CREATE GOOD KARMA: HELP THIS BROOKLYN ARTS 'N CULTURE BLOGGER FIND HER NEXT WORK OPPORTUNITY!

Dear Friends,

I hope this note finds you well and enjoying Spring! I am excited to be celebrating the 10th year of my blog, Creative Times.

If, after taking a look at the info below, you have an idea of someone who you think I should meet, or an opportunity I should know about, please send me an email. I value your creative input!

I am looking for part time work close to my home in Carroll Gardens. Ideally, it would be a bike ride or short subway ride away.

I would love a job that allows me to use some combination of these talents:

• Community- and team-building
• Writing/researching/promoting the arts and culture scene in NY
• Connecting people of different generations
• Facilitating hands-on, interactive learning experiences

Specific settings that appeal to me are ones which center around these themes:

• Arts- and culture- related (especially the performing arts!)
• Literature/books (especially children's books!)
• Local community work
• The natural environment (e.g. parks and gardens)

Here's a little bit about my background: I'm a seasoned, Bank Street-trained educator and Brooklyn-based arts and culture writer with a history of providing hands-on, inquiry- and play-based learning experiences in school, nonprofit, and museum settings, including The Brooklyn Museum, The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, and The Brooklyn Children's Museum.

Currently, I am a docent in the Education Department at The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. There, I welcome parents, caregivers, tourists, and children into The Fragrance Garden and help them connect to opportunities to learn about the natural world. I also help run children's activities for members-only and special events. I would like to do similar work in a similar setting.

My appreciation of the rich cultural landscapes of Brooklyn and Manhattan is reflected in my work as Editor-In-Chief of the blog Creative Times. Now in its tenth year, Creative Times shines the spotlight on the performances and projects of New York's literary, performing, and visual artists and cultural institutions.

Here are some sample work projects:

• Collaborated with a team of 25 organizers to plan and oversee GO, a historic borough-wide open studio weekend designed to foster personal exchange between 1700 Brooklyn artists, their communities, and The Brooklyn Museum. Resulted in 147,000 studio visits in a single weekend.

• Conceptualized and Co-produced The Brooklyn Blogfest, an annual event for 300 bloggers, journalists, and community leaders. Recruited and managed 30-person volunteer staff. Organized monthly, neighborhood-based gatherings of Brooklyn bloggers.

• Consulted with Bank Street College of Education to use social and new media platforms to publicize alumni events; galvanize alumni activity on LinkedIn group and Twitter accounts; and strategize content areas and recruitment of writers for alumni blog.

• Managed PlayNet, a grant-funded project at The Brooklyn Children's Museum designed to increase educators', parents’, and caretakers’ understanding of play and capacity to facilitate play with children.

Thanks so much for your support! Please feel free to email me with questions or ideas.

How to Contact Me

Eleanor Traubman
ETraubman@gmail.com
creativetimes.blogsgpot.com

IT STARTED WITH AN IMAGE: MY ADVENTURES AT THE BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDENS

The image that led me to The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

A little more than a year ago, I kept getting images in my mind of flowers, plants and trees, and of me being surrounded by these things.

During that time, I found a greeting card (pictured above) which perfectly captured the feeling of what I wanted to be around.  Putting the card on my desk where I could see it each day seemed easier than going through all the steps of making a vision board.  So I just let the image stay there for a good long time so it could stay in my consciousness.

As the days passed with the garden-themed card on my desk, I started thinking about the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, and decided to go up there during the the weekend of the Sakura Matsuri cherry blossom festival.  It was a total madhouse, just thick with the bodies of thousands of people.  I made my way into the Visitor's Center where I happened to run into BBG's Director of Visitor Services and Volunteers, Lou Cesario.  He was an affable, down-to-earth guy with a fun guitar tattoo and stories of growing up in a big, Italian family.

I told him that I was interested in being part of the BBG, and he sent me online to apply to be a volunteer.

I was recruited to serve as a docent in the Education Department, and was lucky enough to be trained by two fantastic women - Shaquana Boykin and Ashley Gamell. 

Fast forward a year, and I am still in my post as an education docent, helping children, parents, educators and caregivers interact with all the mystery and magic of The Fragrance Garden, a section of the BBG which is set up so that everything in it can be smelled or touched.  After arriving in the morning, we docents set up several stations - a worm bin so that people can learn about composting (they can even hold the worms!); a story mat full of picture books about the natural environment; and one or two information tables full of objects which relate to the theme of the week and which the children can explore in a hands-on fashion. 

The information table has been a home to all kinds of interesting things - seeds of a variety of  shapes and sizes; nests; gourds; plants; objects related to pollinators.  We almost always have a scavenger hunt where children can check off things they find in the garden.  Sometimes, they get to pot up plants.  It's so rewarding to see young people, including toddlers, as well as adults, make a connection, their very own personal connection, with the natural environment. 

Aside from serving in my post as a docent, I've also had a blast helping to run children's science and art activities as the members-only and special events of the BBG.  Last spring, hundreds of young people came and decorated cardboard top hats with every kind of craft supply under the sun.  Feathers, ribbons, and pom poms were flying everywhere that day, and I could see the NY Times fashion photographer Bill Cunningham a few feet away, snapping photos of the children and the hats.

There's such a positive vibe at the BBG, and everyone - staff, volunteers, and visitors - are so friendly, that it's hard to NOT feel good while you are there.

I've particularly enjoyed my interactions with President Emeritus Betty Scholtz, who has been at the gardens for 50-plus years.  She comes by car service almost every day, gets around on a walker, and is extremely sharp and interesting. She is my inspiration!

I love hearing behind the scenes stories of how people let their pets loose here (they are not supposed to), and tales of how raccoons sneak into places they are not supposed to be and end up scaring people.  I keep thinking about what a great movie that would make, a movie about how the animals take over the gardens at night, have dance parties in The Palm House, read books in the library, and have relay races on the Cherry Esplanade.

This year, there are two special things happening at the BBG: They are celebrating the 100th year of The Children's Garden and they are receiving an honorary medal from The Institute of Museum and Library Services. The award will be presented by Michelle Obama at The White House.

I look forward to many more years of adventures and friendships at the BBG, and am glad I let that image guide me to this very special, important, and magical place.

MEETING BETTE SCHOLTZ, PRESIDENT EMERITUS OF BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN

On my first day as a volunteer docent at the stunning Brooklyn Botanic Garden, I had the pleasure of meeting the Garden's President Emeritus, Betty Scholtz.

Bette, who has been with the BBG for 53 years, has her own office there and is still carrying on good and important work.

While eating lunch together in the staff dining room, Bette told me wonderful stories of her history both at the BBG and as a resident of Brooklyn. 

She's the kind of person I want to be both now and at her age:  sharp as a tack, vibrant, and totally dedicated to providing positive experiences for young people in the natural environment.

When I went to take this photo of her during her coffee break, she raised her mug and brightly exclaimed "Cheers!"

Here's some info the BBG shared about Bette on the 50th anniversary of her time there:

On November 29, 2010, Elizabeth Scholtz, BBG's Director Emeritus, celebrated 50 years of outstanding service to the Garden. For half a century, Betty has been a vital resource for staff, volunteers, and visitors, who treasure her vast knowledge of horticulture and the good humor for which she is famed. Betty is a peerless ambassador and advocate for public gardens and horticultural education throughout the world. She has led over 100 botanical tour groups to 46 countries for BBG since 1966 and has mentored several generations of North American public garden professionals.

Born in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1921, Betty received a Bachelor of Science in botany and zoology from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. After a distinguished career in medical research in Cape Town and Boston, she joined the staff of BBG in 1960 as head of Adult Education. She eventually became director of the Garden and also served as its first vice president. Under Betty’s watch, BBG weathered the city government’s bankruptcy, grew the Adult Education program from 1,100 over 4,000 students, and improved the Garden’s collections.

Betty's unfailingly positive outlook on life, keen interest in people—especially in young people—and overarching love for gardens continue to inspire everyone she meets.

NOT TO BE MISSED: LUSH, A BOOGALOO & LATIN SOUL DANCE PARTY AT BBG ON FEBRUARY 10

 

Friday, February 10 | 8 p.m.–Midnight | BBG Palm House

An evening celebrating Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s collection of over 6,000 tropical orchids

• Dance to NYC’s best boogaloo band, Spanglish Fly
• Behold opulent orchids
• Savor icy Mexican fruit paletas by La Newyorkina, bite-sized delicacies by Purple Yam restaurant, Latin-inspired confections by Tumbador Chocolate, traditional tastes from Mexico by Chavela’s, Korean nibbles from Moim restaurant, and more tropical treats by neighborhood food mavens
• Groove to classic 45s spun by WFMU’s Mr. Fine Wine and DJ Turmix
• Pose for leaf portraits by Aaron Birk
• Enjoy an open bar of fragrant juices and cocktail concoctions
• Hang behind the scenes with orchid curator Dave Horak

  Schedule

8:00–9:15	Behind-the-scenes tours of BBG’s orchid collection with curator Dave Horak
8:00–9:15	Leaf silhouettes with Aaron Birk
8:00–9:15	Latin rhythms from Barcelona’s own DJ Turmix
9:15–10:30	Special live performance by NYC’s Spanglish Fly
10:30–Midnight	Classic 45s spun by WFMU’s Mr. Fine Wine

Open bar and exquisite eats all through the night
For more info: http://www.bbg.org/visit/event/lush//

Purchase Tickets

Tickets are $65 and available through brownpapertickets.com.

BROOKLYN BLOGGERS GATHER AT THE BOTANIC GARDENS

Chris Kruessling, author and photographer of the blog Flatbush Gardener, did an amazing job of organizing this month's gathering of Brooklyn Bloggers.

We gathered at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, first to hang out in the outdoor cafe.

We moved to the Member's Room of the Lab & Admin Building, where staff members Elizabeth Peters and Dave Allen talked about the history and current activities of BBG.

After our traditional Shout Out, where each blogger introduces him or herself, a BBG tour guide gave us a generous trip around the gardens.

What a gorgeous day for this event!

Photo Credit: Chris of Flatbush Gardener