Page 47 of Tanner

Natalia calls out, “I could do that!”

I smile, remembering my first night with Tanner when I created a similar piece. “You can. What would you say if I told you this painting sold for a hundred and forty million dollars back in 2006?”

The entire class gasps.

“No way!” Quinton says.

I laugh. “Yep, it sure did.” I change the slide. “What about this?”

The kids stare at the picture of a piece of hair lying vertically, covered with clear tape. Through the tape, the artist’s fingerprints show slightly.

Finally, Nate speaks up. “What is that?”

“It’s art!” I say with a slight inflection to my voice.

“How is that art?” Malik speaks up.

“Well, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art thought it was worth owning in their collection. This piece is by Gabriel Orozco, Untitled.”

“It’s untitled because it’s tape and a piece of hair. Why would they want to own that? Please don’t tell me that’s worth millions,” Quinton says.

“I actually don’t know the value of this, but I do know that some of his pieces are valued at two to three hundred thousand.”

“That’s it. I’m becoming an artist,” Nate yells out, dropping his pencil on the table in a drop the mic moment.

The entire class laughs.

“Sorry, Nate. Not all artists are paid like that. Some amazing artists only get seen when they paint on the sides of buildings.”

“Like the graffiti that’s painted outside,” Malik says.

“Exactly, like that graffiti. Don’t you think those pieces took more talent than these?”

The entire class agrees.

“And do you think that artist made a dime to paint that?”

They all shake their heads.

“So then, why are all of these art supplies on our table?” Quinton asks.

“I want you all to think outside the box. Be as creative as you possibly can by not using what you think are the typical art rules. You see these pieces making big money, yet the beautiful pieces outside will probably be painted over and forgotten by next month. I want you to create something, anything, that is uniquely you, and then we’ll hang them around the room and judge them based on creativity and thinking outside the box. You can use anything you see in front of you. The only rule is, you have to be different.”

The excitement in the kids’ eyes lights my own artistic abilities ablaze. I see the fire I felt when I was painting at Tanner’s reflected back at me. I never truly understood art, but that’s because I didn’t understand the passion behind it.

Thanks to Tanner, now, I do.

* * *

Seeing my students create is one of the best moments I’ve had as a teacher. The pride they show as they hang their art around the room makes every day I struggle to break through to them totally worth it.

After bus duty and when the last student is on their way home, I head back up to my classroom. Where, earlier, I was hesitant to call Tanner, now, I’m more than sure.

“Sweet Harper,” he croons, and I’m wondering why the hell I waited so long to call him. “I was wondering when you’d call me again.”

“You know, you could have called me,” I tease.

“Ball’s in your court. You said it yourself; you’re just coming off a relationship. I don’t want to rush you.” His words are sincere.