Rest in Peace, Robert Rauschenberg and Sally Smith

Rauschenberg and me, 1999, (with Sally Smith in the background)

This week has been a sad one. Monday, I found out that artist Robert Rauschenberg, an internationally acclaimed artist known as one of the founders of the pop art movement, passed away at the age of 82. Most would say that was ripe old age, and expected. I can only hope to live such a life, and such a productive one as well. As I began to reminisce, I also discovered that Sally Smith passed away in December of 2007. Sally Smith basically revolutionized the education of learning disabled students with her "club" themed approach to education.

I was first introduced to Raushcenberg in my Art History classes as an undergraduate, learning about his 'combines'. I remember clearly the day our 3D Design professor, Dickie Wagner, played a videotape, Painters' Painting, while we were working on our own constructions in class. His interview made an impression on me because it seemed so sincere, and he talked about making art with such passion.

Later, in 1999 as a teacher at Brother Martin High School, I received an award. As one of 23 winners chosen from teachers across the country, I attended a workshop sponsored by the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. We spent the day with Rauschenberg, and toured the Lab School of Washington, D.C. (founded by Sally Smith0, and were given a private reception at the home gallery and private collection of Robert and Jane Meyerhoff. In addition, we received a hand-signed poster and an original certificate created by Rauschenberg for the workshop and the Lab School. It was probably one of the most incredible events of my life, and I was so lucky to share it with a very good friend of mine, Heidi Poche'.

He said many interesting things that day, that the art history books never mentioned. He told us that he was in his forties before he found out that he had dyslexia, and up until then he thought he was stupid for not being able to read. After all, that's what everyone told him. Everyone except his art teachers. So he vowed that he would one day do something to recognize other art teachers who had gone out of their way to reach their students. The award and the event was his way of appreciating everything we do to help our students learn.

A few of the other things that he said has always stuck with me. He said that art was such a joy for him to create. He didn't understand why other artists felt like it was work. He also didn't understand why other artists couldn't come up with ideas for their artwork. He felt like there was so much in his head, so many ideas, that he feared he would never finish them all.

Boy, I surely do agree!