(Need Feedback!) Keith Haring, American Graffiti & Pop Artist

[Ellen Pham]

It began with the baby, crawling innocently across the walls of New York's subway stations. Keith Haring first made a name for himself in the early 1980's filling every blank poster-frame in the city's sprawling subway system with barking dogs, flying saucers, rubbery dancers-and that radiant baby.

"The reason that the 'baby' has become my logo or signature is that it is the purest and most positive experience of human existence," wrote Haring in his journal in 1986. "Children are color-blind and still free of all the complications, greed and hatred that will slowly be instilled in them through life."

Haring gave art lessons and painted murals with children of all ages and backgrounds. "Whatever else I am," he mused in a 1987 journal entry, " I'm sure I, at least, have been a good companion to a lot of children and maybe have touched their lives in a way that will be passed on through time, and taught them a kind of simple lesson of sharing and caring."

Keith Haring died of complications from AIDS in 1990. He was 31 years old.
- Adapted from Keith's Kids, Andrea Codrington


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	Flip Book

Download Keith Haring Coloring Pages!

[Ellen Pham]

Thanks Mike, you guys are so generous. Ok, I will take the plunge and post the link to the site, but remember, it really, really is not ready yet! When I launch, all my blues will match, the images in my tables will be of uniform size... and I hope each post will be compelling at least to someone else besides me! :D

Pennies for a Rainy Day

I think my target audience is 7 yrs to 14 yrs old... and though learning some English might be a side benefit, the main focus is to provide engaging educational content, with a real, live teacher at the other end who wants to help you learn about whatever you are interested in... something like that : )

I also hope to build towards every student seeing at least their continent represented in the materials. Don't be shy with the feedback- I am not so attached to anything that I can't hear criticism or bear to change it :D. (Don't worry, this is one area in which I am not overly sensitive!)

[Ellen Pham]

Thank you, thank you, Skip! With us on the trail... :))))) I am thinking this post needs a little more context for the artist, but as a new film is coming out on him, it seems his old interview videos have been shut down, so all I can find is the trailer for the movie... anyway, looks like a great movie.

[Mike]

Wondering if a picture board of some sort might help?

[Skip Zilla]

Ellen! What a wonderful project!

You are so right: "Communicating with someone when you don't have much shared language is a bit different in focus than teaching a language...." And you, my friend, are perfect for leading this endeavor.

Now, I'll be on the lookout for graphic and other pre-verbal resources which may be useful to the community of language learners who you have in mind to join you.

Great news!

[Ellen Pham]

Hi Everyone,

This is an example of what a post might look like in my new adventure, Pennies (free school for children around the world...) I think at most my "students" will be English language learners, and perhaps not speak/read English at all. Communicating with someone when you don't have much shared language is a bit different in focus than teaching a language, and for me personally, is a more compelling and interesting endeavor (though they go hand-in-hand.) It is like trying to get to the crux of communication, which fascinates and delights me when I feel it happening : ).

Anyway, am I being effective? Enough English to be engaging to someone who understands the language, while enough interesting material still being accessible to a non-English speaker?