Reaching Out - Peace and Global Citizenship

2018 is my year to quietly shout "Peace and Global Citizenship". Many are worn from the messages our government leaders are sending. Individually and together, we need to respond to this by expressing what is true to our heart. Our work needs to inspire us or we will continue to wear.

Working as an Artist in Residence at a Pennsylvania elementary school this spring, I am intentionally creating peaceful connections abroad. Local students, grades 2-5, have been contributing to a garland of peace flags that will be traveling to Central America this summer.

Inspired by images of radial symmetry and mandala, as well as stories and art of Central America, students worked on creating their own mandala. But first, we made a point of meditating on what peace means to us, because we each need to start from our own center. It's known to be true, coming from a place of peace creates beauty. In April, 835 students showed me this again and again.

In a very short time, students were able to create works of art that impressed even themselves. The process involved Sharpie markers, natural fibers and rubbing alcohol. Results were stunning.

There are many stages to this project, each thread connecting us to each other. Next steps include sewing assembly by 200+ spring infused 5th graders. Wish me peace. 

***Special thanks to the community of Erdenheim Elementary for supporting this project. It is heartwarming to know that so many are open to share the message of Peace and Global Citizenship.***

Fabric Art Fun

 Art doesn't always need be serious. On the contrary. Much joy was found this evening when several artist and supposed "non-artists" took some time for themselves and explored.

It was a treat to lead this workshop and see each personal expression come to life.

If you are able, join me October 12 at Allen's Lane Art Center for my next session. Registration and more information here:
Dying Fabrics for Beginners

Also, this workshop travels easily if you'd like to see your crew inspired by their own inner abilities. Children, teens and adults will enjoy the chance.

 

Art and Yoga

Yoga offers the body, mind and spirit the ability to find balance and live in the present.  Art also enables one to find voice and express oneself. Offering yoga and art in combination helps one define and strengthen their unique artistic language with clarity.

It gives me great joy to be able to offer a summer youth program with established yoga instructor, Kristie McCourt that combines both the arts and yoga.

PHS jr flower show

 

In 2016, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society helped our National Parks Service to celebrate their 100th anniversary. The Whitemarsh Arts Center was glad to join in the festivities. Students, ages 3-12 offered over 80 pieces of their best art as part of the PHS jr flower show.

Younger students explored seed art by recreating the NPS symbol. They also enjoyed a reading of Planting a Rainbow and created their own "stained glass" to encourage their seeds to grow despite the dreary winter.

The older students created indigenous inspired pottery and botanical drawings with gilded frames.

There was also a lot of fun to be had as we made the "Wild Ones - Crafty Creatures" from all natural elements.

The PHS judges carefully reviewed and recognized each piece of art and horticulture presented. Our "Best of Show", a ceramic piece created by Hannah Cooper, was then included in the Philadelphia Flower Show in March. Congratulations Hannah and all of the Whitemarsh Art Center students!

PHS Judge, Johanna Schoeller and WAC instructor, Michele Laverty

Empowering a City

Arts Holding Hands and Hearts, Inc. is full of passion, on a mission and bringing it to life. Coatesville, PA is long recognized as a city challenged by degradation. AHHAH is committed to changing the story. Their gesture is simple. Get books in the hands of young children, each and everyone.

And their method is empowering.

Jan Michener, the lead at AHHAH, has corralled a crew of professionals and the community to ignite the Pop Up Lending Library (PULL) project. It's her mission to place 100 boxes filled with books throughout the city so that every child can access books everyday.

Making Art A Verb was honored to be a part of this fire. For a project like this to succeed, the community needs to own it. It's needs to be theirs. I grew up neighboring Coatesville, but this is not my town. Regardless of the quality of my work, it needs to belong to the citizens for the city to be empowered. Otherwise, I'm just an intruder giving a hand-out. No one feels elevated that way. Without ownership, the library boxes might be ignored and maybe even vandalized. In this case, art is needed to inspire, not entertain. My only role is to help them see themselves in a different light and feel good about it. 

With the guidance of Good Works, Inc., PULL boxes were created by the local vocational school. Community organizations then assembled and primed them.

 

Throughout the process, I had the pleasure of meeting with organizations in Coatesville to better understand their position in the community. Afterwards, I created designs for some of the boxes. It was my objective to translate their statement artistically onto the library boxes. All the while I reminded myself that I was just a conduit. Occasionally, especially when the project was at a standstill, I struggled with letting go and having my ego step aside. I needed to remind myself of the greater need of this project, the future of the children of Coatesville.

The magic came for me when I handed over the brush to some very willing and eager youth. The light in their eyes filled me with hope. This belongs to them. It's now their fire.

My job was complete.

The PULL campaign is continuing. Sponsors are welcome to support the books needed for the children. If you would like more information, please reach out to Art Holding Hands and Hearts.

Cultivating Resilience

We all experience pain and suffering in our lives. How we handle these events determine our quality of life. If fed, darkness and pain linger. We need to find ways to move these experiences along. Or they fester and deepen.

Overscheduled and overstimulated, children have little chance to hear and know themselves.  They deserve to trust themselves. The deserve to recognize that they have power over darkness. It concerns me that our youth have little resources to understand themselves and their relationship to their community. Yoga and art offer creative channels to do so. Tools learned on the yoga mat and in an art studio cultivate resilience.

For this reason, I've teamed with yoga instructor, Kristie McCourt. We are offering two camp programs this summer in the Philadelphia suburbs. It is our mission to plant seeds and offer tools for children to utilize in their own cultivation. At these camps, children will have space to connect with their bodies, relax and honor their creative voices. Learn more on my Summer Camps 2015 page.

~ Namaste

Math, science and a pinch of glitter

 

 

Twelve young artists, given the same materials and the same instructions. Isn't it nice to see that they each have their own vision?

 

Snow doubt about it, no two are alike.

 

What joy.

 

 

A Cornucopia

 

 

 

It's a cornucopia of art and I am grateful! For the past year I've been working with a group of young eager artists. It's such a blessing to meet with this crew weekly. As most teachers do, I'm learning so much from them. The challenges are very welcome.

 

At the end of each class we share our art and reflect on what we enjoyed best. Now it's my turn.

 

I've learned that yellow is a great color. Dance breaks are valuable. People love to help. You don't need to know how to use scissors to create art, but it helps. Beauty comes when people are free to do what they want. Nature offers endless lessons. Following the rules will get you places. So will breaking them. Actually, that's where the magic begins, knowing when to break the rules.

 

Igniting the Creative Fire

My purpose for this avenue is to remind myself how important the process is. Our culture is hung up on the product. Years as a designer has kept me focused there. But it's in the process that we can truly be.

This weekend I participated in  a workshop that combined the arts and yoga. (Non-yogis, don't turn off yet, there is still a chance.) At times I noticed that I fear my work being judged. This is not too uncommon. That fear limits creativity. For everyone.



Product after 10 minutes of Process. Take it or leave it.
 

During the workshop I was able to break through the fear and enjoy the process. Art became a verb. I felt something very obscure too, happiness. How did I reach this point? How do I repeat it?
The Cliff Notes version: Move. Close your door. If need be, turn out the lights. Turn on the tunes and MOVE every which way you can. Shake that sh%t loose! Then, without hesitation, go right to your medium and let the flow continue. Don't know where to start?

A dot will do. Seriously. Then let the rest follow.

Many thanks to Candace Stevens for making this occurrence possible at her workshop, Yoga to Ignite the Creative Fire at Yoga Home. I look forward to more of Candace's happenings. You can follow her musings here: Being and Becoming

“One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche

The Chocolate Connection

In this era of excessiveness, we need to be selective to truly savor life.

 

 

 

 

It’s been my decision to do so with chocolate.  

On recent travels to Central America I became more intimate with my vice. Along with coffee, plantains, beans and bananas, cacao beans are the mainstay of the Nicaraguan economy.

Young cacao plants at Las Cuarentas

 

At home, we have the opportunity to consume a variety of chocolate. But how much do we truly appreciate?

After making friends with Orlando, age 9, and Deyling, 7, in the village of Las Cuarentas, my appreciation for this delight has shifted. In addition to attending school and household chores, these two young boys alternate shifts at the local plantation. They are out of the house by 4:30am, (thanks to the wakeup call of that &%@! rooster) to tend to the crops. They return before 7am to get a sliver more of sleep before chore time and the rest of their day starts.



Deyling, Rosmely and Orlando



that &%@! rooster

 

My son may never fully value what his contemporaries in Central America do so that he may enjoy this confection. Regardless, I can help him appreciate the variety that chocolate offers. Choosing quality over quantity is a valuable lesson. Applying it to chocolate with a seven year old is just plain fun. There is so much to understand and appreciate with chocolate. We’ve taken to having sampling parties.

Sampling Platter

 

Mindfully eating is good for us. Mindfully eating chocolate is great for the soul. This is living art. All of the senses should be involved when tasting. Sight, touch, tastes, and yes, even sound should be noted when considering the quality of a chocolate.  

Slowing down and recognizing these subtleties will give our circuitry a chance to truly appreciate all that’s gone into this creation. Acknowledging the multiple components connects us to each of the craft persons in the process, including Orlando and Deyling.

 

 

This is what fills us, the connection.

 

For more info on mindful chocolate tastings consider Dandelion Chocolate.  They are next on my list for chocolate travel adventures!

heArt and hands

heArt and hands, Las Cuarentas



"Invisible threads are the strongest ties." 

-  Friedrich Nietzsche

 

However, it is the artist  within us  that is driven to make those threads more apparent. That was my intent with the heArt and hands project.

For the past year I have been engrossed in fundraising and awareness for the support of Global Education. Part of this service has taken me to Nicaragua, to build a school along side dedicated villagers.
 

There was still untapped opportunity for more awareness and connection. How can the youth and young of heart of the United States know the story of Nicaragua? Know the gift of art? of giving? How can the youth of Nicaragua know that they are supported?


Whitemarsh Art Center pre-trek display


Working through the Whitemarsh Art Center and with local schools, 130 hands were outlined on heavy papers and good intentions were artistically expressed  for their recipients. The garland grew throughout the month of January. In early February, they were packed up and travelled over 2,000 miles to a remote village in Central America. Two airplane flights, a long bus ride and then a very bumpy and muddy ride via truck got me, our crew and the hands to Las Cuarentes.

 

 



Presenting heArt and hands and well wishes to the students for their forthcoming school

Our group's ( Beyond Asana with buildOn)  primary focus during this trek was to assist in the building of the school that we funded. However, most important were the connections with the people and students in the village.  We spent one morning dedicated to the young students, playing games, practicing yoga, talking about rainbows (see post below, Rainbow in a bag) and finally, presenting heArt and hands to the students and teachers. With garlands in hand, we encircled the students. I shared with the students where the hands came from and the support they offered. Then each yogi spoke of their intentions for the students' future.




Local teacher Lydia and myself at the village's current school, a corral.



Very moving for me and noted by others too, was seeing the artwork of our friends and family with us in this faraway place. It is my hope that the students of Las Cuarentas will find support in the gift we left them. However, knowing that a piece of each artist's soul back home was connected to these people was certain at that moment. Mission accomplished.

 

At that point, I considered the project finished. However, I was soon surprised and deeply touched. Before leaving Nicaragua, I was presented with the gift of art by my new friends. I'm looking forward to sharing this work with my students so the connection can come full circle.  

 

"Art does not reproduce the visible, rather it makes it visible".

- Paul Klee




A gift from the children of Las Cuarentas



 

Nicaragua site photo credits to Maura Manzo and Lindsay Lowa Roznowski. Thank you!