Quotable Nerdy Chicks: Maya Lin

Apr27 by kamikinard

I’m so glad I was reintroduced to the work of Maya Lin through my son who studied her recently in school. If you don’t already know this, Lin designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington D. C. while she was still an undergraduate student. When I was in college, one of my friends was among the first to visit that memorial. She found the name of another friend’s father on the memorial and brought back a framed pencil rubbing of it. I will never forget how touched my friend, whose father was killed before she could meet him, was by that gift. The Vietnam Memorial has touched countless others since its installation.

Lin has designed other amazing structures and done other amazing things. You can read more about them at her own beautifully designed website. www.mayalin.com She currently owns and operates Maya Lin Studio in New York City.

Maya Lin Quotes

I loved school. I studied like crazy. I was a Class A nerd.
I was always making things. Even though art was what I did every day, it didn’t even occur to me that I would be an artist.
I try to give people a different way of looking at their surroundings. That’s art to me.
All my work is much more peaceful than I am.
To fly we have to have resistance.
How we are using up our home, how we are living and polluting the planet is frightening. It was evident when I was a child. It’s more evident now.

Now. Go visit her website. Move your cursor to make things happen!

Quotable Nerdy Chick: Joanna Cole

Apr20 by kamikinard

When W. H. Beck agreed to be interviewed for Monday’s post, I knew I’d just have to find a quotable librarian. I found several famous female librarians who are also writers including Ann Tyler and Beverly Cleary! But I loved that first quote from Joanna Cole so much that I decided to feature this famous creator of the Magic School Bus Series. There is a very nice biography about Joanna Cole HERE at Teen Ink.

Joanna Cole Quotes

People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.
Take chances! Get messy! Make mistakes!
Children’s view of the world and their capacity to understand keep expanding as they mature, and they need to ask the same questions over and over, fitting the information into their new level of understanding.

I love the fact that Joanna Cole used her gift of explaining things and storytelling to enrich my children’s childhoods through her Magic School Bus books and the cartoons they spawned. I hope to add to this quote bank someday too.

To see a compiled list of nerdy chick quotes, click HERE.

First Post Ever: Why Nerdy Chicks?

Jan6 by kamikinard

Hi! My name is Kami Kinard and I am a nerdy chick. I am also a children’s writer. And a mom. And the creator of this blog. I am thankful for the long line of nerdy chicks who preceded me! Some of these include:

Susan B. Anthony

Without her wit and determination, I probably wouldn’t be allowed to author this blog! Susan B. Anthony flouted social norms in the biggest way!

Madame Curie

A fascinating and brilliant woman who coined the term radioactivity and who used her scientific discoveries to improve the human condition. During WWI, for example, she set up a mobile x-ray station to help doctors treat wounded soldiers. Ever heard of the Bookmobile? Think of this vehicle as The X-Ray mobile! Thank you, Marie Curie, for flaunting your brain power! (Actually, I have to say that in what I’ve read about Madame Curie, it seems like she was pretty humble about her brain power, but I’m thankful that she didn’t mind using it!)

Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart is proof that smart girls can also be amazing adventurers!

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When I was gathering information for this blog, I was surprised by how few women appeared on lists of intelligent people! I’m here to advocate for those amazing nerdy chicks whose songs have not yet been sung. Every Monday here I’ll interview one of them. Then on Wednesdays, you’ll hear from me. On Friday’s we’ll highlight an activity or event that other nerdy chicks enjoy. It is not always easy to be smart and to make decisions that stand out from the pack. If you’re a nerdy chick, you’ll find out here that you’re not alone!

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Do you know someone who has accomplished something worthy by flaunting her brain power or by flouting social norms? Please suggest them for a Nerdy Chick interview. You can do so by leaving a comment, or by sending me an email: kamikinard AT juno DOT com. Nerdy Chicks Rule is hosting a huge giveaway starting on January 15. Anyone who suggests an interviewee (even if we aren’t able to work her in) will be entered to win. What’s the huge giveaway? Check back on January 15!