family values

This was an interesting rum sum sum project I just completed. The request was for a list of family values important to the family that requested it. They plan to put it on the wall to remind themselves of the things they value and find important. 
The poster is going to be printed onto canvas and stretched. I can't wait to see what it looks like hanging on the wall. 

believe dream inspire

I LOVE when the kids pull on their creativity hats. It has become somewhat of a tradition for the kids to submit an artwork to the Reflections Art Competition. This year was Luc's 5th submission, Nic's 3rd and Mietta's 1st. Run by each school's PTA, Reflections is a national competition that has a 40+ year history.

The process was a little painful this year. I had given the kids the WHOLE summer to give their submission some thought. This year's theme was "Believe, Dream, Inspire". Nothing like a firm (and close) deadline to inspire and motivate. 

Luc had wanted to make a movie about going to Mars. He had completed a series of storyboard cards and some test shots... but this is where his project stalled. As Paul and I were madly finishing his Halloween costume at the same time his Reflections submission was due, we suggested that Luc somehow document the costume-making process. This challenge he took up with enthusiasm - and did an admirable job. I figured he would use some Doctor Who music for his soundtrack, but ended up using Beethovan's Moonlight Sonata - which worked brilliantly with the frenetic pace of his movie. 

Mietta has been making many Healthy/Unhealthy eating charts - madly cutting and gluing images found in supermarket flyers and catalogues. Healthy eating and Happiness became her theme. I helped with the cutting of cardboard while Mietta directed (!)

Nic's preferred media became apparent after finding many interesting images appear on my iPad (via Photobooth and other photo-manipulating programs). His brother and sister became his willing (if somewhat silly) models. 

We were thrilled to hear that each child won first prize in each of their respective categories. Perhaps the submissions were somewhat slim this year? Regardless, we look forward to seeing how their submissions do at County level. 

latest crop of rum sum sum...

Here are some of the latest rum sum sum creations...

definition shirt for Milena

stars and stripes for basile

ben's birthdate shirt

onesie for a new Korean-American baby

definition shirt for james

Love's first kiss

Here is a novel artwork. 

A lady ordered this artwork as a Christmas gift for her husband. This is the doorway in which they shared their very first kiss! 

Reflections

I have been asking Luc to submit an artwork each year for the Reflections PTA Art Competition. This is a nation wide competition, organized - in the first instance - by each school's PTA. This year, as Nic was to start Kindergarten, I asked him to complete an artwork too. 
The theme for this year was "Diversity". I found this to be a great prompt to open the discussion about diversity - of thought, belief, race, gender...
Luc's overall theme was to 'Celebrate Diversity' - and he used a party 'look' to illustrate his concept. Nic's love for pasta was instrumental in his artwork's concept. He loved that it could all look so different, yet be made of the same stuff! Nic had some fun arranging his letters - and taking numerous photos on Mummy's camera (safely attached to a tripod!). I cropped and arranged all his letters in several layouts, and he chose his preferred submission. 

POSTSCRIPT: 
Nic's submission won first place at his school, County and District. His artwork received an Honorable Mention at the State level. 

PostSecret

image from post secret.org

This morning I listened to an interview with Frank Warren - the man behind the idea for PostSecret. I had heard vague things about this project in the past, so it was good to finally know the name of the project and find out a little about the original intent.

The project commenced in 2004 with Frank requesting anonymous postcards be sent to him, describing a personal secret. The postcards must be homemade. The response was huge and Frank still receives some 200 postcards with secrets, via mail, per day. This is in addition to the 'online' secrets he receives via email, Twitter, etc.

Beginning as an experiment, this project has consumed Frank's life and he now does speaking engagements, has written a couple of books, and has assisted in many ways he had never fathomed - including being questioned by the FBI, assisting in Suicide prevention programs, etc.

Fascinating, compelling, upsetting, uplifting... and at times scary! 

52 Suburbs

all images by Louise Hawson

I was really inspired by the 52 Suburbs project undertaken by Louise Hawson after reading an interview with her at Inside Out. The year-long project is based in Sydney, Australia - Louise's home town for over 30 years - and focusses on one of Sydney's 637 suburbs each week. I totally agree with her philosophy of forcing herself to look at a city through tourist / new eyes to "search for the beauty in the 'burb". Louise sees this beauty in people, architecture, history and nostalgia, nature, a fair share of tattoos and the purely mundane.

I love how Louise juxtaposes (most often two) beautiful images, using texture, shape, color, pattern, number, ethnicity, concept... as the relationship.

Via Inside Out

All photographs by Louise Hawson