Lizette Greco

Perhaps my maps only take me

where I want to go and nowhere else.

Perhaps drawing is the exercise,

and perhaps,

like Sara Fanelli's maps of my head,

or my home,

You can say I'm obsessed with fonts, lettering, words, and collaging all of it. For awhile now, I've been making letter banners for friends and family. Instead of a card, I pick a frase or greeting. These letters have made their way into my freezer paper printing for shirts, classroom walls, march signs. Grateful for the inspiration so many artists have provided with these fonts.

February 2023 - I designed and cut this Chinese paper cutout for my school community. Many of my students saw me working on it and felt inspired too. They saw it took me several days to finish this project, a labor of love. I wanted to include the word 加油 in it to support and encourage my community at work. Teaching is not an easy job. Like Jen @jtknoxroxs says, "Your talents are secondary. Show up in spaces where you can manifest care and radical joy." And I try to do just that.

Diseñé y corté este papel picado Chino para la comunidad de my escuela. Muchos de mis estudiantes me vieron trabajando en ello y se sintieron inspirados también. Vieron que me tomó varios días terminar este proyecto, hecho con cariño. Quise incluir las palabras 加油 en esto para mostrar apoyo y alentar a mi comunidad en el trabajo. Enseñar no es un labor fácil. Como dice Jen @jtknoxroxs, “Tus talentos son secundarios. Preséntate en espacios donde puedes demostrar cariño y alegría radical”. Y eso es lo que trato de hacer.

As much as possible, I try to collect natural and recycled materials that are sustainable to use in my work, such as second hand clothing for textile projects. At our school makerlab, I try to do the same including as much natural materials and bits that can be recycled. For years, my family has collected the plastic bits that we consume in our daily lives. Those who have visited our home would remember our jar collections of bottle caps, pull tabs, corks, and other bits accumulated through the years.

At first, I proudly presented these trophies of sorts, partly, to indicate my commitment to sustainability and caring for our environment. How? By building a visible reminder of how much we consume, how packaging is toxic, and how we can use those pieces for something else.

In the last few years, I've taken some of those collections to school, and invited my students (who were amazed by it) to make use of this collection by recycling these bits into their projects as wheels, knobs, etc. I realized soon enough that we were tinkering with materials that would end up gooped together with glue in a landfill, not recycled unless we took our projects apart.

Collecting specimens around campus. Observing, paying attention to details. Digging in the dirt. Creating mini environments. Sketching details. Documenting. Putting together a mini exhibit in the end, just because we had so much to share.

Back in the Maker Lab this year, sorting out tools into the peg wall and making sure we have access to what we need. Two years ago, I was handed a brand new makerlab that had to be abandoned during remote learning and turned into a regular classroom when we came back on campus with smaller grade pods. This year is yet again different, since the lab also shares space with Art (while their room is used for other purposes). Remembering and revisiting the basics:

1. Place all basic writing tools and materials in the same general area, low enough for lower grades to have access to them (all sorts of pens, paper clips, tape, staplers, tape dispensers, glue, papers, etc.)

2. Hang some of the basic maker tools used for specific projects. An assortment of screwdrivers, pliers, saws, etc. visible on the wall, remind us of the possibilities.

3. Label many things, especially tools kids are unfamiliar with, so they can learn to use them, ask for them by name, and name them during presentations as well.

4. Drawers with tools and materials only available when they are labeled. Label = access

Hand-cut letters for banners. Choosing type based on personalities, hobbies, themes, etc. I really enjoy customizing these.