COLLABORATIVE ART

I was fortunate enough this weekend to coordinate the KIDZONE for Artwalk, among many ideas I had one in-particular that deserved a proper test run..an interactive art experience a.k.a collaborative birds nest. I may have been inspired by an event I have been preparing for @ BMA. Our last summer series Art on the Rocks was themed around the city's yarn bomber. She ended up covering an entire SMART car in a splendid car coozie that would make any granny drool. Check out the photos here!

Too often kids art activities are focused on a single work that can conveniently be taken home or worn & tucked away or forgotten in mom's purse. I had something different in mind, the supplies were simple, yarn and sticks, the end result- a collaborative and vibrant bird's nest. I encouraged the volunteers to engage with the kids and have them think about this creative process and how it could not be possible without the support and talent of plenty of others. It was awesome to watch the kids interact with each other, sharing techniques and stories on where they collected their stick and how they were making it their own. Sharing and communication seems second nature when you put a pile of sticks and yarn in front of eager kids. I loved every second of this weekend. It also gave me a great idea of a larger scale piece I want to work on. More to come of course. 

This was an example of one of the other kids area projects: OK, my "test" run was not exactly G rated, but I simply had to use the awesome Adam & Eve cartoon clip I found in the New Yorker- what a great magazine. I will also certainly be making plenty more of these. No worries- the kid's magazine cut-outs were all butterflies, stripes & bumblebees. I am all about practical and recycled art! 

girl with the big head.

This was a little taste of my excursion a few weekends back.

We thought it fit nicely in this field on our way back to Birmingham, the pond and fog was irresistible to snapshot. We walked a solid 300 or so feet carrying this large head, across a field, to a pond. If they were to look out their window, a confused fright would have set.

Graffiti Friday, and the teal stove.

So, I have a super huge to do list this weekend. But first I will share with you the thrift store find I left behind this past week. If only I had a trailer on the back of my car, and a spare kitchen to put this first find in. Oh and about three other people to help lift. It was great!!

Ok, I wasn't sure if it actually worked, but it was only $35.00 how could you beat that. A stove for $35.00 if anything it would be a funky decoration piece but where would I put it? For now, I will keep on dreaming. Maybe one day.

Recently I have had a little obsession with graffiti. There is not much graffiti in the state of Alabama that I really know of, besides the funky tags on trains that pass you buy. I know graffiti is a little destructive, but it can be so beautiful, truly a work of art. When I was in Australia a couple of years ago there was graffiti everywhere! Large buildings and department stores would commission artists to graffiti the entire side of a building.

It was flippin breathtaking. So everywhere I went I would be taking pictures of the graffiti. Well, I wont dig up those pictures, but here are a few I found in Birmingham. I took a couple shots of the lil sis for her graduation. They turned out really nice.
Also some favorites i snatched on wehearit.

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Anybody else have an obsession with graffiti? Or am I the only one. Have a super weekend everyone!

Paint The Town Red

This past weekend was Paint The Town Red, put on by the Birmingham Chapter Red Cross. I have been working on planning this event for the past couple months, organizing art vendors as eye candy for some of the participants. The brick walls and store fronts of Second Avenue North in the Loft District were transformed into projection surfaces for some insane digital art and animated short films. There were belly dancers, break dancers, a marching band, and of course incredible art vendors. Here are a few pics from the weekend. My little sister and boyfriend set up my booth while I was running around like crazy getting everything organized.



Just finished setting the booth up here, had a little time to mess around. OK, well Gavin set the booth up, he was absolutely wonderful as always. He helped load everything into the car, and unload into the street. Such a wonderful boy, even dressed the part to sell some vintage clothes and jewelry.





As the night sky faded all of the artwork popped from the brick walls. The vendors were even sure to bring some pretty lights to boost their tables.

All of the art work seen below is the making of my incredibly talented younger sister Lily. She makes the shadow boxes to sell. I keep telling her she needs to post them on ETSY, but she never listens.


This box was my favorite. I loved the dangling keys, they made a beautiful sound in the wind.




Lily also attempted to make a little extra cash flow by selling a poems for a dollar, as the lights started to fade that idea went quickly out the window. It would have been a funky idea, if it werent so darn dark. I purchased a brand new typewriter from Whats On 2nd this weekend as well. A pure beauty, Underwood teal blue portable typewriter with case. I will post pictures later.

This was a painting Lily brought out to display at the festivities. I love how the lights shine through in the dark.

Overall it was a very successful weekend. I sold a few goodies, had a great time with my lil sis and boy, my dad and older sister even showed up to join the fun. The Red Cross put on an amazing event, and I cant wait to help out again next year.