Today I hosted my second group of kids for our new art class. I am so excited because the day after my last blog about starting this class, I was contacted by my BFF back in the states, who had gone to Missions Sunday at her church, and met an artist , Marcia Carole, who already does what I am trying to do with our kids. You can read more about Marcia’s awesome work on her website: http://thecreativecall.net/art-and-story.php. I have connected with Marcia via email and already received great information from her about how to get started in my new endeavor. She is currently on a mission trip to Turkey, helping women heal through art, so I hope to skype with her shortly after she returns.
The group I had today was great! I had 11 boys, who remained engaged with me for over an hour! They created some really cool art that we will eventually use in collaging. Marcia has taught me that collage can be a really good way for novice artists to express themselves, so I have spent the last week cutting up every used magazine I could get my hands on. I have a good collection started, but could use some more variety, especially once I start the collage process with our 50 kids.
If anyone would be interested in helping with this project, PLEASE take some time to cut up any old magazines you have lying around and send them to me. This is a great activity to do in front of the TV. I am looking for any pictures, words, art, or headlines that could possibly be used to express a whole myriad of emotions. For example, I have cut out pictures of a key, flowers, lightning, a volcano, a wildebeest getting taken down by a croc, a bomb, smiley faces, clouds, etc. I also have found a few people pictures, but I am trying to stay away from “white” people, so the kids can connect with the pictures better. I have cut out words and headlines such as, “Smile”, “Crisis!”, “charge!”, “how to cope”, “family”, “Time for something new”, “Saved my life”, “the power of friendship”, “worst nightmare”, etc. Even artistic backgrounds of various colors that might depict “cheerfulness” or “foreboding” (or any other positive and negative emotions) would be helpful. THANK YOU for taking time to help me help these kids express themselves so they can begin to heal as we speak Truth into their lives and pray with them.
Magazine cut outs can be put in an envelope (preferably with a piece of cardboard to keep them flat) and mailed to:
Amy Beagle
P.O. Box 4153
Kitale, Kenya 30200
Now, off to start creating my own story in collage so I can set the example of opening up when it's scary....
