Mid 20th century
Artist and Educator
“Children instinctively have the knowledge of our world. It amazes me, what a child can do with one stroke. The art medium provides children with a universal language, through which they can express ideas and feelings that they may find difficult to convey in words. Through manipulation of basic materials, children develop confidence, courage, and creative spirit. People, especially parents, must be brought to the realization that art should become part of everyone’s experience to develop their greatest capability. A child’s creativity and perception of the world must be encouraged. An adult may look at a child’s painting and say, ‘I never saw a purple cow.’ When the child proudly holds it up. Of course, the child hasn’t either, but was looking with imagination. An understanding parent or teacher will tell the child, ‘that’s the most beautiful cow I’ve ever seen!’ ”
“My philosophy of art is that the fundamental principles of art can be found in the artwork of a two-year-old, work which the child does instinctively.”
Temima Gezari organized international exhibits of children’s art annually from 1943 to 2004. “First, the children learn that their work is accepted. We respect and appreciate their effort. With this acceptance they can go on to the exhibition and is proud to see their creation displayed. They look at other children’s work and learn that there are many ways of expressing the same subject. They learn to appreciate the efforts of htheir peers. Teachers see how other teachers have utilized the art medium to motivate their students. This expands children’s knowledge, and they go on to the next step in their development. Have you ever seen the absorbed concentration in children’s faces when they are permitted to do the creative work they love? There is intensity and involvement, no bribe is necessary.”
“Prizes in art are basically destructive and self-defeating. The winner’s gratification is gained at the price of the rejection of those who failed. To rule that their best isn’t good enough is to inflict needless damage on their self-esteem. I reject the argument that contests provide incentive for productivity.”
“No coloring books!! The young children who learn to please their elders by staying inside the lines of coloring book drawings, grow up to be a followers, not leaders. This is the beginning of conformity. The seeds of a mentality that accepts without questioning.”
“What I have done is to demonstrate my philosophy of art, that the fundamental principles of art can be found in the world of a two-year-old… work which the child does instinctively.”
“The art medium provides children with a universal language, through which they can express ideas and feelings that they may find difficult to convey in words. Through manipulation of basic materials, children develop confidence, courage, and creative spirit. People, especially parents, must be brought to the realization that art should become part of everyone’s experience to develop their greatest capability.” “A child’s creativity and perception of the world must be encouraged. An adult may look at a child’s painting and say,” I never saw a purple cow.” When the child proudly holds it up. Of course, the child hasn’t either, but was looking with imagination. An understanding parent or teacher will tell the child, “that’s the most beautiful cow I’ve ever seen!”
Temima Gezari has organized international exhibits of children’s art annually since 1943. “First, the child learns that his work is accepted. We respect and appreciate his effort. With this acceptance he can go on to the exhibition and is proud to see his creation displayed. He looks at other children’s work and learns that there are many ways of expressing the same subject. He learns to appreciate the efforts of his peers. Teachers see how other teachers have utilized the art medium to motivate their students. This expands their knowledge, and they go on to the next step in their development.
“The young child who learns to please his elders by staying inside the lines of coloring book drawings, grows up to be a follower, not a leader. This is the beginning of conformity. The seeds of a mentality that accepts without questioning.”