Everywhere Atelier, A Scholarship Reflection
Heidi Wolf
Heidi Wolf is the Program Director and early childhood teacher at Benilde St. Margaret’s School in St. Louis Park, MN. She is currently interested in the effects of the environment on children and the benefits of loose parts material explorations. Heidi serves on the Board of the Reggio-Inspired Network of Minnesota and along with RINM colleagues, founded the Loose Parts Laboratory: Materials Center for teachers, families and the greater community. She holds a degree in child psychology from the University of Minnesota.
I am writing this reflection with deep gratitude to the Network for supporting my experience at the “Everywhere Atelier” workshop, led by educational consultant and atelierista Roberta Pucci in Reggio Emilia, Italy in June 2025. I had so many questions about the trip ahead of time, like “How can I best prepare myself to get the most out of this experience?” I read books and articles, asked others about their experiences and sought advice from those who participated in Reggio Children Study Tours. Ultimately, I decided to let go of the anxiety and pressure and bring myself as an open book. My goal was to take in each moment and absorb as much as I could.
Each day was thoughtfully planned with multiple ways to explore various materials in hands-on workshops. For example, during a midweek trip to Bologna, the walk from the train to the workshop was an intentional part of the experience. Were we able to slow down? What details were we drawn to? What did we notice? Did we see the beauty in the porticos and arches that framed each alley, the massive door knobs, the mosaic tile works on the sidewalks? Details were and are everywhere, but how often do we slow down to notice? From the perspective of a child, what would they notice?
After our long walk, we rang a bell outside one of the many massive doors around the city. We were at the art studio, Interlinea Lab, owned by Valentina Pucci.
We entered what can only be described as a secret garden. Valentina’s studio and home were located down a cobblestone path and behind an iron gate that opened into a beautiful garden.
Coffee, refreshments and sweet and savory treats welcomed us into a space complete with bamboo plants and shade from a massive flowering magnolia tree.
Valentina led a session exploring paper as a surface and thread as an unconventional graphic tool. The thread was not to embroider in the traditional sense where the design of the thread patterns is the focus. In this case, the thread became marks on paper, leading to experimentation and dialogue between the two materials.
Roberta led a session looking closely at and transforming paper in many ways, one of which was to manipulate wet paper and objects. This created the opportunity to bring impressions of the objects into the paper.
Both of these experiences with paper, along with the walk to the garden studio (in the middle of the bustling city), made a huge impression on me. They highlighted the impact of surroundings and context, which literally and physically made impressions on us as educators. Valentina and Roberta described four essential ingredients for building relationships with others and the world: precision, gentle gestures, time and silence.
For example, if you push paper too fast or hard when it's wet it rips. Working gently and with precision and time, the wet paper can take on the impression of other materials. Threads become tangled or rip the paper surface when rushed.
I wondered, how do these essential ingredients – precision, gentle gestures, time and silence – impact our work with children? Do we slow down for children? Do we offer time and silence and really observe? These can be true gifts to the children in our care. How do we as educators make impressions on those around us?
As I reflected on my journal notes each night, I realized that people were the common thread I wrote about each day. I saw passion for children, learning and community as the teachers and children exchanged ideas around documentation panels and tour guides responded to our questions.
The most impactful part of the trip was not the famous town, the piazzas or the buildings, it was the idea of many cultures coming together, in dialogue with one another. I experienced the people, the culture and the essence of a community that supports each other. These important parts of the Reggio philosophy were evident in the experiences that Roberta and others facilitated. My new question is how I might bring the essence of this experience back to my community and our local contexts.
My suitcase may be unpacked and all the new books and materials put away on a shelf, but I believe it will take much more time to unpack the ideas still rolling around in my heart from this amazing opportunity. This experience has left a deep and lasting impression on me, and for this I will forever be grateful.
