Peace: Pass it On

I finally acted on a bulletin board I have seen driving down Rte. 41 in Avondale, right near my son's Middle School. It shows Desmond Tutu smiling larger than life (and isn't he?) The slogan with his shining face says "His Moral Compass Points to Equality"

"PEACE... pass it on" I finally went to the website http://www.values.com/ and then sent an email to the Foundation to learn more about them.

Here are a couple of Q & A from their website:

Q: What is The Foundation for a Better Life?

A: The Foundation is a non-profit 501©(3) organization, started in 2000. We are privately funded and non-commercial. Our sole objective is to promote positive values, using print and broadcast media.

Q: Why are you doing this?

A: We want the stories we share about the actions of others to inspire someone to do one thing a little better, and then pass on that inspiration. While a few individuals living values-based lives seems small, collectively they will make the world a better place.

I appreciate the positive, inspiring messages I have come across and I am going to use their site today as I begin my new residency with Germantown High School in Philly. I am working with art teacher Alisha Hagelin and her after school art club. The theme of the mural is to be Peaceful Conflict resolution and I have also reached out to my good friend Lorenn Walker http://www.lorennwalker.com/ who works a lot with kids and their families in restorative justice. Lorenn has always inspired me by her passion, energy and commitment to helping others resolve their conflicts peacefully. Another person I reached out to was Jeff Clapp of Where Peace Lives. http://www.wherepeacelives.org/ They have done incredible mural projects with kids all over the world.

These different site and resources are giving me much to bring to the first meeting today with Germantown HS Art Club Students when we begin our dialogue of what comes to mind when we think of Peaceful Conflict Resolution.

So here is a shot of Alisha and me from our preliminary planning meeting two weeks ago...

will keep you posted.

Breathe deep- Spring is here, within and without

I really do thrive on the sunshine, the greenery and the re-birth and new birth that comes with spring. I am also working on my power point slide show for Riddle Hospital in Media, PA www.riddlehospital.org The Cancer Experience through an Artist's Eye on Thursday June 4. Going through images over the past 7 years and revisiting my journey from the cancer diagnosis to the work that came forth has been interesting. Much of that work lives on my walls here at the Okie Gallery but putting into chronological order and giving thought to the linear and non linear way the work evolved helps give insight and perspective on the experience.

I am also fully engaged in my Koi series which comes from a different experience which may be an obvious statement but again, not really. Working intuitively the koi in the water are about color, movement and what lies below the surface. Maybe not so different than the cancer work. My body was the vehicle to explore what lies below the surface as well.