You've Got Mail!

One never fully knows the impact we have on others.

This year, Fan Mail has become an intentional routine to regularly connect students currently taking art class with the broader school community. A mailbox, forms, and writing utensils in the hallway outside the art room door and next to work on display, offers passerby the ability to write how the artwork impacted them to be shared later with the artist when the work is taken down.

As creators, receiving Fan Mail is a confidence booster to keep creating and sharing their works. My students may never be professional artists, but they will make contributions to future generations. What books will they write that forever inspire someone's world view? What medical advancements will they develop to improve our collective health? What technology will they create to connect our wider world? The fan mail they receive now is a glimpse into how far their reach may go, and to keep putting their ideas out into the world.

As consumers, writing Fan Mail is a reminder to support people who are doing good work in your community. In a time where anonymous or overly critical feedback is pervasive, we are learning to look for the good and encourage them to keep going.