I got the opportunity to teach screen printing for Converse’s Cons Project at Rubber Track Studios. I had never taught screen printing before and didn’t know how the crowd of people ranging from 13 years old to 33 would respond to the project. I had prepared some screens with some converse logos, some letters, and some KidSuper designs.

Screen printing is something you only get good at with practice and tons and tons of failed attempts. And I have failed many times.

I brought Will Erikson to help me teach, he had never done screen printing before, which made him in a weird way the perfect teacher and helper because he was learning as they were. I don’t think if you are the best at something it makes you the best teacher (i.e Maradona haha)

Right from the jump everyone was lining up to print some shirts. I don’t know if you have ever been to a concert in NYC but everyone is stiff, too cool for school. I thought that people were going to be reluctant to participate, afraid to look like they were “trying too hard.” I received the exact opposite response. Everyone was super excited to make they’re own personal shirt and were willing to fail and try new things. It was just fun to be in that environment. I was facilitating their creativity.

The best part was when the students wanted to experiment: creating marble effects, printing all over the shirts, combining hand drawings with screen printing. Will and I left the event feeling exuberant and like we really accomplished something that Saturday.

Enthusiasm is contagious.

Enthusiasm is contagious.

Enthusiasm is contagious.