Tag Archives: Chittenango New York

All Things Oz Museum

Image June 4, 2025 Karen Tashkovski 1 Comment

People from all over the world are set to descend on Chittenango, New York as early as tomorrow for the annual Oz-Stravaganza weekend. A reporter from the London Times is scheduled to visit. Judy Garland’s granddaughter will be here too, and Emmy winner Jonathan Fricke, author George Makrinos a.k.a. Gabriel Gale, L. Frank Baum’s great granddaughter and other celebrities connected to Oz books, movies and music.

I decided to visit the All Things Oz Museum (219 Genesee Street, Chittenango, NY 13037) today to share it with you and possibly entice you to join in on the festivities.

The museum is right in the village and houses a small portion of their vast collection of memorabilia – a first edition copy of The Wizard of Oz, donated by L. Frank Baum’s grandson, costumes from Oz movies and theatrical productions including the original Dorothy costume from Disney on Ice’s incarnation of the Wizard of Oz. And merchandise! Dolls, dolls and more dolls! Autographs and costumes and books, games, reproductions and toys…oh my!

Things are organized by character – display shelves dedicated to the witches, to the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and the Lion. And of course, the Munchkins! Then there are sections for The Wiz and Wicked, both Broadway musical and movie versions.

It is a really terrific experience!

There are three Oz museums in the country. One is in Florida, another is in Kansas, but Chittenango, New York was L. Frank Baum’s birthplace and so, it is very special.

Admission is $12 per person but half price ($6) if you hold a valid AAA membership! There is a gift shop too and you can also shop on-line via their website!

The museum is a non-porofit organization and they are always seeking donations. There is also a membership opportunity. See their website for the deets including hours of operation..

pencil, portraits, student artwork

Good-bye, YBR

Image July 3, 2024 Karen Tashkovski 6 Comments

Here is my last project for the 2023-2024 school year and also the final project of my thirty-year career: pencil-only portrait drawings of teachers on Arches drawing paper by my eighth grade Studio in Art students (at Chittenango Middle School, Chittenango, New York).

I’d displayed the drawings on the magnetic wall boards in my classroom because the hallway walls were getting slippery from the humidity of the not air-conditioned school in the middle of June.

Students were taught how to place and measure the facial features. We used 2H pencils for the contour line drawings.

Shading was done with 2B pencils. The trick is to shade the entire face with a light shade. While dealing with that medium value, students were able to erase with a kneaded eraser to get the highlights then use pressure to get their darks dark. Except for the ones who didn’t want to.

I am grateful to those students because I did what I could to educate them. Their refusal helped convince me that I made the right decision to retire. I never thought I would be anything less than youthful, but I guess I must admit I am of a different generation and the gap just started to feel incredibly vast – kids these days, am I right???

Good-bye, yellow brick road.

And thanks, for the memories. It’s all just a dream to me now.

8th grade art, Chittenango Middle School, food, Karen Tashkovski, papier mache, sculpture

Who Made the Donuts?

Image January 9, 2022 Karen Tashkovski Leave a comment

We created these donuts in two of my Art-8 classes. Some were mounted on black foamboard and others placed in real Dunkin’ Donuts boxes, which were donated by the wonderful manager at the DD on Rt. 5 in Chittenango, NY.

Materials:

aluminum foil, masking tape, paper towels, Mod Podge, Celluclay, acrylic paint, glitter, foamboard, DD boxes

They are so fun! The trick here was to try to make them all the same size and the same shape. It wasn’t as easy as it sounds. Each student made a half dozen. I graded them on successful armature, application of Mod Podge and Celluclay, as well as paint and detail.

8th grade art, art, art education, art exhibition, art resources, drawing

Kids & Keith

Image September 24, 2021 Karen Tashkovski Leave a comment

There is still time to visit the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, New York. The Keith Haring exhibit will be on display until October 11, 2021. Meanwhile, on the walls of Chittenango Middle School, my students’ artwork is currently on display. It took a lot of heavy-duty stickies to get them to stay up – the tile was not particularly cooperative.

Karen Tashkovski

The Wild

Image July 18, 2021 Karen Tashkovski Leave a comment

The Wild Animal Park is right around the corner from where I work and – wow – I had no idea! It is a zoo experience with a petting zoo and animal farm, as well as a safari component.

My friend Elaine is in town from Florida, so we decided to explore The Wild on Friday evening. It was a lot of fun. The space is clean. The animals are well cared for and happy, especially the giraffe. So fun! It was just this incredible gem of an experience!

The Wild is located at 7621 Lakeport Road, Chittenango, New York 13037. Call (315) 510-3347 for more information.

8th grade art, abstract, art, art education, ceramics, clay, Karen Tashkovski

Face Mask

Image March 16, 2020 Karen Tashkovski Leave a comment

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My B-day Art-8 students (Chittenango Middle School) created these clay masks. We used Sax Colorburst glazes. They have silica flakes that pop in the kiln creating confetti-like effects.

I offered students thirteen different colors and asked that they use at least six, making sure to place three coats of glaze on the mask for each color. It was tricky because the glazes transform in the kiln – there is that allowance for serendipity that doesn’t work if you are a control freak, but totally does if you are experimental.

I added a wire to the back so they can hang on the wall. Students took them home today. I miss them already!

art, art education, contest, drawing, editorial design, illustration, Karen Tashkovski

Kindness Prevails

Image March 14, 2020 Karen Tashkovski Leave a comment

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Kindness

Description

Kindness is a behavior marked by ethical characteristics, a pleasant disposition, and concern and consideration for others. It is considered a virtue, and is recognized as a value in many cultures and religions. Wikipedia

National day: Observed on February 17th, National Random Acts of Kindness Day has grown in popularity each year.

kind·ness

/ˈkīn(d)nəs/

noun

the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.

Similar:

kindliness

kind-heartedness, warm-heartedness, tender-heartedness, goodwill, affectionateness, affection, warmth, gentleness, tenderness, concern, care, consideration, considerateness, helpfulness, thoughtfulness, unselfishness, selflessness, altruism, compassion, sympathy, understanding,

big-heartedness, benevolence, benignity, friendliness,

neighbourliness, hospitality, amiability, courteousness, public-spiritedness,

generosity, magnanimity, indulgence, patience, tolerance, charitableness,
a kind act.

plural noun: kindnesses

“it is a kindness I shall never forget”

Similar:

kind act

good deed

act of kindness

good turn

favor

act of assistance

This year’s Doodle for Google competition has now closed. All entries had to be postmarked yesterday. These images are among the many I submitted – 8th graders from Chittenango Middle School. The winner receives $30,000, and $50,000 in technology for their school.

The theme of this year’s contest is “I show kindness by….”

Do we have a winner?

	Karen Tashkovski on Jamesville & the Metal De…
	Gina on Jamesville & the Metal De…
	Edges \| Karen Tashko… on In the Process
	Framing Angels \| Kar… on T Minus One Week
	Gina Thomas on Crowning

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Visual Artist