Wally has spent 40 years developing and field-testing his methods in classrooms and museums. The focus of these methods is on helping others to make that primal connection of experiencing a work of art.
Friend and former colleague, Dr. Sandra Kay saw the need to capture Wally’s pied piper magic in an educational documentary that could be shared in classrooms and living rooms everywhere. She took on the role of creative team leader to gather the massive grass roots enthusiasm for Wally’s work to produce the film “Engaging the Imagination: Wally’s way” as a tool for learners and educators alike.
ENGAGING THE IMAGINATION: WALLY’S WAY – FILM TRAILER
With the encouragement early on of Eliot Eisner, Maxine Greene, & Al Hurwitz, capturing the joy of viewing art with one’s own imagination and Wally’s method of “Making a heart connection with art”, this documentary would provide an introduction to abstract sculpture that invites new audiences to become active participants in the conversation the artist began. With an interdisciplinary Advisory Council and careful field research, the creative adventure began.
Engaging the Imagination: Wally’s Way is a not-for-profit educational documentary film that models some of the creative processes of being an audience. Using interactive methods that sharpen perceptions and seek emotional responses, artist and art educator Wally McGuire provides an entry for children and adults to become participants in the conversation the artist began.
“I learned more about art in a half hour than in all my 60 years.” Dr. Margie Kitano, Associate Dean of Education, Director Center for Teaching Critical Thinking and Creativity (CTCTC) at San Diego State University (2010)
“Too often in classrooms and life there are right and wrong answers. This should not always be the case. More time needs to be spent on assisting students to think freely without any expectations or boundaries. “ School administrator, personal correspondence, 2007
“It was incredibly enjoyable and empowering to feel like I could actually figure these works of art out with my body and my emotions. I walked away with a new confidence and excitement.” Parent