As we  look back on 2011; realize all that no longer serves us has actually been compost for your evolution. When we run screaming no more, they chase us into the next year trying to teach us what they were meant to teach. When we bow deeply to them as gifts we no longer need to experience, we can truly let them go.

As I continue with MASCD  and “The Dear President Project” I am humbled by the talented and loving people I have met. Grateful to my supportive husband and son and all my dear friends.  Hopeful about bringing Women Centered Art (WCA) into its second year and helping the organization let go of stuff it doesn’t need.  Excited to be teaching such hungry and inspiring students. Breathing on a regular basis. Treating each day new and letting the compost of my memory fold into itself.

But hell we just kept getting in the way cause we were so popular. It was hard to turn people away but gave them a take home kit.

The fun in watching the transformation of  the spectator into an active agent and the spectacle into a communal performance was worth huffing a bit of spray paint and some cig smoke.  I will have lots to write about for the next few weeks, so stay tuned.

Join me on Saturday, December 17 at 7:30 pm as I stroll the  gallery at AKA Creative on 316 Remount Road. Culture Initiative’s def on to the gesamtkunstwerk  method. CI was establish to help inspire artists and supply a necessary platform for them to showcase their work. Kudos to Joel Andrew Tracy and Arthur Brouthers!

We will be dancing, strolling, and getting others to make a piece of art for “The Dear President Project”.  Come one-Come Y’all! A mere merry $10.00 donation at the door help CI keep on keeping on. Yeah Baby!

On the back it says, We love art because “We can Play tubas and do cool tricks” (Quinn, age 3) and because “ I can experience the world in a different way with my son and we can talk about it.” ( Heather, age 37)

Heather and Quinn you rock!

This is A Road!

This postcard came from artist Jenna MacFarlane. She writes, Dear President Obama: For me expression through art brings elegance to humanity. Art reminds, inspires, teaches, and comforts. Thank You.

Jenna

With revolution in the air, corporate greed and happy shiny people corporations running amock. We say relax and make some art! The White House has declared October – National Arts and Humanities month. We the people owners of MASCD are going to celebrate with a huge art project. Out into the streets we go with our mobile studio and bags stuffed silly with art supplies.

Let me introduce our collaboration team.  Shane Agostinelli is an art teacher and president of Women Centered Art. Marc Leclair is an engineer, gadgeteer, electronics geek and original builder of MASCD.

Now the project! Drum roll please.

The Dear President Project

Art Making Kit #4

The arts play an important roll in education. Chances are, though, that your kids are not getting enough art—in or out of school. Right?

We will be making art post cards, exhibiting them and then sending them to Obama supporting and advocating for arts education.

1) Make a postcard

The aim is to make a colorful, powerful, and a fun visual statement

• Please don’t deviate from any of the guidelines, consistency is key.
• Use a standard postcard size: 4×6
• Keep it flat, hell  it’s a postcard.
• Don’t be hostile, we want them to listen.
• Make it awesome, we’re saying art is worth supporting, show it.

2) Write: *

• The Power of an Arts Education
• A short statement about the positive impact of an art education

Examples:

- what art means to you as a viewer

- a positive arts experience you had

- how it has a positive impact on your children

- the joy you get from creating

This project will begin with art making using Mobile Art Studio for Creative Disruption as well as in classrooms, and workshops. The postcards will be displayed in the gallery at WCA.with an exhibit opening and catalog. All participants will be notified. When the exhibit has ended we will mail the postcards to the President. along with a letter and self published exhibit catalog advocating for the arts. Date of the exhibit will be in April and announced shortly.

Grovin’ to this on another Labor Day. Thinking about  the “Play Money” project we have been doing. We are about ready to wrap it up and start a much bigger project , but somehow it doesn’t feel over. I feel we need to do some time in front of our major financial institutions. What better place than Bank Town! Maybe in front of the site for the new Wells Fargo Museum!  OK-so first a little reflection on the green stuff. 

Money is primarily a cultural product. Money often takes the form of official-looking pieces of paper designed by artists, but furthermore, the credibility of any money rests on its cultural message. So why shouldn’t artists create their own money?  Would it rely on the barter system in a post- consumer society? Make money! That is why we provide a handy dandy money making kit. If you would like to have a money making kit –please feel free to contact us.

We asked you to design credible money. Make it look both majestic and cheerful to reflect your community’s spirit. Now if we could take it one step further and create our own money system! The NoDa Dollar! Maybe it is good for a discount in one of the local shops. Wow- it helps more people to make art as well as feeds the local economy. I like it and Barbie does too! Now I have to get back to work.

“Feed your head. Feed your head. Feed your head” Jefferson Airplane

I have been thinking about the questions that have surfaced through the use and interaction with the Mobile Art Studio for Creative Disruption. Mulling over thoughts that have led to actions. The social.  political,and personal aspects of this on going project. The way that I have taken a single object, an object used to gather food to nourish friends and family and transformed it to provide nourishment for the mind. Intellectual nourishment. A vehicle that  facilitates a direct experience with the world-both inner and outer. How can this tool create positive change? I think we have on a small scale and now it is time to step it up. All the while, striking that balance between playful and serious.  The methodology that fuels the project has become important as well as my personal reasons for developing this project

The goal is simple-To get people to participate and engage in the real world while making art. The modular structures that I have been working with apply here. I can add projects within this project.

My personal reasons or we could call it the statement is: Art has always been an important part of my life. It has saved my sanity on many occasions.  Using it as a way to communicate as well as express a thought. Mobile Art Studio for Creative Disruption came about from working with the inmates in our county jail. I spent time developing an art program and teaching art to the incarcerated population in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. It was a very difficult job and I was quick to pick up that no one wanted to hear or think about this part of our society. It was also a refresher on how the arts can help to keep our youth out of jail. BUT-they just were not getting enough art. I can’t and won’t say that that is the reason why they are in jail. That is a far more complicated issue. I did see that it helped with their self-esteem. When you fell better about yourself then there is a good chance you will behave more appropriately. People need this type of nourishment. I believe that the experiences I had working in the jails  kick started all this mayhem. It was a long gestation period and now this baby has many arms and legs. Much like Kali the goddess of time and change. Multi-limbed= the more to kick and hug!