Art in Real LIfe, Philadelphia, PA (2026)

01/27/2025

Are you an educator on a budget? We’re excited to offer this FREE book to teachers for a limited time...

Kids can see the hooks - how images stick - how they build up and affect what they see as beautiful - or strong - or right. They can understand how color sells cereal and how music tells the emotional story in movies.

Introducing them to the biology of it all - the science of the arts - can be a fun and effective way of helping them navigate their social worlds.

DOWN A PEG, a new book by the founder of Art in Real Life, takes you on a journey into the arts at work in your world - in an up close, personal and fun way. And, as a bonus, you will find easy instructional ideas to bring that learning to the kids in your life.

Get your FREE copy here >

A Revelatory New Book for Educators Down a Peg: A Book About Art & Culture That Isn’t Stuffy, Highbrow, Reverential, Boring or Elitist Down a Peg is a book about the role of art in human connection – and identity. In it I explore – not the creativity or the expressive aspects of the arts […]

01/20/2025

Are you an educator on a budget?

We’re excited to offer this FREE book to teachers for a limited time.

DOWN A PEG is about the role of art in human connection – and identity. It explores – not the creativity or the expressive aspects of the arts – but instead do a deep dive into how they affect us as listeners, audience, readers, viewers. What happens to us on the inside? Part science, part history, all art – in a light memoir format.

As a bonus, you will find easy instructional ideas to bring that learning to the kids in your life.

Sing up for your copy now.

A Revelatory New Book for Educators Down a Peg: A Book About Art & Culture That Isn’t Stuffy, Highbrow, Reverential, Boring or Elitist Down a Peg is a book about the role of art in human connection – and identity. In it I explore – not the creativity or the expressive aspects of the arts […]

01/15/2025

Kids are social sponges. Between kindergarten and graduation - school is their cultural boot camp. Their need to fit in - to be cool - and loved - means they constantly scan their worlds looking for ways to be included.

Belonging is the goal. We humans are meant to live and work - together. It's why we thrived.

Students should know that the arts provide us all with ways to connect - to show how we are alike - or different from one another.

Down a Peg, a new book by the founder of Art in Real Life, takes you on a journey into the arts at work in your world - in an up close, personal and fun way. And, as a bonus, you will find easy instructional ideas to bring that learning to the kids in your life.

As part of our launch, we’re excited to offer this FREE book to teachers for a limited time.

Learn More >>

A Revelatory New Book for Educators Down a Peg: A Book About Art & Culture That Isn’t Stuffy, Highbrow, Reverential, Boring or Elitist The Other Side of Art Let’s look at another side of art – a new POV – a fun POV – that could help students better understand themselves and their world. ...

10/21/2024

It’s not an easy holiday to understand. A season when we turn our worlds upside down. When we dig into our greatest fears and put them right in our kids’ faces. Boo!

Communities have always come together to consider the big questions – questions about survival and purpose. Acknowledgement of the big cycles – longest days and shortest days – when to plant and when to harvest. How to protect the community and prepare for the future.

One of the most devastating realizations we humans have to face is when we learn that we will one day die. Kaput. Every other fear pales in comparison. So – how do we compartmentalize that reality so we can thoroughly enjoy the time we have? Ahhhh. We have a way.

Let’s just show our kids that all that scary stuff – well – it’s really not all that scary. Bring it on, you witches! Hey, spiders and worms and rolling eyeballs, you make me laugh!! Well, even ghouls and goblins are looking silly too. Ta da!! Whatever was dark and oozy and below ground is now above ground and at our doorsteps and in our homes. As a matter of fact – it has become cute. Cute little goblins. Dogs dressed as bats. Jack-o-lanterns with menacing smiles.

And kids love it. Those of us in the adult community eagerly collude to make it fun. Cobwebs and spooky lights on a house tells the community, “Hey. I get it. We’re all in this effort together.”

See article >> https://artinreallife.com/the-grim-reaper-skeletons-halloween-is-such-fun-fun-fun/
So, do your part. Act scared – and scary. The world will be a better place.

It’s not an easy holiday to understand. A season when we turn our worlds upside down. When we dig into our greatest fears and put them right in our kids’ faces. Boo! Communities have always come together to consider the big questions – questions about survival and purpose. Acknowledgement of...

10/10/2024

When my grandson, now 17, was 3 years old – he danced – endlessly – to every song in the movie Mamma Mia. He danced that joyful – uninhibited kind of dance that only kids can do. Spontaneous hops and spins and twists and turns. Arms – everywhere. But always capturing the rhythm and shifts.

He’d also ‘sing’ – which meant mouthing the syllables of words he didn’t actually know.

And he was happy. And tireless.

What is it about music that can inhabit – that can so fully captivate?

Are there children in your life who also hear that call?

Read more >>

When my grandson, now 17, was 3 years old – he danced – endlessly – to every song in the movie Mamma Mia. He danced that joyful – uninhibited kind of dance that only kids can do. Spontaneous hops and spins and twists and turns. Arms – everywhere. But always capturing the rhythm and shifts....

09/24/2024

The arts aren’t just leisure or entertainment. They are as essential to our lives as arms and legs. They connect us.

My new book, DOWN A PEG, is a book about the role of art in human connection – and identity.

Are you a teacher?

A school administrator or school board member?

A PTA participant or just a focused parent or grandparent?

This book is for YOU -- it's a deep dive into how the arts affect us as listeners, audience, readers, viewers. What happens to us on the inside? Part science, part history, all art – in a light memoir format.

A great tool for all educators.

A Revelatory New Book for Educators Down a Peg: A Book About Art & Culture That Isn’t Stuffy, Highbrow, Reverential, Boring or Elitist The Other Side of Art Let’s look at another side of art – a new POV – a fun POV – that could help students better understand themselves and their world. ...

09/19/2024

How powerful is a woman’s voice – in song?

Well, it’s powerful enough to make a big old Taliban guy go weak in the knees.

Scary stuff, right?

In Afghanistan, women have now been banned from singing publicly or in their homes in celebrations.

I expect that all these men were long ago held in their mom’s arms as they sang of lullabies – and love. As they sang a welcome to this community. Their voices brought comfort and a sense of belonging.

Read full article here >>

Well, it’s powerful enough to make a big old Taliban guy go weak in the knees. Scary stuff, right? In Afghanistan, women have now been banned from singing publicly or in their homes in celebrations. I expect that all these men were long ago held in their mom’s arms as they sang of lullabies – ...

09/12/2024

The arts have forever pulled us into their worlds. They are not simply invitations to see, read or listen. The good works pull us in. There is room inside for us to bring our own feelings, ideas and memories into the frame, page or song. Our initial experience – that first exposure – is like a doorway. It’s up to us to step inside – to yield and trust. To let them lead us in new directions – new appreciations.

The more familiar we become with a work, the more we can find – and feel. Entering a gothic cathedral is no less stunning on our second or hundredth visit. In fact, the more we understand about the construction challenges or the craft of stained glass or the symbolism of those candles – the more we yield in awe. We loosen our tethers and constraints – and can become new.

Why do you suppose a child, after hearing their favorite story, says, “Read it again!” They know how the story ‘ends’ – so that’s not it. What is it that draws them back? The book cover just needs to be opened and they are jumping in – not just with their imagination – but with their real concerns and feelings. Their daily default is about possibilities – almost everything is new to them. Each rewind brings a chance to try some new POVs – to picture themselves as giants or stars. Kids come to the party less tightly bound than grown-ups. Utility is never a concern. It just feels good to imagine – so they do it again – and again.

Music. Here we find an art form where rewind is expected. It might be the sound of a voice that pulls us in. The timbre or range or softness. It might be the story or expressions of longing or regret or silliness. Sometimes it’s the power of the instrumentation – the lure of the cello, the thrill of the tympany. And always – melody, rhythm, refrains. Even if we have heard our favorites a hundred times – each replay can flip us over anew. With each visit we let go of what is around us. We bring old and new emotions. We recognize. We yearn.

So, dear reader, I am stymied why people so rarely give movies that same attention. Perhaps a few rewinds before moving on? First viewing is simply the invitation – from a team of artists from writers to visual and art design – to sound and music – and wardrobe. Cinematographers. And, of course, the actors. They all collaborated under the guidance of a director to bring each frame to life. Perhaps instead of thinking of movies as motion pictures – we should think of them as motion paintings. There is lots to see, hear and engage with.

Finally, humans are a connecting species. We have thrived because we are better – together. Instinctively. Our hearts spontaneously feel a lift when we see kindness or forgiveness – or grace. We feel – human. Happily human. I confess that my rewind habits often focus on those screen moments that touch my heart – that inspire gratitude and appreciation. It’s harder for our hearts to harden when they get melted down daily, right?

As you undoubtedly now know, I am a serious rewinder. My family is accustomed to seeing the same movie playing each time they enter – days at a time. Below I share just a few of my discoveries and special moments from my most recent addiction, Emma (the 2020 version).

What's YOUR rewind? Let us know in the comments!

The arts have forever pulled us into their worlds. They are not simply invitations to see, read or listen. The good works pull us in. There is room inside for us to bring our own feelings, ideas and memories into the frame, page or song. Our initial experience – that first exposure – is like [.....

09/09/2024

What is YOUR rewind?

The arts have forever pulled us into their worlds. They are not simply invitations to see, read or listen. The good works pull us in. There is room inside for us to bring our own feelings, ideas and memories into the frame, page or song. The more familiar we become with a work, the more we can find – and feel. Entering a gothic cathedral is no less stunning on our second or hundredth visit.

As you may know, I am a serious rewinder. My family is accustomed to seeing the same movie playing each time they enter – days at a time. In this article, I share just a few of my discoveries and special moments from my most recent addiction (Emma, the 2020 version).

Tell me YOUR rewind! Books, music, films, TV series -- let me know in the comments...

The arts have forever pulled us into their worlds. They are not simply invitations to see, read or listen. The good works pull us in. There is room inside for us to bring our own feelings, ideas and memories into the frame, page or song. Our initial experience – that first exposure – is like [.....

06/19/2024

What readers are saying about "Down A Peg: A book about Art & Culture that isn’t stuffy, highbrow, reverential, boring or elitist":

“Susan has accomplished the impossible – a ‘how to…’ book without the pretension.”

“A perfect mix of humor and humility delivered with dues-paid expertise.”

“A memoir with the spotlight shone outward.”

“A light-hearted, surprisingly moving journey into the biology of the arts and culture in our lives.”

Read more >>

It’s a secret held long enough. The arts make us human. They pull us together and tear us apart. They help us feel safe – and loved. And they bring that va-va-voom into our days (and nights). From the bone-shaking stomp-stomp-clap of a live concert to the world’s ub...

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Art is Vital in Our Everyday Lives