “Art Leader” was the same thing as the heroine
of The Blue Sword leading her fighters against unbeatable odds into a future
she could not envision. McKinley’s
female hero’s speak to me like few heroine’s.
I can associate with their feeling out of place, not fitting in, coping
with a new reality. Feeling like they do
not have the skill or know how for the job at hand. Yep!
Totally bringing a McKinley because I needed to have hope for that
heroine who for all their haplessness conquered the villain, accomplished the
deed and found themselves in the end.
