Lettin' the ART outta the bag?

Should we invite others from the church to check out this blog? Now that we are posting more regularly, is it time to let others be inspired? Do you want to wait/why? Make your thoughts known by commenting...

inspiration.beauty.community

alixa + naima are an inspiration to me.

i wonder how wide and deep this tree's roots are

that her branches are able to reach so far and low.

mother earth sheds tears because

her caretakers make her shed blood.

i went to the hills on saturday to be inspired by snippets of beauty.

i'm learning that even things

that aren't quite ripe are beautiful.

and i'm reminded of

what community is for.

Mosaic Method

I was preparing for a big talk at church this past Sunday. When I was thinking about how to communicate the beauty of the diversity of our church, a mosaic was a perfect metaphor: many unique, colorful pieces arranged in an interesting way, forming something beautiful and functional. Below are some pics of mosaics from Park Guell in Barcelona which inspired me:

   

A mosaic is a pretty tangible/tactile/concrete thing---so it was natural to set-up a worship station where the congregation could participate in creating one together.  The idea is that the square, colored tiles (cut-up paper paint chips from Home Depot) represented those of us at New Hope already:

Below is a bowl of hand-shredded paper tiles in irregular shapes.  I asked people to think about who they had a heart to reach out to...those who are "missing" from our faith community.

I was worried the cross wouldn't get filled...but I think people really engaged with it.

Thanks to chia, shee shee, bibily and celia for all their help prepping this project last week. I'm inspired to create an ceramic and concrete tile mosaic cross for our church modeled after this one. Looking for help!

calendar art

for about a month now, i've had "calendar" on my list of things to get...but each time i've gone to purchase one, i haven't felt like spending $5-15 dollars. so on the last venture to purchase a calendar, i ended up buying a bulletin board to make a calendar.

other than the obvious needs for a calendar to help keep track of time/activities, i'm hoping this one will also serve as...

a reminder to be mindful of and present in the time that i'm given. i have small post-its to list the activities of each day...and if the post-its overwhelm the picture, it's probably a sign that i've taken on too much.

a reminder that venturing into my creative self can be simple and can be daily.

Mississippi Burning

I went to Mississippi about a month ago to shoot and attend a friend's wedding.  It was pretty awesome:  being in the South again, and being in a quieter place.  I think city life is overrated.  Here's a snapshot of some of the pictures I've worked on so far.  I have a lot more to go, and my hands hurt, but I'm really happy how some of these have turned out.

Once I get them done, they'll show up on my Flickr.

Morning Routine

I'm trying to get back to my first love, writing...

-----

The engine warms inside the whirl of a white van, boxy and cased with chilled windows. Me and him, cup of black coffee and automotive hum, and always a wave and one-word conversation. Tall, lanky, and predictable. We waved for weeks on end, before we met halfway in the middle of the street.

She brings out their youngest, and it’s the first time seeing him since he was in that rocker. Holding him under his armpits, he kicks facetiously — his bumble bee body like a bopping bouquet of flowers in her mother-hands. His head is full and tall with nappy hair, as full as my baby sister’s hair when it stood up straight for years. We were very simple once, I remember this from photos of a time ago — a tropical beach with its warm sand and murky lapping waves. She laughed loud, her chubby face in a perpetual grin, just as he does now. Under this gray blanket of clouds, on this worn wooden porch, I know, I know that I am lucky to see this.

The UPP

I also made invites and a comic thing for my Birthday.  Here's a snapshot:

The links will take you to a land of details.  Process?  Well, I designed the invite in Illustrator and then screen printed them by hand at Laney.  I made the comic using ComicLife.  Here's some of the originals: 

"Late Bloomers"

Here's an article shee shee wants to pass on. From Malcolm Gladwell, the New Yorker columist who wrote two of the books (The Tipping Point, Blink) in my personal top twenty list...if I had a top twenty list.

"Best Friends Forever"

It's my son's birthday this month, so I designed some party favors/thank you cards for his upcoming dinner/dance party. He's gonna be 3.

I simply cropped a photo and "pixel-ated" it using a simple editing program that came with my Epson printer. Here's the back:

Look closely - I converted the front photo to ASCII art. Kinda cool, huh? (It looks like he has horns because it converted the text above his head too...) You can do this is ANY photo using this site. Have fun!

gocco print

Hello all, Steph here. Just wanted to share a little print I worked on tonight, using my gocco (a screenprinting device). A little while ago I had signed up to participate in a gocco swap, and I'm glad I did (even though I managed to leave it to the last minute!). I love printing and it was only my second time using my gocco so it was pretty fun. (For those of you who don't know what a gocco is, here is some information. Also I did a little demo/explanation of how it works at my blog.) 

Anyway, here it is:

I made about 60 prints...

If anybody is interested in gocco-ing with me, or if you'd like to borrow my gocco sometime, let me know! It's pretty fun, easy, and best of all -- pretty satisfying results.

Chapter 1.Creative Affirmations?

One of the best ways to fight negative beliefs in our desire to nurture the artist within us is to invoke affirmations that support our creativity. Read the author's list of ""Creative Affirmations" below. Which one SPEAKS to you most right now? Why? Which seems the most DISTANT to you? Why? Respond by COMMENTING to this post.

1. I am a channel for God' creativity, and my work comes to good.
2. My dreams come from God and God has the power to accomplish them.
3. As I create and listen, I will be led.
4. Creativity is the creator's will for me.
5. My creativity heals myself and others.
6. I am allowed to nurture my artist.
7. Through the use of a few simple tools, my creativity will flourish.
8. Through the use of my creativity, I serve God.
9. My creativity always leads me to truth and love.
10. My creativity leads me to forgiveness and self-forgiveness.
11. There is a divine plan of goodness for me.
12. There is a divine plan of goodness for my work.
13. As I listen to the creator within, I am led.
14. As I listen to my creativity I am led to my creator.
15. I am willing to create.
16. I am willing to learn to let myself create.
17. I am willing to let God create through me.
18. I am willing to be of service through my creativity.
19. I am willing to experience my creative energy.
20. I am willing to use my creative talents.

GroupPoem.1

I make a lot of stuff,
I don't know where to put it all,

The reflection of the maker is the image that reflects
When what is lifted up is made by,

Lord, make me an art work that makes art,
I don't have to be a masterpiece,

You make the heavens
And our souls,

It's important for me to do,
My soul, my community

Creating beautiful things
By making what we love.

Introduction.What's Our Story?

The urge to create/be creative is common to everyone. Do you remember the most creative time in your life? When did you stop being creative and why? Why do you want to "start up" again? Respond by commenting on this post.