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Thank You, Dear Alexander
Posted October 17, 2025
Thank You, Dear Alexander
by Patrick Bolek
Photo: Patrick Bolek and Alexander Bernstein at the AFI Fest premiere of Maestro, October 2023.
Here’s to Alexander Bernstein—our founder, advocate, philanthropist, and champion of teachers and students across the nation, through his evocative methodology, Artful Learning.
If you ever received an Alexander Bernstein “hug,” you felt that sincere embrace of exuberance—his eyes squinted tightly from his massive smile, as if his body could not contain his gratitude for your efforts.
I’ll miss that hug—and him. We all will.
Alexander was more than a patient and trusting leader. He brought the spark of possibility to a powerful learning platform that integrates the arts into the school day, encouraging classrooms to become sanctuaries of unshackled creativity.
For over three decades, across nearly 50 schools since the inception of Artful Learning in the ’90s, Alexander’s presence as a leader was radiant; his laughter contagious; his belief in the power of the arts unshakable.
When Alexander entered a space, you could feel the energy in the room shift. I mean—rockstar shift. Human body language visibly changed; I watched it happen repeatedly as we traveled the country together.
He danced, he painted, he designed, and he marveled—right alongside children. He listened deeply to teachers and principals—inspiring and honoring them, ever awed at the ingenuity of our trainers, celebrating their ability to convey the audacious idea that the arts are not an accessory to learning, but rather, its very heartbeat.
There was a powerful, emotional connection between teachers and Alexander. As a longtime teacher himself, he viscerally understood their daily path and its challenges. These educators were so grateful for Artful Learning’s power to create a victorious environment for everyone—teachers and learners both—changing both groups for the better, forever. Teachers beamed as they shared each other’s breakthroughs with their students.
Students and teachers jointly realized that all the fantastic explorations and experiences they were having with Artful Learning stemmed from this one remarkable man’s support. And then… “He’s in our classroom right now!”
Photo: Alexander Bernstein at the 2015 Artful Learning Summer Session in Napa, CA.
Alexander was presiding over an extraordinary teaching and learning methodology, unlike any other. He invited everyone—trainers, educators, students, leaders, artists from every visual and performing arts genre—and me—to imagine so much more for education and the arts: not the usual attempts to plaster the arts on top of what was already going on, but rather to help schools incorporate creativity into their very DNA. Truly a paradigm shift.
Alexander Bernstein was living proof that one person’s passion can ignite a movement—a movement that is ongoing and transforming learning.
Alexander’s vision does not end with him.
It continues in every child who discovers courage through creativity, and in every teacher who dares to teach with imagination—something we need now more than ever.
Alexander’s truth was hope.
His gift was joy.
His message, handed down to him from his father, was simple yet profound: Teaching and learning, at their best, create a never-ending circle of art.
That truth is ours to carry forward.
THANK YOU, DEAR ALEXANDER.
Patrick Bolek is honored to serve as the Executive Director of Artful Learning and marks his 23rd year with the model.