Theme: Pentimento

Pentimento

Old paint on canvas, as it ages, sometimes becomes transparent. When that happens it is possible, in some pictures, to see the original lines: a tree will show through a woman’s dress, a child makes way for a dog, a large boat is no longer on an open sea. That is called pentimento because the painter “repented,” changed his mind. Perhaps it would be as well to say that the old conception, replaced by a later choice, is a way of seeing and then seeing again. -Lillian Hellman, from her memoir Pentimento

The theme for TEDxTheBenjaminSchool is Pentimento. Defined simply, pentimento is that phenomenon when an artist’s first draft errors are still visible in the final work of art. These errors are called pentimento because the artist’s mistakes of which he or she repents are still visible. These errors, while they may render the final art work imperfect, help us further understand the artist, her work, and her intentionality and journey in making that art work.

TEDxTheBenjaminSchool invites you to engage the notion of pentimento as it relates to your life, your experiences, your passions, your philosophy of living, your interactions with others, and on and on. Whatever you choose to speak about, share with us the pentimento of it all; in other words, the journey, the process, the unexpected errors that brought you to a moment important enough to share in your Tedx Talk.

For additional information, please visit: http://www.thebenjaminschool.org/TEDx

The Benjamin School
11000 Ellison Wilson Road
North Palm Beach, Florida, 33408
United States

Alex Kahn

Alex is currently a seventh-grade student at The Benjamin School. She is a dedicated dancer and lacrosse player who enjoys traveling with her family and spending time with her friends. Alex's TEDx Talk is dedicated to her sister.

Alex Michelon

Alex is currently a seventh-grade student at The Benjamin School. He has enjoyed traveling and exploring new cultures in North America, Europe, and the Middle East. Alex also likes playing the trumpet and being a member of Benjamin’s middle school football and lacrosse teams.

Andrea Bradley

President/Ceo Palm Healthcare Foundation

Andrea Bradley, JD is the president and CEO of Palm Healthcare Foundation. Founded in 2001, Palm Healthcare Foundation is known for solving critical healthcare issues in Palm Beach County through creative community-wide collaboration. For nearly two decades, she has led community-building initiatives in South Florida focused on improving the health and wellbeing of residents. Most recently, Bradley led Palm Healthcare Foundation through the launch of Healthier Together, a community-driven campaign aimed at solving the county’s most complex health issues. Prior to Palm Healthcare Foundation, Bradley served as the vice president of development and marketing at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and the president and CEO of Women in Distress of Broward County, one of the state’s largest domestic violence centers.

Andrew Weisz

Andrew is currently a seventh-grade student at The Benjamin School. He likes playing basketball and football, and also enjoys reading.

Ashley Cousin

Ashley is currently an eighth-grade student at The Benjamin School. She is passionate about math, science, and reading. Her favorite book is The Wizard of Oz, a childhood favorite, and she also enjoys playing tennis.

Bella Craven

Bella s currently an eighth-grade student at The Benjamin School. She believes she is at home on both the athletic playing fields and the classroom. Bella devotes her community service interest to TOPS, an organization dedicated to helping special needs children improve their athletic skills.

Ben Myers

Ben is currently an eighth-grade student at The Benjamin School. He enjoys acting, singing, and especially humor. Ben also likes visiting Cape Cod with his family in the summer months.

Caroline Charles

Caroline is currently an eighth-grade student at The Benjamin School. She enjoys engaging in outdoor activities with members of her family, especially when she visits other family members in New Zealand. Caroline also likes playing lacrosse and scuba diving.

Caroline Moody

Caroline is currently an eighth-grade student at The Benjamin School. She enjoys the ocean and exploring the history, natural beauty, and coral reefs in the Caribbean. Caroline also likes playing soccer and tennis.

Chloe Jezerinac

Chloe is currently an eighth-grade student at The Benjamin School. She finds inspiration in the smallest of things. When not in the classroom, Chloe spends most of her time on the soccer field and the volleyball court.

Christian Baldari

Christian is currently an eighth-grade student at The Benajmin School. He was born and raised in New York City and enjoys traveling with his family to Italy to visit extended family members. Christian's favorite sport is soccer, and he also has an interest in broadcast journalism.

Coby Leibowitz

Coby is currently an eighth-grade student at The Benjamin School. He is inspired by innovation and imagination. Coby's TEDx Talk is crafted to help the viewer with finding incentive.

Crystal Pauldo Devine

Crystal is currently a seventh-grade student at The Benjamin School. She loves the performing arts and also has a passion for sports and academics. Crystal's favorite subjects are math and science.

Dean Silvers

Dean is currently an eighth-grade student at The Benjamin School. He enjoys golfing and playing drums, and continues the pursuit of tennis competitions, using the advice he provides in his TEDx Talk.

Hannah Perez

Hannah is currently a seventh-grade student at The Benjamin School. She enjoys sports and is passionate about playing basketball. The inspiration of her TEDx Talk is to foster awareness of gender discrimination in sports.

Hudson Hale

Hudson is currently a seventh-grade student at The Benjamin School. He enjoys sailing and playing soccer, and is also a fan of video games. Hudson dedicates his TEDx Talk to his friend, Ross.

Jack Abrams

Jack is currently an eighth grader at The Benjamin School. He is an avid golf enthusiast and a member of Benjamin’s middle school golf team. Jack enjoys skiing in the high altitude of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, and especially likes traveling to unusual places around the world.

Jennifer McDonough

Teacher/Author

Jennifer McDonough has been teaching reading and writing in K/1 classrooms for over 16 years. As a classroom teacher, literacy coach, presenter, and writer, she has been focused on enhancing literacy instruction not only for herself, but in ways that can help others. Jennifer has a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on reading. She taught an undergraduate reading class at Florida Atlantic University to inspire and motivate young teachers to learn the reading process. Jennifer is the co-author of "A Place for Wonder: Reading and Writing Nonfiction in the Primary Grades" with Georgia Heard. She is also published in the "Journal of Literacy Learning." Jen contributes writing to thedailycafe.com, choiceliteracy.com, and the Stenhouse blog. She has attended both the Literacy Coach Institute and summer institutes through Columbia University’s Reading and Writing Project, and has been focusing on how to help kids write ever since.

Julia Kirschenbaum

Julia is currently a seventh-grade student at The Benjamin School. She is a percussionist in the middle school band and is also a goalkeeper on the lacrosse team. At the North Palm Beach School of Rock, she plays bass, guitar, drums, ukulele, and keyboard.

Karen Avery

Senior Director of Institutional GIving of the PBS Foundation

Karen E. Avery joined PBS as Senior Director of Institutional Giving of the PBS Foundation in January 2011. In this role, she is responsible for generating new opportunities for support from the foundation and corporate sectors for PBS priorities and programs. Avery currently serves on the Wolf Trap Foundation Associates Board of Directors, and is especially proud to be closely connected with America’s only national park for the performing arts. Before PBS, Avery spent seven years as Director of Foundation Relations at the Smithsonian Institution. During her tenure at the Smithsonian, she was selected as a member of the inaugural class of the Smithsonian Leadership Development Program, and also served three years as Chairperson of the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center Board of Directors. Prior to joining the Smithsonian, Avery was Assistant Dean of Harvard College and functioned as Director of the Ann Radcliffe Trust, a women’s initiative for Harvard undergraduates.

Leslie Berg

Leslie is currently an eighth-grade student at The Benjamin School. Her passion for glassblowing is inspired by her grandparents’ love for glass. Leslie enjoys sharing the talents of her new hobby and dedicates her TEDx Talk to her grandparents.

Lexi Greene

Lexi is currently an eighth-grade student at The Benjamin School. She especially likes science because of the interest it brings to the world around her. Her TEDx Talk is dedicated to cancer patients.

Madeline Caruso

Madeline is currently a seventh-grade student at The Benjamin School. She uses her affection for animals to bring companionship to senior citizens. Madeline additionally fosters animals until adoption, and is also a budding entrepreneur.

Madeline Hart

Madeline is currently a seventh-grade student at The Benjamin School. She likes the challenge of math and science courses, and is thrilled to participate in innovative problem-solving activities, like Odyssey of the Mind.

Michael Yancey

Michael is currently an eighth-grade student at The Benjamin School. He enjoys playing basketball and is a member of Benjamin's middle school team. Michael also likes to share jokes to make an audience laugh.

Michelle Pfeifer

Michelle is currently a seventh-grade student at The Benjamin School. She enjoys a variety of activities, including playing the piano, tennis, golfing, and surfing. Michelle also likes spending time with her family and her cat, Chardonnay.

Molly Fried

Molly is currently a seventh-grade student at The Benjamin School. She enjoys reading, basketball, and baking. Molly also enjoys playing Jenga, a game to which, as her TEDX Talk illustrates, she owes her existence.

Nadia Poncy

Nadia is currently a seventh-grade student at The Benjamin School. She enjoys playing bass guitar and jamming with her siblings. Nadia also likes golfing and playing lacrosse.

Nancy McAllister

Artist/Art Teacher

Nancy McAllister grew up in Pittsburgh as one of six children who learned her love of drawing from her mother and her early painting skills from her father, an oncologist. She was lucky enough to have a studio in her home that included a darkroom where she spent many hours with family and friends. Upon graduation from college, Nancy's first job offer was designing fabrics for Schumacher in New York City. Nancy later began working for a studio designing murals and traveling around the southeastern states. Conservatorship became a passion. Nancy was then asked to teach art at a local school. Thus began her teaching career, 20 years ago. For more than 25 years, she has taught art. Now that her three children live in pockets around the world, she travels during the summer months to every museum she can find. Nancy has a true fondness for The Benjamin School where she enjoys bringing out the brilliance in her students.

Nicky Amato

Nicky Amato is currently an eighth-grade student at The Benjamin School. He enjoys several active hobbies, including playing basketball, golfing, and skiing. Nicky's Tedx Talk is dedicated to his grandmother, Ann Yeni.

Nicolas Lama

Nicolas is currently an eighth-grade student at The Benjamin School. He enjoys traveling worldwide with his family, and also likes tennis, surfing, and playing music.

Olivia Cornett

Olivia is currently an eighth-grade student at The Benjamin School. She recently relocated to Palm Beach County from Newtown, CT. Olivia enjoys musical theatre, writing, volleyball, and soccer.

Peter Weisz

Writer

Peter Weisz is the founder and owner of Peter Weisz Publishing, a boutique producer of personal history and memoir books. He has authored more than a dozen books and numerous articles, screenplays, and stage plays. Mr. Weisz is the father of seventh-grader, Andrew.

Shanon Materio

Founder of McMow Art Glass /City Commissioner

A small business owner, working mom, and community leader, Materio is the founder of McMow Art Glass, a small business in Palm Beach County that is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Awarded the Florida Retailer of the Year Award in 2013 and the Lake Worth Chamber of Commerce Best Business Award in 2012, McMow has grown from a three-person venture to one of the largest art glass studios in the country. Materio is passionate about all forms of art and has worked with local organizations to ensure the arts continue to thrive in South Florida. She is also a committed community leader with more than 30 years of volunteer experience. She is a previous South End Neighborhood Association President, a board member of the Lake Worth Community Redevelopment Agency, and an active Arts in Public Places board member in West Palm Beach. She is currently an elected West Palm Beach City Commissioner, representing District 5.

Sophie Rabiei

Sophie is currently an eighth-grade student at The Benjamin School. She is a budding tennis player and an avid watcher of Netflix. Sophie also has a secret obsession with One Direction.

Stephanie Bjork

Stephanie Bjork is currently an eighth-grade student at The Benjamin School. She recently moved to Palm Beach County from Los Altos, California. Her TEDx Talk is in memory of her late father.

Tommy Rose

Tommy is currently a seventh grader at The Benjamin School. He enjoys playing on Benjamin's middle school lacrosse and tennis teams. Tommy also likes to play video games with friends.

Vinny Amato

Vinny is currently an eighth-grade student at The Benjamin School. His favorite pastime is playing golf with his friends. He also cherishes the close relationship he and his twin brother share.

Will Mahon

Will is currently a seventh-grade student at The Benjamin School. He enjoys several hobbies, including golfing and playing lacrosse and basketball. He also enjoys traveling with his family.