Rising to the Challenge I recently came across an essay in The Atlantic  titled “ Stop Meeting Students Where They Are ,” in which a college professor reflects on how students’ capacity for deep reading has been underestimated. After years of abbreviated assignments and declining attention spans, he returned to assigning whole books — and discovered that students did  rise to the challenge when given time and encouragement to engage deeply. The essay argues that we often underestimate what...

A space where questions can begin. As artist-led colleges like the San Francisco Art Institute and California College of the Arts close their doors , one can’t help but ask: where do the ways of learning, rooted in curiosity, experimentation, and creative inquiry, go? While these are higher education institutions, the question points to something larger: how do we sustain spaces that prioritize exploration, creative thinking, and inquiry for learners of all ages? I moved to Monterey with the...

Play Full Ground prioritizes process, experimentation, and community—helping young artists build confidence through inquiry, not imitation. Students building a shared world through process and collaboration. Questioning the Model Traditional art education often emphasizes mastery, correctness, and recognizable outcomes. Students are taught to replicate techniques, follow instructions, and meet expectations. While these structures can produce polished results, they often leave little room for...