Over a year ago, a challenge was presented to the teachers of the nursery school: What could
our school do to honor and celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the JCC and our school, while
simultaneously making the remarkable work of our children visible to a larger audience? The
answer seemed simple: create an art show to be held in The Laurie M. Tisch Gallery. The actual
process of planning and implementing this show proved to be complex and arduous, but the work
that you see before you is truly a labor of love, reflecting our strongly held belief in the capabilities
and potential of all children.
The work that we have chosen to include in this show celebrates the creative energy and inspired
imagination of every child in our program. Each piece is collaborative in nature, reflecting the
unique voice of each child within the larger context of our classroom communities. They are
small pieces of larger studies which evolved over a period of time, and were the outgrowth of the
children’s interests and investigations. While listening to the children, and encouraging them to
listen to each other, the teachers were able to scaffold their interests and support their process of
discovery and creation. In addition, by providing interesting and thought-provoking materials, and
allowing the children extended periods of time to explore them, the children were able to develop
specific skills and competencies. The children also developed many problem solving skills and social
strategies, as they fused their individual ideas into a joint artistic vision.
The works in this show represent a diverse mosaic. When you stand close to them you can see the
unique gifts of each child. When you step a little further back you can see that each small part
contributes to a greater whole. It is only by looking at each work from both perspectives that one
can fully understand and appreciate our school community.
It is with great pride and respect that we present the work of the children of The Saul and Carole
Zabar Nursery School.
Gallery exhibitions made possible in part with a generous grant from the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.
