Wednesdays were ‘Wonder Why’ days.
Glorious respite from my very unhappy third grade teacher, when I went instead one hallway down and an entire world away.
Mrs. Dalme’s room felt more like an art studio than a classroom—a retreat for exploring my imagination, for fearlessly pushing boundaries, for asking ‘why’ one more time, and for bringing into the world what I felt and saw inside.
Being creative, the act of creating, has always been where I feel most alive, most grateful.
The poet Jack Gilbert wrote, “I dream of lost vocabularies that might express some of what we no longer can.” The line has always resonated deeply with me: lost vocabularies… what a mysterious and beautiful concept. As it’s stayed with me over the years, I’ve realized, there are not only collections of words, but marks and symbols, sounds and shapes, meals, objects, buildings: the most expressive vocabularies everywhere around me, if I just open my eyes to them. Gardens, galleries, playgrounds, cities—there’s no limit to our ability to express ourselves.
Lost Vocabularies, this little corner of the internet, is dedicated to what I wish for everyone: the space to peer inward at what’s possible, to dream of new expressions, to create words and worlds alike where we’re able to truly be with ourselves and each other. It’s dedicated to the Mrs. Dalme’s of the world, empowering others to flourish in their creativity. And it’s dedicated to the artists and artisans who daily choose the joyful and challenging task of creating with intention and fearlessness, who walk their own path while clearing the way for others.
Cheers!
Christie