Tip: don't offer an otter pop to somebody holding a coffee mug...

Mini blank canvases and our weapons of choice.

The morning of our 8 November 2011 workshop, I was praying that it wouldn't rain. Which is an extremely strange thought on my part. Rain in the desert is so beautifully delicate that it's only welcomed in the Tucson community (and loved by this dancing-in-the-rain girl.) But we had otter pops to give away, and (hilariously) our early morning dilemma centered around deciding on whether we should bother handing out these sugary, rainbow-infused popsicles.

Reflecting on it now, obsessing over such a minute detail of our day is laughable (especially when there are way more important events going on around us.) However, in that moment it was my life's conundrum. Which is fascinating to note. I think because our group devoted so much of ourselves to a "perfect" workshop that the thought of Mother Nature deciding otherwise was frustrating. But alas!...sun we did get (although it is finally autumn = cooler weather).

Marissa and students decorating!

On a more serious note: I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed myself during our (and all other) workshop(s). Each workshop was a great accomplishment and reflection of the Fall 2011 ARE 420 class and I loved witnessing the weeks of decision-making and preparation finally unfurl. As our workshop ended, I had a feeling of such fulfillment and excitement to see our piece finished.

I was impressed with the amount of people that either stopped to design or color a bottle cap or came by because they had seen a flyer (thanks Jake!), read the announcement in the School of Art Listerv (thanks Marissa!) or heard about it through other means. Listening to stories from previous ARE 420 students or reading about the dilemmas of getting enough public involvement, I was worried. But as I now recalling our workshop I was dazzled by the participation.

Tara drawing...a dinosaur?

It excited me to have the group of middle-school-aged students enthusiastically decorate (multiple) bottle caps. Running up and proudly showing off their designs made me smile the biggest of grins. And if we were to conduct this workshop again, I think it would be highly welcomed in a children-based community.

I feel like this was not only my group's accomplishment, but the accumulation of all we've learned and observed through readings, field trips, and hands-on-work. I want to thank our class for decorating bottle caps for 2 hours, thanks to Jenna for baking the cookies, and thanks to Aaron for chivalrously eating all the "broken" otter pops. Sorry for your stomach ache.

Some of the finished pieces (left) and Ana immortalizing our group on bottle caps (right)