Making a Difference
Testimonials from Former Students

e-Mail Received on 6-18-11
Subject: You were my teacher at Alan B. Shepard

Dear Mrs. Finkelstein,

I can't tell you how delighted I was to find your website!

Just last night, I had a conversation and someone asked me to recall the first person who had truly inspired me artistically and it was you. I have often thought of you in life but, it had never before occurred to me to contact you. You were on my mind all day and I thought I'd try to find a way to let you know. Thanks to the magic of Google, I found you on my very first try!

I am an actress, writer, comedian and a make-up artist living in Los Angeles. At different times in my life one or the other has been my primary concentration. Sometimes one more than the other but, I have always been able to be creative in one way or the other. Other than being a make-up artist, I never really was particularly gifted as a visual artist. Words have always been my true love but, I have very strong recollections of projects I did in your classes. I remember painting something that I thought would clearly rival Picasso and I remember a carving project that we did. I don't remember what it was that we carved out of but we made prints with it and I never forgot the feeling I got from creating something with my hands. I remember being delighted when I would see your metal wheeled cart in the hallway and knew I was going to get to make something that day.

More than that, I remember your joyous energy. You were kind and enthusiastic and you wore bright colors and unusual jewelry and I thought it was fantastic.

It's very easy when you are a child to think no one notices you and even easier when you are an adult. Often when I write, I go back and look through things from my past for inspiration. Tonight I was writing for an upcoming show and I found my autograph book from my 6th grade graduation I was looking through it, page after page of generic "Good Luck in Salk" when I came across this :

"Best Wishes for a very creative and successful future. Keep up the originality and excellent work shown in your ink classroom drawing and your figure sculpture. Fondly, Mrs. Finklestein."

Wow. I wonder if you can understand how much that meant to me in 6th grade and seeing it again tonight so many years later? You let me know I was seen and that was an enormous thing for me.

I just want to say thank you, very much. From the bottom of my heart.

Best,
Linda Bailey Walsh
______________

e-Mail received on 2-19-07
Dear Mrs. Finkelstein,

You probably don't remember me, but I was a student of yours at Alan B. Shepard elementary school, so very long ago. My name is Denise Martinez and I'm 42 years old now, a professional artist and more recently, I began working as an art teacher at a High School in Brooklyn, NY.

When I came across your site I had to email you since of all the teachers I had, it is you I remember most of all. When people ask me about how I became an artist, I always tell them about you. I tell them a story about you, when you came to Shepard, how you made art class different, how you helped me discover my own artistic talent, how you encouraged me. You impacted my life tremendously, and I never forgot you.

After High School I went to Pratt Institute, where I got my BFA. I then, lived and worked abroad as an artist for almost 20 years. A few years ago, I decided to return to the USA. To facilitate this move, I joined the NYC teaching fellows program and am in my second year of teaching. I continue to make art and exhibit and am finishing my masters of education at Brooklyn College.

When I came across your web site, I was pleasantly surprised to see your beautiful photographs and learn that you were alive, well and still making your art.

All the best wishes and much thanks,

Denise Martinez

My Reply :
Dear Denise,

Your email moved me to tears when I read it and to tears a few more times as I read it out loud to a few close friends and my family.

Of course, I remember you, with your dark hair and your enthusiasm. I'm thinking you were in 5th grade, my first year at Shepard. Were you not in the same grade as C... F... and in the class that I went up to Stokes with my first year? Then there was the group that came over my house at the end of school with a Carvel cake that said "Feel the Texture" or "Mrs. Texture." Were you part of that?

I appreciate your taking the time to write so beautifully, your acknowledgment of the difference I made for you, updating me somewhat on your doings. I'd love to hear more about your art. What kind of art are you doing/have you done? Where have you exhibited? Do you have any works, or a sampling to be seen, online?

Also, I'd love your permission to, perhaps put your letter on my site, and to share it with subscribers to PICTURE TO PONDER, my twice-weekly photo ezine. And if you have any work on the web I'd love to link to it.

I look forward to hearing back from you.

With great appreciation,

Sheila - We can move to first name. :)

From Denise - 2-22-07:
Dear Sheila (OK, that feels weird),

Wow, you have an amazing memory. Yes, I was in that class with C... F... and the group you went to Stokes with (I think I even still have some photographs of that around somewhere) and with the Carvel cake.

"Feel the texture" was definitely your catch phrase for us, but you know, it worked! I'm teaching art to children with special needs in a high school in Brooklyn now. It is a regular high school and I teach both self contained special education classes as well as inclusion classes (mixed general ed and special ed). Many have minor learning disabilities and most are classified as emotionally disturbed. I realize how important it is for me to both expose my students to new things as well as activate their senses as much as possible. You would laugh to know how often I hear myself telling my students to "feel the texture".

At this time I don't have a real website. As I wrote, I had been living abroad for 20 years and when I returned to the USA (just two years ago) I hit the ground running and have been overwhelmed with work and school. [We'll look forward to the time that Denise does have a site up. She did send me a little preview and it's great. It includes 5' plus watercolors!]

Stay well.

ciao,
Denise