If you happen to pass by the Little Red Schoolhouse on Front Street in Greenport some Saturday morning you will likely hear laughter, guitar chords and an occasional bark coming from inside.
Captain David Berson, skipper of the Glory electric launch, is volunteering his time to host a weekly group of local children in what can only be described as a creativity workshop. This past week “Captain Dave,” as he is affectionately known, is guiding a group of kids in laying out a design for a public mural which he hopes will be displayed outdoors in the village when it’s completed.
Long strips of rice paper — purchased by Berson at a yard sale — crisscross the floor and five children, age 12 through 15, are hard at work drawing and painting. Ben E, Berson’s 15-year-old rescue poodle, makes the rounds, stopping near each child for a belly rub and a cuddle.
Berson refuses to refer to himself as their instructor. He is a facilitator and a champion for the kids.
“This is very free form. I can’t direct them; they’re so self-directed it’s incredible. These children are such good artists. I feel over my head around them because I don’t know how to do art, but they do. All that Glory Going Green does is provide the space, thanks to Greenport Village, and the materials and let them go at it,” says Berson.
Glory Going Green is the non-profit charitable organization that has been providing educational programs to local kids since 2008. And they’re all free of charge. The brainchild of Berson and his partner Meg Bennett, the organization offers year-round workshops in art, science and writing. With the support of contributors Berson has been able to provide the space and materials for children to learn about Greenport and to tap their creative sides. He often works in cooperation with the library and Greenport School, taking children out onto the bay in Glory for sketching or scientific investigations.
On this particular morning it’s all about the mural.
“The idea is to create what the children would like to see if they were coming into the village of Greenport. I’m not telling them to do anything in particular, except that it has to do with the bay and the village,” explains Berson. “Then we’ll try to find a public space in the village of Greenport so that in the spring the children can take these ideas and execute a mural. An outdoor mural. And I believe we can make that happen.”
Fifteen-year-old Joe McInnis is busy putting the finishing touches on his drawing of a buoy. As Berson passes by and notices, his praise is sincere and specific.
“That’s so great Joe! And you know what I love about that? I love the fact that the buoy’s on an angle. Because that’s the way they always are on the sea. I do love that.”
Across the room 12-year-old Andrea Martinez is struggling to come up with an idea for a drawing. Berson immediately brings over a tablet and encourages Martinez to take a look through his photo files.
As they flip through the photos, Berson encourages Andrea to look for inspiration in her own experiences.
“I want you to close your eyes and just think about the bay out there. The light on the bay is so beautiful right now.”
Andrea doesn’t seem convinced, so Berson continues encouraging her. He keeps up a humorous running commentary as he scrolls through his photos.
“That’s Jezebela our cat,” he says. “That cat is a killer. If that cat had her way she would kill everything in the world, including me.”
“I don’t know why I took that picture.”
“That’s someone’s wedding.”
“I don’t know who these people are.”
Within seconds Andrea is smiling and giggling. The creative wheels in her head are spinning and she’s inspired.
“She’ll figure it out,” says Berson.
And she does.
The children’s affection and regard for Berson are obvious and when Berson steps out back for a moment with Ben E, they are anxious to share their thoughts about Captain Dave.
“He’s funny; he doesn’t tell us what to do; he just lets us create,” says Andrea.
“He helps get kids entertained and distracted from what’s going on in the world,” says Mary Lou Galicia, 14. “He lets us have fun.”
Eighth-grader Daniela Moranchel-Flores believes that he wants to teach local children about Greenport and “probably wants to keep some kids off the street.”
Twelve-year-old Anabelle Odell, a gifted singer who has performed locally with Berson, agrees. “It’s just a great place to hang out,” she says.
When Berson returns he picks up his guitar and starts playing.
“The reason that I play music is because these kids are doing their art and this is the perfect environment for me to practice my guitar. The kids do their thing and I do my thing. It’s just what we do.”
Although there is no official music instruction as part of the program, Berson, who has been singing and playing guitar most of his life, encourages the kids to tap into their musical side.
Joe McInnis is one of those who benefited from Berson’s encouragement.
“Captain Dave showed me a few chords on the ukulele,” says Joe. “Then I just kept at it. I love it.”
Joe picks up his ukulele and begins to play. When he’s finished Berson is clearly delighted with his performance.
“Those are great chords, Joe. They’re beautiful. They’re really great chords, very jazz flavored chords. I love the way that sounds, Joe. I just love it.”
Although the program initially included workshops for younger children as well as the middle-schoolers in this Saturday group, Berson is reluctant to host little ones since he would be the only adult in the room.
“When we have another adult here we will open up the program to younger children again,” he says.
As time runs out on this Saturday morning workshop, Berson makes one last round to check the progress of the mural. Noticing the cormorant that Daniela is painting, he is thrilled.
“Holy mackerel! That’s almost like Native American. That is very cool Daniela!”
“These kids are my heroes,” he says. “That’s it.”
SoutholdLOCAL photos and video by Katharine Schroeder
