I’ve always been intrigued by the concept of the atelier in the Reggio Emilia philosophy so when I came across In the Spirit of the Studio, I quickly knew that it was a resource I wanted to dive right into!
In the Spirit of the Studio presents a dialogue with some of the most inspiring educators at the forefront of the Reggio Emilia philosophy. From the very beginning, it invites the reader on a journey to explore the concepts of art, expression, materials and the transformation of spaces both in and outside of Reggio Emilia, Italy.
The conversations (chapters) present themes such as the importance of relationships, transforming spaces, creating an environment that supports creativity, and collecting and sharing materials. For me, it was really interesting to read multiple perspectives and ‘ways of doing’ with each chapter/author presenting their unique experience of creating an atelier in their learning environment.
In the Spirit of the Studio is a resource I have read several times, and with each reading, I come away with new understanding of creativity, community and the complexity of materials in our learning environment. I’m really happy to have this resource in my personal collection, and if you are on the fence, I would highly recommend diving in!
I’ll leave you with one of my favourite quotes from the book – it has really got me thinking about the importance of creating spaces like an atelier in early childhood education environments for educators, children, and families. Happy reading!
Creativity is not just the quality of thinking of each individual but is also an interactive, relational, and social project. It requires a context that allows it to exist, to be expressed, to become visible. In schools, creativity should have the opportunity to be expressed in every place and in every moment.                                   Carlina Rinaldi
Kamini