Category Archives: families in the Arts

Excellence in Independent Publishing

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“Art is not a thing; it is a way”.  ~Elbert Hubbard 

What inspires me to no end about independent publishers is the way in which they convey through books, films and music their vision about what the world needs now. After all, the world is changing! 

Yesterday, we featured two authors who will receive 2011 IPPY awards (Independent book publishing awards) on May 23rd inNew York City. These are just two of many non-traditional publishers that are being recognized with an IPPY award for their excellence in publishing. 

For the next few days, we will feature a few more IPPY award winners.  I have chosen a few titles that I feel might be of particular interest to our readers. 

Fine Art Category: Picasso Looks at Degas (Sterling & Francine Clark Art Institute) http://www.clarkart.edu/

Performing Arts: The 101 Greatest Song & Dance Movies (Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers). 

Photography: Stieglitz, Steichen & Strand: Masterworks from the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MetropolitanMuseum of Art & Yale Press) 

Architecture: Ecological Urbanism, by Mohsen Mostafavi with Gareth Doherty (Lars Muller Publishers). 

 Tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling, we will feature IPPY award winners in the categories of religious fiction, visionary fiction, children’s picture books and juvenile/teen/young adult. 

The full list of 2011 IPPY award winners is lengthy and contains more than 80 categories with gold, silver and bronze medalists in each category. To see the entire list, please visit http://bit.ly/llL02x.

 Come on back into our world tomorrow for more independent words, thoughts and views!

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Sculpture Artist Works Every Minute, Every Day

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“Enjoy the little things for one day you may look back and realize they were big things.” ~Robert Brault

 I wasn’t kidding last week when I said “I might just go find something fulfilling to do this spring, like play in a big sandbox, so I can once again view the world through the eyes of a child.” This Easter weekend, my husband, our adult son and I had a reunion  in southern Colorado, not too far from the border of New Mexico. We visited San Luis Valley to see  Great Sand Dunes National Park  http://bit.ly/e6KfIw. 

There is an artist in residence at this National Park who works 24/7. She is assisted in her sculpture work by her helpers, the wind, the rain, the freeze and the thaw of the Colorado snow. The changing climate and seasons and the sub-surface aquifer also help to chisel and carve the sand sculpture created by the artist, Mother Earth. One only needs to stand amid this enormous natural sculpture for moments to realize that the sweeping winds change the shape and form of  nature’s art work  from moment to moment. 

The sand dunes at this National Park, surrounded by majestic 14,000 ft mountain peaks are the tallest sand dunes in North America. They measure 750 feet high covering more than 330 square miles. One of the most diverse parks in the country, the elevation ranges from 7,515’ to 13,604.’ It includes one of the rarest natural eco-systems on earth. From mountain peaks to sandy deserts to wetlands, this National Park leaves no doubt in one’s mind that God, the greatest architect in the World, created this glorious site for mankind to enjoy. For more information on how this vast area of sand was deposited in a very remote mountainous area of Colorado, visit http://www.nps.gov/grsa/index.htm. 

In a place where there are not many things to do other than witness the beauty of the Sangre de ChristoMountains(meaning blood of Christ) and the awesome Great Sand Dunes National Park, we filled our Easter baskets with remembering how nice it was to be all together again, as a family of three.

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Filling My Basket

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“From heav’nly thoughts all true delight doth spring.” ~ Thomas Campion 
 
As you will remember from yesterday’s blog, I was bound and determined to go find spring. But there was no need – spring came and found me! 
 
Yesterday, as I took my daily lunchtime walk, I was drawn to a rock along the shoreline of  the Yampa River. I decided to sit and stay awhile. The river flowed loudly and briskly by, waters high from the snowmelt, cascading down from the upper elevations of the Rocky Mountains. As I sat, I began to drift slowly and deeply into my own thoughts of our upcoming Easter reunion with our son. Guess what happened? I was roused by “quack, quack…quack, quack, quack!” Two little mallard ducks floated nearby. Climbing out of the river to greet me, I watched the little ducklings waddle, and peck at the ground looking for earthworms. I thought “these two little ducks have come to give me a message –  be patient, spring is on the way.” 

Often we search only for outward signs of spring – changes in the weather and landscape.  But, in the stillness and silence of a moment, we realize that an awakening of spirit comes from within. We need to listen. Feelings of rejuvenation and renewal can come in unexpected ways and during unanticipated times. 

I am going to take a break from the blogging world. I will return after Easter. I am going to take time to discover subtle changes in my own spirit. I will say goodbye to winter, for once and for all, and allow spring to enter and settle within my soul. I will be spending time with my loved ones making more memories as a family and piling our baskets high with All Things Fulfilling. I will keep you posted as to how my spring unfolds.

 Happy Easter to You! May you find re-birth and renewal in your life,  in your own special way!

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Rockwell Art: All about Community

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All I know is that whatever type of work I do, I try to give it my very best. Art has been my life. ~ Norman Rockwell        

Some of the most recognizable art in history are the illustrations of Norman Rockwell. His work reflects what was most important to him – life in small town America and the people who were integral to the fabric of the community in which he lived. For me, fulfilling thoughts of life in much simpler times are recalled when I see iconic Rockwell images. 

Now, by agreement between Kiwanis International www.kiwanisinternational.org and the Norman Rockwell Licensing Company of Niles, Illinois, outstanding community leaders, recognized by Kiwanis International, can now receive a fulfilling award of a Rockwell-style portrait to grace the walls of their homes. Photographs of Kiwanis Recognition Award recipients are transformed into images by outstanding artists licensed to put the stamp of Norman Rockwell Moments™ www.normanrockwellmoments.org onto their work. 

What a natural and splendid pairing of Kiwanis International and Norman Rockwell Moments™ this is!  Norman Rockwell-style portraits are heirloom gifts to entire families. They are lasting reminders to children, in future generations, of what set their ancestors apart. It was the very same qualities that Norman Rockwell sought in his subjects to paint – people who stood out in their communities. 

Kiwanis aims to bring a new whole generation of young adults into the fold. Maintaining and building strong communities in the 21st century will be as important to this non-profit organization as when the organization began in Detroit in 1914. 

Are you a young adult who believes that community spirit builds a better world? If so, contact your local Kiwanis Club and become a member. Perhaps someday you will be recognized as a community leader!

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A Film Sweet-Treat for Kids

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“…all the choicest of things and all that your heart holds dear Have A Fun- Filled Day.”  

Looking for a fulfilling way to treat your kids to something different during this Easter season? According to box office sales, families in communities everywhere are going to the Hop! Ticket sales of this animated “Easter theme” film brought in $37.5 million over the weekend of April 4th alone. This fun, family-friendly movie will be playing in theatres all month long. By all indicators, Hop, has done better in sales than the film industry expected and it’s widespread marketing is paying off. 

Other newly-released films worthy of considering taking in this weekend: 

  • Hanna
  • Soul Surfer
  • Arthur
  • Your Highness 

For more information the ratings of these films and whether these films will be playing at a theatre near you, please visit: www.reelzchannel.com. You can also see film trailers on Reelz Channel, the TV station about movies! 

Rebuild your family life after a long work week.  Have a fulfilling weekend with your children , at the movies – see  Hop!  Easter entertainment for kids and parents.

Glassworks Inspired by Nature

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 “I will be the gladdest thing under the sun. I will touch a hundred flowers and not pick one.” ~ Edna St. Vincent Millay 

 

Tiffany glass is a remarkable example of artists being inspired by elements of nature. Lamps, vases, stained glass designed and created by Louis Comfort Tiffany incorporate birds, flora and fauna into the composition of the piece.

Huge installations of stained glass windows, depicting the life of Christ, are incorporated in the architecture of many churches. In the city where I was born and raised, Baltimore, Maryland, there is a church, the Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church, which is noted for its 12 outstanding Tiffany stained glass windows. It is also the place where in 1887, the church’s minister, Maltbie Babcock wrote the beautiful hymn “This is My Father’s World.” 

Today, the church still honors the creator of the magnificent stained glass windows that grace the church’s walls, with “The Tiffany Series.” The series of stellar classical concerts and lectures draw distinguished speakers and avid followers. For more information on this church, exceptionally rich in culture both in its programs and its architecture, please visit http://bit.ly/eTDFtF. 

“Clara and Mr. Tiffany” written by Susan Vreeland, and newly published in 2011, is a book of historical art fiction. This book,  has been of great interest to me. It  gives insight into the artist, Louis Comfort Tiffany, the development of the process of stained glass- making and how nature inspired Mr. Tiffany’s work. 

“New age thought” does not include drawing inspiration from nature. Artists from the beginning of time, in places all over the world, have been motivated and illuminated by the natural world. 

There is an issue, brought to light by one of the characters of the book, that brings conflict to many Artists. Artists have faced this dilemma for decades and it is carried throughout the main theme of the book “Clara and Mr. Tiffany.” We will explore this theme later in the week on All Things Fulfilling. Come on back!

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Have we Met Before?

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“Books are the best of things if well used; if abused, among the worst. They are good for nothing but to inspire.”    ~Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Increasingly businesses are stepping into the arena of e-marketing. It is a whole new tactic of promoting products, services, individuals and companies in the business world. Knowing how to use internet marketing effectively is key. 

I read something the other day that made me think there may a fulfilling reason to communicate with people on-line,  that I had never considered before.  According to a study in the journal Cognition, http://bit.ly/hRtWxK our ability to remember faces peaks between ages 30 and 34. People 35 years and older are now finding there are ways to put faces and names together over the internet.   Maybe that explains why kids are no longer the only ones connecting on the world-wide-web. Am I over-thinking it by saying “the younger generation is compassionate and are developing ways of connecting faces and names, on-line, to help out their forgetful elders ?”  Perhaps! 

The viral world is helping to connect people around the world through meet-up groups, too.  People with similar business interests can now get together on-line or arrange “face to face” meetings. 

 Denver is home to the nation’s largest meet-up group in the country. The group is comprised of creative professionals www.meetup.com/creative-connections. It has a growing membership of over 1,000 strong. So large is this group, they meet at the Colorado Community Church http://www.coloradocommunity.org/ , a facility that can accommodate all. Creative Connections draws Artists (all forms), writers, photographers,  marketing and advertising creatives. Professionals who make their living through TV, the internet, radio and video production also attend the twice weekly meetings. 

If you have a specific career interest, and are looking for opportunities to meet up with like-minded people, connect through www.meetup.com.    

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It is a LunaFest Film Friday!

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It is Film Friday! And it is going to be a fulfilling evening for film-lovers in Steamboat Springs, CO. Tonight the Luna Fest® will be at the Bud Werner Library. This film festival will benefit the Breast Cancer Fund and the Yampa Valley Breast Cancer Awareness Project/Bust of Steamboat. 

LunaFest® films are short films which highlight women’s issues such as aging, motherhood, women’s health and cultural diversity. The ten short films being shown will range from documentary to animation to fictional drama. Celebrating women, their stories and their talents through the power of film is the mission of the Luna Fest®. 

All of the films are produced by women filmmakers, some of whom are independent filmmakers, and have won industry awards for their ability to start dialogues and bring understanding to the women’s issues that they involve. 

For more information on the event, please visit: www.steamboatlibrary.org 

For more information on how to host a LunaFest® in your community: http://bit.ly/8u4QrA 

To learn more about the fund-raising cause that the LunaFest® will support: http://thebustofsteamboat.org/ 

This film festival, The LunaFest® is a great representation of how the power of film brings education, awareness and important story-telling to communities of people.

We look forward to sharing with you on All Things Fulfilling, more information on our favorite films of the LunaFest® evening, at a later date!

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See you tonight!

Drawing New Patrons of the Arts

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“All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree.” ~ Albert Einstein 

There is a project on the horizon that will bring two synergistic forces together to create a groundbreaking model for museums across the country. The New Young at Art Museum and Broward County Children’s Reading Center is aimed at providing a fulfilling experience that will develop a “new generation of patrons, supporters and patrons of the Arts.” 

This 21.5 million dollar complex in Broward County, Florida is currently under construction. The funding for the project comes from a mix of private investment, public and governmental funds and a $500,000 Knight Arts Initiative Challenge Grant from The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. http://www.knightfoundation.org/. The building will be a silver-LEED certified structure of award winning design. 

All enclosed under one roof will be exhibition space of WonderScapes, GreenScapes, ArtScapes and CultureScapes which will enhance learning about our diverse world, the environment, creativity and imagination. Multi-media studio art space is all in the design, too. 

The experience will be both creative and educationally stimulating for children and adults, alike. The mission is to shape the community and the way that families share reading and art. For more information on this exciting new cultural center, please visit http://bit.ly/grUfJc.

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Gift of an Irishman

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 “These things, I warmly wish for you- Someone to love, some work to do,
A bit of o’ sun, a bit o’ cheer. And a guardian angel always near.”~ Irish Blessing 

Are you wearing the green today? On this St. Patty’s Day, as I have for the past 35 years, my shamrock pin is placed over my heart on my lapel. The shamrock pin was given to me as a gift from my Irish in-laws. Just before I met my mother-in law and father in-law, they had taken a trip to Ireland and had brought the shamrock pin back as a souvenir. The gift of the shamrock, to me, represented a fulfilling sign of approval – I had passed “the test!”

My in-laws are no longer on this earth. Every March 17th I think, with appreciation, about their gift of the four leaf clover and what it represented to them and to me:

  • Faith – A chance to learn a little about their beliefs. My in-laws had a strong faith in the Catholic Church, as many Irish do.
  • Love – We reciprocated plenty of that. From day one they accepted me unconditionally as the daughter they never had.
  • Hope – My in-laws hope was for an enduring marriage for their son. When we announced the arrival of the greatest gift of all, the birth of a little leprechaun, my in-laws really danced an Irish jig!
  • Luck. As luck would have it, my relationship to my in-laws was nothing but wonderful. I don’t have a single “I Hate my In-Laws” story or joke to tell. 

There is a little sadness in this day for me. Six months after our “little leprechaun” was born, my father-in-law passed away. Our son never got to know his Grandfather Leonard. When he asks what his grandfather Leonard was like, I tell him “he gave me the gift of a shamrock and all that it represents.”

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all of you Irish men and Irish ladies! Drink a little green beer, dance a little Irish jig, listen to award-winning Irish independent recording star Mary Black. Her music has taken America and other countries by storm!  http://www.mary-black.net/ Enjoy this day of celebration of Irish heritage.

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