Timothy Bellavia (born 1971) is an American children's author, fabric artist and educator. Bellavia is best known for his education research through his We Are All the Same Inside children's book series and accompanying Sage doll.

Career

Once an aspiring fashion designer, Timothy Bellavia turned his attention to arts education / pedagogy through dolls and has collaborated with several non-profit organisations including Sesame Workshop, Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation, and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz. He was a recipient of

Education Update ''Education Update'' is an American non-profit monthly newspaper, published in New York City. It focuses on issues related to education and has a circulation of approximately 100,000. The publisher, retired education professor Pola Rosen, bega ...

’s Outstanding Educator of the Year Award, won several arts and digital education awards and served as an integral part of the five-year research project to highlight the importance of integrating

STEAM Steam is a substance containing water in the gas phase, and sometimes also an aerosol of liquid water droplets, or air. This may occur due to evaporation or due to boiling, where heat is applied until water reaches the enthalpy of vaporization ...

(Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) topics into elementary school's curriculum. The five-year research project, entitled Young Academic Music (YAM) was funded through an Education Innovation Research (EIR) grant from the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE). Timothy is an assistant professor of the graduate school of education at Touro University in New York Cit

Awards and nominations

, - , 1997 , Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture Artist Residency , Fellowship Grant Award , , - , 2001 ,

We Are All the Same Inside Timothy Bellavia (born 1971) is an American children's author, fabric artist and educator. Bellavia is best known for his education research through his We Are All the Same Inside children's book series and accompanying Sage doll. Career Once a ...

, Christopher Award , , - , 2003 , Young Adult Institute , YAI Educator of the Year Award , , - , 2009 ,

Pieces of Ice "Pieces of Ice" is a song written by Marc Jordan and John Capek and recorded by American singer Diana Ross. It was produced by Gary Katz, and was released on June 7, 1983 as the first single from the singer's self-titled '' Ross'' album. It was t ...

, Lambda Literary Foundation Award , , - , 2016 , Outstanding Educator of the Year ,

Award , , - , 2017 , 38th Annual

Flushing Town Hall Flushing Town Hall is a historic Town Hall located on Northern Boulevard at Linden Place in the Flushing section of the New York City borough of Queens. Formerly, it served as the seat of government of the village of Flushing, established as Vliss ...

Smithsonian Affiliate Smithsonian Affiliations is a division of the Smithsonian Institution that establishes long-term partnerships with non-Smithsonian museums and educational and cultural organizations in order to share collections, exhibitions and educational stra ...

Gala , Honouree: Abundant Heart Award , , - , 2021 ,

New York Foundation for the Arts The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is an independent 501(c)(3) charity, funded through government, foundation, corporate, and individual support, established in 1971. It is part of a network of national not-for-profit arts organizations ...

, City Artist Corps Grant Award , , - , 2021 , Non-Broadcast Short Form Web Video for "Treble Leads the Class" , Viddy Award , , - , 2021 , Creative Art Direction for "Treble Leads the Class" , MarCOM Gold Award , , - , 2022 , Outstanding Digital Animation Creation (Platinum) for "Treble Leads the Class" , Ava Digital Award , , - , 2022 , Video Creativity / Outstanding

Animation Animation is a method by which image, still figures are manipulated to appear as Motion picture, moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent cel, celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited ...

for "Treble Goes A'Go-Go" , Hermes Creative Award , , - , 2022 , Motion Graphics / Design for "Treble Catches the Rhythm Train" , Telly Award , , - , 2022 , Non-Broadcast: 2-D

for "Treble Catches the Rhythm Train" , Telly Award , , - , 2022 , Outstanding Education Website , dotCOMM Award , , - , 2022 , Outstanding Writing for Animation Short for "Treble Catches the Rhythm Train" , Emmy Award , , - , 2022 , Outstanding Animation Education Short for "Treble Catches the Rhythm Train" , Emmy Award , , - , 2022 , Arts Educators' Learning Lab: Celebrating the Creation of Culturally Responsive Practices in Education Spaces , New York City Arts in Education Roundtable Grant , , - , 2022 , Outstanding Education Animation for "Treble Catches the Rhythm Train" , MarCOM Platinum Award , , - , 2022 , Creative Art Direction for "Treble Goes A'Go-Go" , MarCOM Gold Award , , - , 2023 , Outstanding Digital Animation Creation (Platinum) for "Treble Goes A'Go Go" , Ava Digital Award , , - , 2023 , Outstanding Motion Graphics (Platinum) for "Treble Catches the Rhythm Train" , Ava Digital Award , , - , 2023 , Non-Broadcast: Not-for-Profit nimationfor "Treble Goes A'Go-Go" , Telly Award , , - , 2023 , Finalist: Male Entrepreneurial Leader of the Year ducation Champion Award , ACEEU Triple E: People's Choice Award , , -

Selected works

Children's picture books

* ''

'' (2000) * ''Come and Abide'' (2002) * ''Theo and the Sisters of Sage!'' (2003) * ''Sage Goes to Kindergarten'' (2006) * ''Paper, Scissors & Magic - Seven Ways to Get Kids to Love Books'' (2007) * ''The Inside Story – Commemorating the 10th Anniversary of Sage'' and acclaimed doll-making workshop (2009) * ''La historia por dentro'' (2011) * ''Vu de l'interier'' (2011) * ''

Curriculum – Activities, Stories, Doll Patterns and More!'' (2018) * ''Tales at Luv Micheal: The Big Idea'' (2020) * ''Treble Leads the Class'' - with Susan Courey (2021) * ''Treble Catches the Rhythm Train'' - with Susan Courey (2021) * ''Treble Goes 'A Go-Go'' - with Susan Courey (2022) * ''The Sage Doll Through the Years - An Illustrated History, Paper Dolls and More!'' (2023)

Young Adult

* ''

'' - with Kristin Walsh (2009) * ''W.T.H. is a Sage Doll?!'' (2023)

Personal life

Bellavia was born May 1, 1971, in Buffalo, New York, and grew up in Waterport, New York. He is the third of four siblings, including singer-songwriter Rand Bellavia of

Ookla the Mok (band) Ookla the Mok is a filk band fronted by Rand Bellavia and Adam English (b.1970). The two met as undergraduates while attending Houghton College in 1988, and the majority of their performances have been at science-fiction conventions or in thei ...

and Staff Sargent David Bellavia the recipient

Congressional Medal of Honour The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. T ...

. He graduated from

Roberts Wesleyan University Roberts Wesleyan University is a private Christian university offering liberal arts and professional programs in Rochester, New York. It was the first educational institution established for Free Methodists in North America. Roberts is accred ...

in Rochester, New York, and earned an MFA from

Pratt Institute Pratt Institute is a private university with its main campus in Brooklyn, New York (state), New York. It has a satellite campus in Manhattan and an extension campus in Utica, New York at the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute. The school was ...

in Brooklyn, New York. He then moved to Manhattan working as a teaching artist, model, and as a backup dancer for Cyndi Lauper, before landing a job as a curator at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum in New York City. Bellavia was awarded a scholarship fellowship grant to attend Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in 1997, completed Fashion Institute of Technology's Creative Enterprise Ownership Program (M.B.A.) in 2000 and is the author of several children's picture books, including ''Treble Leads the Class'', ''Paper Scissors and Magic: 7 Ways to Get your Kids to LOVE Books'' and the award- winning ''We Are All the Same Inside''. Bellavia married production designer and writer Dino DeGuiceis on November 8, 201

T.I.M.M.-E. Company

The T.I.M.M.-E. Company. Inc. (Tolerance in Multi Media Education) was founded in 2000 by Bellavia to promote peace, tolerance and acceptance. The T.I.M.M.-E. Company is the publisher of ''We Are All the Same Inside'' and has developed an early childhood human diversity school curriculum with tolerance-teaching dolls featured in Bellavia's children's picture books. In 2003, Bellavia presented his curriculum at the United Nations on the International day of Tolerance in co-operation with the

Anti-Defamation League The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), formerly known as the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, is an international Jewish non-governmental organization based in the United States specializing in civil rights law. It was founded in late Septe ...

and the

We Are Family Foundation The We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2001 by musician Nile Rodgers in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Its mission is creating and supporting programs that inspire and educa ...

. The theme of his address was Educating Our Children For A Safer World. His presentation to the United Nations council was also later broadcast by

Court TV Court TV is an American digital broadcast network and former cable television channel. It was originally launched in 1991 with a focus on crime-themed programs such as true crime documentary series, legal analysis talk shows, and live news cove ...

and TruTV. The T.I.M.M.-E. Company has conducted workshops in conjunction with the New York City Department of Education to teach tolerance, peace and acceptance to New York City's school children while integrating the arts into the literacy curriculum. Continuing a partnership that began in 2004 with Sesame Reads Annual Literacy Day, the T.I.M.M.-E. Company participated in celebrating the 105th anniversary of CLC (The Children's Learning Center) on September 21, 2007, in Stamford, Connecticut. The highlight of the event was an appearance by Rosita, Abby Cadabby and some Honkers. Other

Sesame Workshop Sesame Workshop (SW), originally known as the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), is an American nonprofit organization that has been responsible for the production of several educational children's programs—including its first and best-know ...

speakers included the award-winning animator Jim Jinkins, creator of Global Thingy and Pinky Dinky Doo.

''We Are All the Same Inside''

is a 2000 children's picture book by Timothy Bellavia, which earned a Christopher Award nomination for Best Children's Picture Book. 2010 marked the tenth anniversary publication of ''We Are All the Same Inside'' and the Sage doll-making workshop. A special 10th anniversary version of the book was released in 2010. The reissued picture book featured paper doll patterns, teacher curriculum, a 10-year chronology, and rare photographs. To commemorate the anniversary, singer, songwriter and former

Motown Records Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy, Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmant ...

producer

Sherlie Matthews Sherlie Matthews (born November 10, 1934) is an American singer, songwriter and former Motown Records producer, best known as a backing vocalist for pop, R&B and rock groups from the mid-1960s to the present time. Early life Matthews started ...

co-wrote and co-produced a special children's multi-track compact disc. The Brooklyn Historical Society hosted a ''We Are All the Same Inside'' Sage doll-making workshop on October 24, 2010.Sherlie Matthews in Broadway World
/ref>

''Sage Doll''

A patented doll invented by Timothy Bellavia in 1998 consisting of interchangeable fitted coverings onto which alternative characters have been sewn, painted, silk-screened or otherwise attached. The Sage doll has illustrated internal organs and lacks any of the identifiable external characteristics such as a human would have, including skin, hair or clothing. Alternative coverings, which may be added to the doll, portray different characters with characteristics of sex, race, religion, nationality and personality. The Sage doll is intended for use as an educational tool to demonstrate the interrelationship between the inner anatomy of a human (heart, lungs, internal features) and the outer anatomy (skin, hair and facial features). The Sage doll demonstrates to both children and adults that while outer appearance may vary greatly, the dolls and by analogy, human beings, are substantially the same inside

Young Academic Music Research Group

Young Academic Music and Computational Thinking (YAM) was a five-year research project funded through an Education Innovation Research (EIR) grant from the United States Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE). The project highlights the importance of integrating

(Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) topics into elementary school's curriculum. The curriculum, notably features a series of children's picture books and animated videos: "Treble Leads the Class" (2021), "Treble Catches the Rhythm Train" (2021) and "Treble Goes A 'Go-Go" (2022) all written, conceived and produced by P.I. (Principal Investigator) Susan Courey with Touro University Assistant Professor

Timothy Bellavia Timothy Bellavia (born 1971) is an American children's author, fabric artist and educator. Bellavia is best known for his education research through his We Are All the Same Inside children's book series and accompanying Sage doll. Career Once a ...

in partnership with the

Herbie Hancock Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, bandleader, and composer. Hancock started his career with trumpeter Donald Byrd's group. He shortly thereafter joined the Miles Davis Quintet, where he help ...

Institute of Jazz.

, himself narrates the three whimsical stories of music notes, which come alive to attend school together. The award-winning education series was created by the collaborative efforts of Mika Shino (producer), T.I.M.M.-E. Company (design concepts), Atomic Kid Studios (animators), CJ Emmons the principal singer of ABC's ''

Dancing with the Stars ''Dancing with the Stars'' is the name of various international television series based on the format of the British TV series '' Strictly Come Dancing'', which is distributed by BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the forma ...

'' (voice overs), and Nick Vayenas (music).

Filmography

Notes

References

:Martinez, Michael. "Sherlie Matthews sings on We Are All The Same Inside, CD Launch Held 10/24." Broadway World :Bellavia, Timothy D. ''The Inside Story – Commemorating the 10th Anniversary of Sage and acclaimed doll-making workshop'' (2009)

External links

Timothy Bellavia website

''Pieces of Ice''

Talent Spotlight Magazine

''T.I.M.M.-E. Co. INC.'' website

Professor Timothy Bellavia Presents Sage Doll Test at Education Conference'' website

''Prof. Timothy Bellavia: Beyond Skin Deep'' website

TEACHING ARTIST: Timothy Bellavia'' website

''US Patented Doll with Interchangeable Parts''

''Timothy Bellavia Honored at Smithsonian Affiliate Gala ''

''Timothy Bellavia Receives Outstanding Educator of the Year at Harvard Club of New York''

''Courage, Humour and a Life Saving Decision''

''YAM''

''The Sage Doll''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bellavia, Timothy David American children's writers American educators Living people Roberts Wesleyan University alumni 1971 births Fashion Institute of Technology alumni Pratt Institute alumni Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture alumni