We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chelsey Bahe a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Chelsey thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
During back-to-school season one year, the parents in my community were raving about a local academically focused preschool. Children at this school literally sit at old fashioned desks and trace workbooks. Three and four year olds are expected to behave like seven and eight year olds. The parents who send their children to this school claimed it was “magical”, but in truth, there was nothing magical about it. The play advocate in me understands child development, so I was well aware that children of that age were meant to spend their time moving and playing, not sitting and tracing. Tracing a worksheet is just about the lowest level of learning there is. The meaningful (and magical) stuff happens when children are given long stretches of time to play, imagine, explore, invent, try, fail, and try again. I created a series of “Worksheets Are Not Magical” nature art pieces depicting the magical learning that occurs when children are at play outdoors.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’ve been a nanny for twenty years. Early in my career, I started to notice that many of the children in my care were growing up very different from the way I grew up. They had big, beautiful backyards but they never got to spend time out there. Their days were jam packed with classes, lessons, and sports, starting as toddlers, and there was very little time to play. I did all I could to learn more about this, and found that there was a whole movement dedicated to getting kids outside. I made outside play the focus and priority in my job, and soon, it was the focus and priority in my personal life as well.
One day I was walking in the woods. I picked up a stick and noticed it had an interesting curve. After playing around with that stick, and others, for a bit, I looked down and saw that I had created a picture with the sticks as an outline, and snow as the canvas. I came back many other days and created many other pictures.
When spring arrived and the snow melted, I thought I was done making art with sticks. I soon realized that I could use a stump as a canvas, and bark, pine needles, acorn caps, seeds, and leaves as my medium. I have now created over 7,000 pieces of ephemeral nature art. Sometimes my art lasts for just minutes, and other times, it stays for weeks. Many of my creations depict children playing in nature, with the hope that it will inspire others to get kids outside and let them play.
If I hadn’t made play a priority in my own life, I never would have realized I could make art with nature. Play is not a waste of time, for children, or adults.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My mission is to spread the message that play is enough for young children. Play is a vital component of not just “school readiness”, but readiness for all of life. Play isn’t just something to be done after the “important” stuff, it IS the important stuff.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
In the same way that parents would be best supporting their young children by prioritizing play, society would be best supporting artists, creatives, and a thriving creative ecosystem if we truly valued play.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chelseybahe.com/ and https://todaywewillplay.wordpress.com/
- Instagram: @chelseybahe
- Facebook: Take ‘Em Outside
- Twitter: @BaheChelsey