I am deep in the process of a very personal art project– the 100 Herons Art Project– to answer the call to create art born out of my deep desire to capture the magic of the herons in my neighborhood…
“The answer must be, I think, that beauty and grace are performed whether or not we will or sense them. The least we can do is try to be there.” ― Annie Dillard
… and to help support my ability to provide free arts programming for a local program that supports refugee youth ages 16-24.
Session 1 was yesterday!
I hopped on transit yesterday afternoon and spent a couple hours on the Skytrain and the bus headed to a Lower Mainland youth program that supports refugee youth.
This program is extraordinary- “a collaborative, case-managed service model for the delivery of comprehensive, holistic and client-centred programming.” It provides youth with support services across the board, helping them navigate their new environment, learn life skills, build community and connection.
Today was Session 1 of the initial intro to the free arts programming that I will be providing this for the group this summer. We spent an hour and a half together in a cramped room that filled with lots of laughter and smiles as I instructed in English (and Swedish as one young woman who is multi-fluent exclaimed that she knows Swedish) while the program coordinators translated. It was quite wonderful hearing art instruction in multiple languages all at the same time! I did my usual intro lesson using newsprint and china markers drawing OWLS and 3-D eyes to build trust, introduce my style and to create safe space.
Many of the participants grabbed a china marker on their way out at the end of the session. YES! That is what it’s all about!
Sitting on the two hour ride home, my mind wanted to go to: What are you doing? How can you sustain this? But my heart was full. I feel so honored to spend time with this wonderful group.
Art creates joy. If only in the moment. And that is all we have.
Check the panels at:
I currently have several 20″ x 30″ panels in progress. They are being embroidered and embellished. They will be exhibited at various community events in August!
INTERESTED IN PRE-PURCHASING PANELS?
The panels are being made available for pre-purchase on my ETSY site:
I had the pleasure of visiting with my dear friend Teri’s grade 1 and 2 class today in a Vancouver school! (Teri is a SUPERSTAR teacher and her classroom is a creative paradise). These incredible young artists created a beautiful heron mural as well as hummingbird studies.
I am so grateful for their generous bake sale donation towards the 100 HERONS project! I’ll be drawing more sponsored herons this week!
THE PROJECT:
I am creating of twelve 20″ x 30″ panels depicting a total 100 Herons [between June 14 to July 31, 2017].
For every $25 raised I will draw a heron!
THE SPONSORED ART will allow me to develop and provide much-needed FREE ART LESSONS for REFUGEE YOUTH from war-torn countries at a Lower Mainland program in July and August.
DONATION BUTTON:
I will be drawing a heron for every $25 raised!
Any amount welcome! Donors of $10.00 CAD or more can choose to have their name and/or a special message woven into Heron nest imagery in the panels.
You can donate via PayPal or email transfer britakatarina@gmail.com. I can provide receipts.
Check the panels at:
I currently have several 20″ x 30″ panels in progress. They are being embroidered and embellished. They will be exhibited at various community events in August!
INTERESTED IN PRE-PURCHASING PANELS?
The panels are being made available for pre-purchase on my ETSY site:
I am creating of twelve 20″ x 30″ panels depicting a total 100 Herons [between June 14 to July 31, 2017].
For every $25 raised I will draw a heron!
THE SPONSORED ART will allow me to develop and provide much-needed FREE ART LESSONS for REFUGEE YOUTH from war-torn countries at a Lower Mainland program in July and August.
DONATION BUTTON:
I will be drawing a heron for every $25 raised!
Any amount welcome! Donors of $10.00 CAD or more can choose to have their name and/or a special message woven into Heron nest imagery in the panels.
You can donate via PayPal or email transfer britakatarina@gmail.com. I can provide receipts.
Check the panels at:
I currently have several 20″ x 30″ panels in progress. They are being embroidered and embellished. They will be exhibited at various community events in August!
INTERESTED IN PRE-PURCHASING PANELS?
The panels are being made available for pre-purchase on my ETSY site:
– and embroidered with additions of discarded nest sticks, found feathers, string, beads, and sponsor names.
Yesterday, I took a walk to the heron nests with my friend Darcy to look for some feathers in the grass for collaging…
Usually I find one or two heron feathers. Well, we came across a LARGE pile of scattered heron feathers– obviously from a heron who lost its life to a predator. A teen heron perhaps? Of course I had to gather as many as I could– thanking and honoring the heron’s life by incorporating the feathers into the art.
A feather from a heron symbolizes patience, grace and confidence…
I took the feathers home, soaked them in gentle detergent to clean and disinfect, and laid them out on newsprint to dry them. I then categorized them and collected them into mason jars.
I am creating of twelve 20″ x 30″ panels depicting a total 100 Herons between June 14 to July 31, 2017.
For every $25 raised I will draw a heron!
THE SPONSORED ART will allow me to develop and provide FREE ART LESSONS for REFUGEE YOUTH from war-torn countries at a Lower Mainland program.
DONATION BUTTON:
I will be drawing a heron for every $25 raised!
Any amount welcome! Donors of $10.00 CAD or more can choose to have their name and/or a special message woven into Heron nest imagery in the panels.
You can donate via PayPal or email transfer britakatarina@gmail.com. I can provide receipts.
Check the panels at:
I currently have several 20″ x 30″ panels in progress. They are being embroidered and embellished. They will be exhibited at various community events in August!
INTERESTED IN PRE-PURCHASING PANELS?
The panels are being made available for pre-purchase on my ETSY site:
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The art will be drawn in my signature style– collaged onto 20″ x 30″ foam board panels and embroidered with additions of discarded nest sticks, found feathers, string, beads, and sponsor names.
Sample drawing showing chinamarker on newsprint, embroidered, with additions of discarded heron nest stick, found heron and seagull feathers, recycled beads
THE BACKGROUND:
I have been asked if I can provide art lessons to a group in Surrey, BC, that provides support services for youth ages 16-24 who have experienced extreme trauma and life disruption. The youth comprise of refugees from war-torn countries.
These particularly vulnerable youth face challenges and barriers that may include: lack of employment, experience of violence / trauma, lack of education /interrupted education, cultural shock, family size / issues, little or no English, social isolation, mental health/chronic health issues, lack of financial means, criminal justice issues, housing issues, alcohol/drug addiction, lack of support…
The group meets twice a week and the youth have expressed a strong desire arts-based programming.
ART and creative expression breaks down the barriers, builds connection and resiliency, and strengthens the participants’ abilities in making healthy decisions about their futures. Participation in therapeutic art programming provides participants with the opportunity for developing healthy relationship skills, learn stress and anger management, and build the confidence to be the best possible versions of themselves. Art connects us beyond language. We connect with the heart, within a safe space. We express together and move towards healing.
The program staff, who I met during an inclusion focus group, are incredible and dedicated. They provide extraordinary services on an extremely tight budget. I have been asked me about my services and fees. I am so honoured to be asked.Creating art and helping others express themselves creatively is what I am on this planet to do. This is EXACTLY the type of work that makes my heart sing! But there is no way I could/would/should charge a fee for my services and supplies to this group.
THE NEED:
Unfortunately, I am between contracts and currently not in a financial position to be able to volunteer my time to develop and facilitate the program and nor provide supplies. And the need is urgent. This is not the time to wait for months and months for grant opportunities.
What to do?
I took a walk into “my backyard” the other day– Stanley Park. I stood for a long time under the heronry wondering about my own life, my work, about my desire to provide free programming to youth, at a loss as to what to do next. I bathed myself in the sounds of the heron chicks. I continued on a long walk into the trees, around the lagoon, listening. Walking with the question.
I dreamt that night of 100 Herons, walking among them. A mixture of being up in the trees with them, under the trees, in the water. I had a peaceful heart, feeling this was a message about the healing power of art– about my need to make personal commitment to my true path:
TO CREATE, to focus on my gifts. To stop searching elsewhere.
THE ANSWER LIES IN MY ART. In my heART.
You are being called to take courage and follow your true path, which will be discovered through exploring your inner self. Find what draws you to action.
I have arrived! (Excuse any formatting issues as I am using the WordPress app on my iPad!)
Those of you that know me know that I am not used to travelling (aka NERVOUS WRECK) so a simple trip from Vancouver to wherever comes with its share of anxiety! But I am getting better! My two recent trips to Toronto were magical! They showed me that I have entered to a new chapter of my life- a chapter of a new kind freedom, full of possibilities.
So the apparent travelling theme of 2016 continues with this trip to Williams Lake!
I am happy I seem to be able to push my anxious self to realize anxiety is just that- anxiety. It is the unknown that gets my nerves a-tumbling! The anxiety lessens once I have a checklist and all my stuff packed:
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And lowers more once I find myself all checked in and through security with coffee in hand and a good book with me.
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On the Canada Line Skytrain on the way to the airport- it hit me that in that moment, I so desperately wanted to chat with my Dad about my trip today. He would have pulled out a map, told me all the history of his many visits here, given me the pep talk. Despite being on the Skytrain with countless travelers also headed to the airport, I felt the familiar deafening silence of nostalgia.
Strangely in the Gate B area, I made a quick impromptu purchase of a little moose-
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Why?! I mean- honestly, the last thing I need is another stuffed animal. But lo and behold- I sense the moose was actually from mom and dad (the moose is a classic symbol of Sweden, and also so very British Columbia to me). Stay with me here…
I saw the plane, and once boarded, I knew the MOOSE was NECESSARY! I don’t do well in small spaces! Every cell in my body was shaking! I was looking at that open door- knowing I couldn’t bolt, yet…
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Oh my , that little “unnecessary” moose was SQUEEZED! It’s antlers were like mom and dad’s hands! It soaked up my sweat from my palms. SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZE!!! Jeezus! But what do you know? Turns out though that that little plane was GREAT! I knew there was a little lesson in all this for me.
Face your fucking fears, meet them with love, and expand your wings! FLY into the unknown!
And now I find myself in a sweet hotel room in Williams Lake and feeling incredible gratitude for the invite to this week from Sarah Jackman (who is a superstar/angel on Earth by the way), Punky Lake Wilderness Camp Society and for that little plane. And that little moose.
(Time for some prepping drawing lessons- a full house of students tomorrow!)
One-of-a-kind journals with hand-drawn, embroidered covers containing 12 of my original journaling exercises
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I have been developing a little project for awhile now, inspired by my desires to:
• combine my learned lessons from years of facilitating art sessions
• reach more people that doesn’t require arranging in-person workshops.
But I want to do it in a very personal way.
So what you get is a hand-drawn and hand-written product- and no two journals are alike!
This is not a published handbook or photocopied exercises. This is a tangible, personal art program.
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Each journal is a composition book with a unique cover– featuring surprise images(you never know what you’re gonna get) on the front and back, hand-drawn by me.
These images are used to inspire certain exercises in the journal.
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The Badger/Crumb edition front coverThe Badger/Crumb edition back cover
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Inside you’ll find 12 of my original journaling exercises to facilitate you to explore in a safe and fun way. I also include an opening and closing exercise. Each exercise takes up about 4-8 pages.
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Cost: $135.00
This is not just a journal
It’s essentially a 12-session personal workshop series!
How to purchase: $135.00 CAD Plus $8.00 shipping
Payment options:
1. Email transfer directly to britakatarina@gmail.com
You will then email me a shipping address and I will create your unique journal. It will take about 3-4 weeks to receive it.
Group rates available for 5 or more.
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Mouse edition front cover
Mouse edition back cover
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And yes- you can then share these exercises. And share your results with me! I’d love to see where you take it! There is no right or wrong- just freedom! My goal is to spread the empowering/expressive force of creative journaling!
