The Achievements of Carolyn Monk Kindrix, Artist, Author, Entrepeneur
Sep 30, 2024
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
Carolyn Monk Kindrix was born to Levi and Roberta Woodard of Owensboro, Kentucky , but spent her entire school years in one of the most progressive manufacturing small cities of the Midwest. Elkhart was the band instrument capitol of the world, as well as the home of Miles Laboratories, and mobile homes. In addition to those companies many other car manufacturing support industries made Elkhart one of the highest per capita financial cities in the U. S.
This city had its big influence on Carolyn Woodard who at the tender age of four was escorted to the all white Roosevelt Elementary School in the heart of a middle class neighborhood. Though her recently discharged World War II veteran Uncle made her parents aware of Elkhart’s Board of Education invitation to integrate and walked her that mile or two for several days, it was her own brave stance that took her past the barking chiquaquas for this first semester. The teachers were pleasant and the class mates were friendly with hi’s and no name calling from anyone. The following years her older sisters joined in that integration effort and by the fifth grade the segregrated South Side Elementary School was closed. This just so happened to be ten years before the rest of the country integrated by federal law after a Kansas legal Integration case.
This bio information is somewhat significant to Carolyn Monk Kindrix’s entry in the Who’s Who registry because by grade six the school principle called my mother in to review my achievement test scores that were rather impressive since my verbal skills were on the 10th and 11th grade level. But, my math performance on the achievement test was no better than the rest of the class. I only was average and class level for math and numbers portion of the achievement test. My mother was reported to have skipped several grades and graduated top of her class in the segregated Western High School where her father was the principal. She let Mr. Blackwell know that I should make improvements.
My parents along with the band instrument capitol of the world made certain that our lives were as enriched as possible. The band Instrument capitol owed some of it’s prosperity to the jazz and big band era in the thirties and 40’s. I participated in the public school orchestra 12 months of the year. My father made certain that Mr. Charles Bacon came every week to give me private cello lessons. We played Broadway through middle school and every significant classical composer in the Elkhart High Symphony Orchestra, (one of the top three orchestras in the country.) If I hadn’t injured my third finger, Mr. Bacon thought I had a future as a cellist,( like my fellow classmate and also another one private lesson students,the Grammy winning orchestra director and recording cellist, David Darling!)
FIRST SIGNS OF ARTISTIC TALENT AT 14
Though Levi Woodard went along with the city’s great string instrument program and had his own string quartet among his own children, he had reservations on sponsoring a new budding interest and skill that suddenly surfaced in me, his fifth daughter. The new talent appeared out of nowhere! He did not know that the well illustrated church literature and books on our book shelves left an impression on me related to art and illustration. When I entered a contest to win a scholarship to the Famous Artist School in Minneapolis, MN, my parents questioned the practicality when a salesman came to visit.
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION MAJOR AT ANDREWS UNIVERSITY AND SEVERAL OTHER SCHOOLS AND CHANGE OF MAJOR TO FINE ART BEFORE RECEIVING A BACHELORS OF ART IN 1974
They put their money behind a elementary education major at our private church school, Andrews University, in Berrien Springs, MI. After three plus years of work study I left to marry one of the graduate seminary students who I met in the music building.
This young man was J. P. Monk, Jr. an accomplished concert pianist who grew up in a city as progressive as Elkhart, Philadelphia, PA. He had enjoyed lessons on the piano since five. He also had parents who took him to the great Philadelphia art and science museums. He was “Dino” before Dino was well known with his piano arrangements of hymns. He was so exciting with his classical style at Oakwood College and perfect arpeggios that the newly converted “Little Richard” Pennyman took him on a 40 state tour just prior to his graduation from Oakwood University.
It was Chaplain( Captain) Paul Monk who was determined to support the interest and ability in art. He purchase the long delayed correspondence art course with Famous Artist, Inc. in Minneapolis, Minnesota. And after he left the civilian ministry and had his first stint as a military chaplain in Colorado he said to the art department at Southern Colorado University in Pueblo, Colorado I want her to have her art degree by the time that I return from my year in Korea. I switched my major to art and miraculously had a nine hour chunk of design, 5 hour life drawing, made A’s in all my intro, and art history classes and in design and after 5 quarters had enough credits with my transferred credits from other schools to finally have a B. A. in painting and almost a double major with the transferred elementary education credits from Andrews and several other schools.
My first fine art effort included acrylic four dimensional grids but also the first of at least twenty realism canvases that I have done in my long 50 years of art employment. My first oil painting is of the three children who missed their daddy when he was in Korea, but supported and cooperated through that long winter in Colorado as I went to bed with them at eight but got up at 2 A. M. with a stack of art history books. After five quarters I received my art degree after moving to our next location in South Carolina.
MY TRAVELS, RELOCATIONS AND VARIED ART OR EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT
Chaplain Monk moved us 22 times to various assignments in ten different states where he excelled as both a speaker, editor, and administrator and the well known reorganizer of military chapels so that black soldiers had their own Gospel Chapel Services.
Each time I moved I would either find an art job or teaching. I was certified by the state as a substitute teacher in each of those ten states.My portfolio of design and drawings won me my first Art job at a CBS affiliate WNOK in Columbia, SC. I taught design and painting at Pine Forge Academy and at Prince Georges Community College. I was commissioned to do full illustrations and fine art paintings while in Pine Forge, PA. for the Allegheny East Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Our work took us around the country. When not teaching art I was on the staff of Prince Georges County schools as a regular substitute teacher for grades kindergarten through 12th grade. An administrative civilian church elective assignment provided for my husand and for both me work for the next nine years.We traveled weekly among the ten states and their cities where we guided the work of close to forty churches in Central States Conference of Seventh Day Adventists. I was considered the conferences First Lady, the book store coordinator and the Women’s Ministry department organizer and leader. I served on the Pacific Press board of directors during those years. Substitute teaching in those years in grades kindergarten to 12th grade was a secondary source of experience and income in the highly rated Kansas City, Kansas Schools and Grandview, MO schools.
PERSONAL COMPUTERS FROM APPLE AND MACINTOSH AND DRAWING SOFTWARE
The nineties for Carolyn Kindrix slowed her pace. Her three children completed both college, medical school and law school, got married and had birthed nine grandchildren for me. I remarried twice after the distinguished Lt. Col. And president of this ten state conference was treated but finally succumbed to cancer.
I have been tied to a personal computer and using drawing software and starting various publishing ventures. I organized as a designer of several craft products with a company called Create-A-Craft. I continued with the same interest in being an entrepreneur with a company my second husband helped me organize: a company called CREATE*A*CRAFT and a company called EDU-TOY. With EDU-TOY I designed a series of games for teaching reading, spelling, and geography. It was after China did not return a product ordered for letter cubes that I designed a symmetrical spinner for a spelling game called A – Zebra.
MATH STAR WONDER NUMBER INVENTIONS
The twenty-five point spinner inspired the next series of games related to a number circle and later a number spiral. Calculation was made possible by the use of a different three point angle for each of the ten digits. I also designed a free standing triangle to prove that the three lines of an equilateral triangle provided a perfect chart for three number facts. Later I found that it is the three points that actually chart the number facts for different addition subtraction facts and came up with 10 different two angles graphics. A distinctly constructed angle for each of the ten digits was designed. These angles multiplied twenty-five times were the basis of ten different math star charts that were the basis of my first book.
With the stars, Zero(0) was only spokes, One (1) was simply a circle around the spokes with connecting lines of varied colors. Two to nine digit stars where the beginning of Math Star Wonder Numbers. A book by that name was sent to the Library of Congress. My name at that time was Carolyn Monk Wilkerson. Though the book was the result of my own graphic design in my computer, I believe the publisher may have been ABC Children Books of Bloomington, IN. These stars were quite impressive. In order for the stars to calculate each of four stars were mounted in a concentric circle of numbers. Jogging one to the right made it possible to continue calculating all the way to one hundred for each digit. The present day version of these addition digit stars only includes one digit star and one spiral rather than a stack of stars and concentric number circles. This is simpler and provides for continuous calculation for 100 “three number facts” for each of the ten digit stars. This provides for review of 1,000 addition facts and 1,000 subtraction facts. These stars are in the first of four Math Star books that I have recorded in Corel Draw layout. They are soon to be published as a book for each Math Operation.
Trade Show Exhibits and Government Proposals
At this time also, a government contract for military schools was applied for; but, the Republican president, George Bush reminded his viewers that “if you want a government contract you must be a member of the Republican Party.”
It is possible that I jumped on the Barack Obama band wagon after hearing that political party preference. Barack Obama lent me his direct email address after hearing so often from me on White House . Gov. But, prior to that I helped not only get the vote out but, also, the crowds out with my email that essentially was meant for our large national family and friends. My graduating class in Elkhart let me know that the were going to stop with the politics in the future! We won Indiana and the new president’s first visit was to Elkhart after his election in 2008.
Some literary re- inventions may have caught on because of my weekly or monthly newsletters that went out as S. T. A. M. P. and later under the name of I. M. P. R. I. N. T. These letters included my sonnet trilogies. The popularity of the sonnet may have especially influenced the young generation “Z” and millennials. Just check out the success of rappers and the blockbuster Broadway show and its Shakespearian HAMILTON!
Many have my published sonnets from S. T. A. M. P. or I. M. P. R. I. N. T. Emails. My trilogies not only addressed present concerns for the inner city and black community, but, also, allowed me to direct and counsel my email audience of a large national audience of family and friends with Christian and Biblical advice. The serious party help I provided came when I would copy paste at the end of my letters the DNC promotion website addresses. The published books where heavily footnoted and contained an appendix of sources and comments from various experts on subjects addressed in the Trilogies.
The Library of Congress, former president Barack Obama, and the uninviting Columbus, Ohio “ALL SIDES” show hosts of public radio of Ohio State has the 2nd paper bound book, RESOLVE . The second book edited and published by Xlibris is was called REALITY also, published by XLIBRIS of Bloomington, IN , 2011. (The book was never returned though requested.) The press release was not requested nor the book tour, since , I believed the sonnets were well known through the national family emailing!
TEACHING ART GALLERY AND GAMES, LLC
MATH STAR WONDER NUMBERS BOOKS AND DRILLING DESIGNS AND INVENTIONS
ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION
SPIN 1 or SPIN 10 SPINNING DRILL CALCULATORS FOR up to 2000 “THREE NUMBER FACT” REVIEW
The terrific equilateral triangle that was invented was a great calculating chart. This triangle used previously was enlisted in the new spinning device. One separate triangle for each digit is one design patented.
SPIN 10 is the next invention in the series. Spin 10 is a great improvement related to simplification of reading and calculation. The stars are definitely exciting and lovely, but the spinners simplify the reading of the 3 number facts. But, for a 2, 000 fact calculator Instead of just one triangle, ten digit triangles where necessary! Each of the digit equilateral triangles is given it’s own color and it’s own size in order to allow reading accurately of three different numbers of a three digit addition and subtraction fact. A three number addition or subtraction fact finds two of the three numbers on the outer circle or spiral of 1 – 100 numbers and the middle number is on the inner circle of digit triangles.
In addition, it was discovered that there was only one way to organize the triangles on the full circle if they were to actually calculate correctly. This design that allows for accurate calculation with a chart is is at the patent office. Petal and Propeller spinners also use the same patented design concept in order for the three digit math fact to be accurate. The names of other similar products for addition and subtraction drilling stars are LACE AND LEARN; STRETCH AND LEARN and STICK AND LEARN. Work book pages allow for the use of Spin 10 and other star devices to assist in filling in the correct 3 # facts on 10 lines for addition and ten lines for subtraction.
Earl’s 3 # Drill sheet
Because the triangle formation is used on the SPIN 10 drilling devices, I also include triangle chart formation and triangle fill in lines on the work sheets. The triangle is colored to take care of the one number that is especially a part of the focus for the day’s assignment. The additional two numbers are to be found on the spinner or star formation. This is Earl’s 3 # Drill sheet. Triangles with three number circles at the three points also are a work page that is to be completed and checked by student, teacher, or parents.
SLIDE 10 for even larger number calculation.
SLIDE 10 is also designed as a three Number drill calculator, but for numbers higher than 100. The patented design concept for the accurate calculation of 2000 facts on a SPIN 10 spinner is also used to allow a sliding ten color double rectangular reader for numbers to 500 and above. This 0 – 500 number drill is also at the patent office.
MULTIPLICATION REVIEW DEVICES
1 – 100 RECTANGULAR GRIDS WITH 4 ROWS OF NUMBER SQUARES 1 – 25; 2 – 50; 51 – 75; 76 – 100.
Each digit has it’s own rectangular with this format. Using the color code for each of the ten digits, counting by each of the ten digits is made possible by coloring the number square that represents the 1 X’s; 2 X’S; 3 X’S; 4 X’S and so forth all the way to 9. The color code for multiplication is the same ten colors used in addition and subtraction for the first ten digits.
MULTIIPLICATION FACTOR CHART
The traditional multiplication is upgraded with ten colors and a sliding vertical and horizontal rectangle traces the numbers to find the three number multiplication facts. A nice weave of the horizontal and vertical numbers produces a woven color chart. Also a vertical and horizontal bar is provided for locating the vertical multiplier number square, the horizontal multiplicand, and then the product square.
MULTIPLICATION STARS
MULTIPLICATION STARS are made up of various widths of triangles arranged in a symmetrical circle. Zero is only a line, one triangle is black and is a very narrow triangle that connects just two numbers. 2 is colored light blue and actually connects three numbers. 3 triangle is orange and connects 4 numbers. 4 triangle is light green and connects five numbers on the 1 – 100 number circle. The remaining of the ten digits have an increasingly wider triangle arranged in a circle. Five triangles are red, six is blue green, seven is dark green, eight is purple, nine is dark blue.
DIVISION AND MULTIPLICATION ANSWER DISK
Teaching Art Gallery and Games answer disk allow for both and multiplication and Division three number facts on one chart. Ten concentric color coded circles contain ten spokes of answer numbers. The answers for division are usually decimal numbers. The multiplication numbers are whole number product answers. An outer circle number charts the first number in the three number division or multiplication number fact.
DIVISION STARS
All of the star inventions for each of the four math operations produced very surprising results as I the designer did the research and development process. My multiplication factor chart came in handy. Because the division stars, I decided must be made up of color-coded, geometric shapes for each of the whole number factors of each number. This was not as difficult as thought originally for numbers under 100. But, my second published Math Star book called CELEBRATION STARS contains 100 plus unique stars that chart each of the first ten digits and all of the numbers to 100 plus some larger dual stars.
My later and larger numbers are dual number stars that are allowing me to sell them as fine art. The numbers some times are a a part of the art and each layered star for the most part can be labeled for the number that it represents. The fine art division is under the label C. W. MonkArt. These stars are big number and dual number stars. The largest number so far is 144,000 with the number 92 and its whole numbers layered symmetrically. The other numbers beyond the first ten digits pretty much reflect te ten digit colors. The other larger numbers stars reflect the color code for the original 10 digits. The star color represents the divisor, the outline of each star represents the dividend and the total stacked star is the actual quotient.
My invention of an arched or rainbow connecting chart is often a part of the star design so that the factor numbers for the divisor, dividend and star number present the division three digit fact along with the star illustration.
Originally, each star had to be formed with basic lines and shapes. But, Corel Draw 8 and beyond had engineered 500 different pointed stars. It is my responsibility to design the stars in an aesthetically pleasing symmetrical stack , color and outline each star according to the digit or number color code. The star color represents the dividend, the star outline represents the divisor, ordinarily. The total stack of stars is the quotient.
Numbers vary from prime numbers which only have one and the number as factors. Those numbers were not surprising. Each star varies with the number of whole numbers and no number is easily predictable. A calculator comes in handy. To date the stars under 100 have no more than 12 whole number factors. About twenty-eight stars are simply prime number stars. The twelve whole number factor stars are the exciting basis for future higher numbers. The most exciting stacked whole number star so far is an “inspired whole number star for 144.
144 is a biblical number and is of course also the product of 12 X’s 12. The Biblical number 144,000 has actually the most whole number factors that I have found so far: 92 whole number factors requires 92 different layers of different number pointed stars. We are using one tenth numbers since the Corel Draw numbers only go to 500. The largest whole number is always just one-half of the total number. There is no need to look for other factors beyond the half way point of numbers. [A fraction of a number might be represented by simply pulling out one or two of the whole number factors, though that star can not be labeled as a whole number]
My stars are now common knowledge to Google because I use Google photos and Google owned YouTube to advertise my Math Star self-drilling toys and calculating devices. AI or artificial intelligence is probably already preparing quantum computers with a new way of programming with the use of the same identifying method that I invented ten or 15 years ago. Identifying numbers by dividing to find each numbers unique possession of whole number factors is very likely what artificial intelligence is already borrowing from my Math Star Wonder number and Teaching Art Gallery and Games inventory of inventions.
TEACHING ART GALLERY AND GAMES DIVISION GRIDS OR PLAIDS
Any chart or star designed must allow for an illustration of the three number facts that a certain math operation needs. For division I found that as exciting as the Division stars are, they are not the only chart
that works to indicate graphically the the three numbers that make up a three number division fact. Surprisingly, a grid or rectangular or square grid can work when the lines are varied in color and and width. These charts that I have invented I call Division grids or plaids. The lines are used to indicate the divisor and the spaces are counted to indicate the dividend. The total stacked chart is the quotient.
These stacked charts resemble traditional plaids invented by European plaid weavers.
WIN 10
Though an assessment test can be used with the TEACHING ART GALLERY AND GAMES methods, the game designed to test the learning acquired through the use of all of the spinners and charts is also a way to measure the math learning progress. Win 10 spin and Win 10 Shake, Rattle and Roll both allow for four players to create 3 digit facts simply by writing down the numbers that their particular color points out on a 100 number disk. This is a two disk spinner just as the Spin 10 calculator is designed. Several sizes of the game disk are designed so that the game can be spun on a wall or on a table.
The object of the game involves finding three numbers that form a 3 number fact. An individual erasable recording card allows for filling in either of the four different operation 3 number facts. One secret learned is that 3 number facts always have an inverse reading related to one other operation.
The Win 10 objective is to circle ten different number answers on the 1 – 100 chart. The whole number answer can be achieved by using any of the three different operations on the answer card. A second number circle is included in the game when attempting to find division decimal numbers. A second 100 number chart also allows for finding decimal quotients.
BOOKS
Four books related to each of the four operations of math are to be released soon. In the meantime many individual drilling divices can be purchased on line or at Walmart and other stores.
My company names are T. A. G. G. 2 or Teaching Art Gallery and Games, LLC. and the name of my website is Teaching art gallery and games. Since Google no longer sells from its websites, other selling sites are with companies like Wix, Shopify, Ebay, Artrepeneur and other selling platforms. Other brick and mortar establishment may also carry some products.
About Carolyn Monk Kindrix
Carolyn Monk Kindrix, a seasoned artist, educator, and ministry leader. She is a key figure at C.W. Monk, Ms. Kindrix has made her mark through her mastery in oil and acrylic on canvas, as well as her dedication to teaching the next generation of creatives.
Name: Carolyn Monk Kindrix
Phone: (380) 266-1401
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The Achievements of Carolyn Monk Kindrix, Artist, Author, EntrepeneurCarolyn Monk Kindrix is actively engaged in her art career even as she celebrates her 50th anniversary year in her art career.