“Today, we have a real playworker among us,” San Diego Civic Innovation Lab Strategist for Public Space and Ecology Ilisa Goldman said as I and five adult volunteers at the Pop Up Nature Play event in Balboa Park circled for a pre-play briefing. Standing among somewhat orderly piles of palm fronds, “tree cookies,” bamboo and pinecones, I realized thatContinue reading “Palms and Pop Ups”
Category Archives: How I’m Playing
Boston Biking (and Departing)
After ten wonderful years of playmaking and art-instigating in Boston, I’m moving to San Diego! In late October, I will start work as Manager of Exhibition Development at the New Children’s Museum: an innovative space that encourages creativity and critical thinking through transformative experiences with contemporary art. Though I am sad to say goodbye to theContinue reading “Boston Biking (and Departing)”
What did you learn today?
In the past four weeks, I have had the opportunity to facilitate two interesting learning experiences, both positioned as “how-to” sessions. My co-learners were: 32 adults who work as planners and strategists at creative agencies (at Planning-ness 2013), and Twelve 6th through 8th graders and three adults from the Brookwood K-8 School To prepare for both,Continue reading “What did you learn today?”
The Vanguard
I am honored to have been selected by Next City as part of the 2013 Vanguard class: a cohort of forty urban advocates under 40. At the June Vanguard conference, we’ll explore Cleveland and share our best practices for the transformation of the built environment. I can’t wait! For more on the conference and the otherContinue reading “The Vanguard”
Everything I Know About Play I Learned from My Cat
It’s no coincidence that cats and mice take the scalpel most when people (for instance, Panksepp 1998, 2001, 2007) research play and play deprivation, giving new meaning to the phrase “playing cat-and-mouse” (whomp-whomp). Cats, like humans, maintain some level of playfulness into adulthood. And perhaps the reason they dominate the internet is this: they areContinue reading “Everything I Know About Play I Learned from My Cat”
iPlay
At work, we’ve been experimenting with using the new Directr app to enhance adult experiences in children’s exhibits. The initial result, at least for my teen colleagues, has been a fast track to playfulness. But first, a little about Directr– Directr is an iPad and iPhone social video app that aims to go beyond sharingContinue reading “iPlay”
The Love of Dare Devil Supreme
The play that I remember as a child would not have had an observable narrative, but it certainly was continuous. On the playground the next day, we would pick up where we left off (more or less). We played on a big grassy field and the common theme was that we were almost always pretendingContinue reading “The Love of Dare Devil Supreme”
