Inside Out: youth empowerment, peer to peer interaction and community connections.

October 13, 2014October 13, 2014 | Kat Thorsen

I am so excited to be part of this incredible project inspired by my hero JR:

MOUNTAINSIDE SECONDARY: Inside Out Project: Own Your Journey

Youth-run initiative using the vehicle of portrait photography and street art to learn life and transferable skills while developing self-empowerment, peer to peer interaction and community connections.

THEMES: Connection and Empowerment

CO-FACILITATORS: IAN POWELL, KAT THORSEN

Pilot Project: September 30, 2014- October 30, 2014

Mountainside Secondary School (MSS) is the North Vancouver School Districts smallest and newest secondary school, meeting the Ministry of Education requirements for funding as an Alternative School (BCEDAlternate Program Policy).

MSS functions as part of the continuum of social/emotional/behavioural supports that are available to all students at all secondary schools in the NVSD, and targets students in Grades 9-12 (ages 14-19).
MSS aims to allow for varied and alternate pathways to graduation (80 credit or Adult) or School Completion, and beyond.

MSS Core Values

Mutual respect
Genuine relationships
Flexibility
Choice
Individual accountability
Community Connections

Screen shot 2014-08-31 at 4.24.03 PM — TEST SHOOT, INTERSECTIONS MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH SOCIETY, 2013-2014 (including Mountainside students/alumni)

We are proud to be part of the global art initiative INSIDE OUT PROJECT founded by JR:

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As mentioned, we are part of a global art initiative founded by French street artist JR, winner of the 2011 Ted Talk Prize. Our project is called: The Inside Out Project- Own Your Journey.

As they work through the curriculum, the students will be gaining some valuable life and transferable skills.

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We use TED TALKS to inspire and to induce dialogue and self-reflection around the theme.

Screen shot 2014-10-10 at 10.03.20 PM — Student journal entry

When you try to be yourself there will be people who will put you down. You grow up looking up to people and not knowing who you are and being told what to do and what not to do. We all deal with pain in different ways- some do it in a sad way. Having to live in a world where judging a person we don’t even know is a good way to make yourself feel better, or even judging a person makes ‘cool.’ But in the end we are all on this earth for a reason ans we should all love ourselves the way we are and respect all of our good qualities and get rid of all the negative, cruelty thoughts. – student journal entry

We are registering our project with JR’s site on Tuesday! And our unique angle is that it is a youth run project and that by addressing their own vulnerability by connecting w people/community through portrait photography, the youth, in turn, empower the subject to feel comfortable being vulnerable in front of the camera!

The project will culminate in a large outdoor installation in the Spring. A documentary and a behind the scenes short film will also be produced!

Co-facilitator Ian Powell and his dog, Finnegan!

STAY TUNED FOR OUR FUNDRAISER TO HELP US WITH PRINTING COSTS AND PROGRAM EXPANSION!!!

The Waves- Matt Roy’s addition to our COMMUNITY JOURNAL PROJECT! #drawntogether #recycledart

September 11, 2013 | Kat Thorsen

My father and I kept mutual journals and one of our original journals was pulled apart and offered to the community.
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My father pointing to a favorite journal page.
I am so excited to be witnessing my Father’s dream project of community journals unfolding.

The latest addition is by Matt Roy:

He added a page from Virginia Woolf’s The Waves to create a 3-D visual on top of our journal page. Very gentle, beautiful, healing…



Now begins to rise in me the familiar rhythm; words that have lain dormant now lift, now toss their crests, and fall and rise, and falls again. I am a poet, yes. Surely I am a great poet. ― Virginia Woolf, The Waves



Recall:

ADD TO THE JOURNAL PAGES AND BE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY JOURNAL PROJECT!

Join now on ETSY:

Sign up for $30!

YOUR PURCHASE INCLUDES TWO ORIGINAL HAND-MADE DOUBLE-SIDED THERAPEUTIC JOURNAL PAGES CREATED BY MY FATHER AND I FOR YOU TO ALTER AND ADD TO.

YOU ALSO RECEIVE OUR BOOK, “DRAWN TOGETHER: MAINTAINING CONNECTIONS AND NAVIGATING LIFE’S CHALLENGES WITH ART.”

Click on image to sign up:

My father suffered a massive stroke in 2005 that left him paralyzed on one side at the age of 75. Then on November 8, 2008, Roar’s beloved wife (my mother Karin) lost her battle to pancreatic cancer. Despite all these major life changes, my father’s tenacity, stubbornness, strength, creativity and most importantly his humor- allowed him to forge a life that was both fulfilling and rewarding.

Though he resided in a long term care facility and required assistance in the most basic life necessities like toiletry and dressing, Dad always said, “I love my life.” He would wake each day excited about his next drawing. Creativity has truly saved his mental health and gave him sense of purpose and empowerment.

My father passed away October 25, 2012. I am blessed because he died knowing we realized our dream of creating a book about his post-stroke art; we pressed send to the publisher on October 15, 2012.

The book, DRAWN TOGETHER: MAINTAINING CONNECTIONS AND NAVIGATING LIFE’S CHALLENGES WITH ART, is now in my hands and ready to be shared with the world!

READ MORE AT: DRAWN TOGETHER

But I want to share it with you in a unique way by adding YOU to the journey.

Dad’s art provided him with a much needed connection to the world. We made journals together for many years as we processed life’s challenges.

Dad’s dream was to include the community in these journals. So I am making available pages from our special journals we created around 2002-2005. They are your journal pages to keep, but my hope is that you add to these pages- IN ANY WAY YOU LIKE- and send them back to me to create a COMMUNITY JOURNAL PROJECT that will be exhibited at a DRAWN TOGETHER art event.

BE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY JOURNAL PROJECT!

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CHECK OUT GRETCHEN MILLER‘s GLORIOUS PAGES:

"[Added to] December 2002 Page from Kat & Roar’s Journal" — “[Added to] December 2002 Page from Kat & Roar’s Journal”

"[Added to detail] Another December 2002 Journal Page" — “[Added to detail] Another December 2002 Journal Page”

And Jennifer Lyons‘ addition. She transformed the binding of the journal into a glorious caterpillar:

Jennifer of @SketchChange’s genius addition to our COMMUNITY JOURNAL PROJECT! #drawntogether #recycledart

March 26, 2013March 26, 2013 | Kat Thorsen

Our original journal was pulled apart to offer to the community.
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My father pointing at a favorite journal page.
I am so excited to be witnessing my Father’s dream project of community journals unfolding. Take a look at what my dear friend Jennifer did!!!
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: Jennifer Lyons pulling apart the journal and choosing her pages!

Take note of the spiral binding from the journal.

She transformed the spiral binding into a magical caterpillar filled using recycled materials. It’s GENIUS. Filled with empowering sayings, endless visual candy.

He even has a pair of glasses and his own little copy of Drawn Together!

She created beautiful cards out of the pages.

Kat Thorsen always brings tears to my eyes and a smile to my heart. I love her raw enthusiasm and character. I jumped with excitement when I found out that the journal pages that inspired drawn together were being shared to re-make. As an avid recycler and re-purposer I thought it was brilliant and courageous to let the pages that held her and her father go to be re-born through others creativity. Thank you for sharing Kat and ecstatic to keep re-making with the pages! For me the process of creating art from recycled materials is like a metaphor for my life. what was once old can now be new through the process of transformation, much like the caterpillar. – Jennifer

THANK YOU JENNIFER! Check her out:

CREATIVE LIFE EXPRESSION ON FACEBOOK

JENNIFER ON TWITTER: @sketchchange

JENNIFER is an INSPIRED AUTHOR at INFLUENCE PUBLISHING:

The Sketchpad that Changed the World
Making world peace your personal mission through the use of imagination in the change process.

If you have ever wanted to change the world be inspired to make your own difference. This story presents how a sketchpad changed the life of a people pleaser trapped in a box. It is an inspirational message that shares the tools Jennifer used to release her past and embrace her gifts while following the joy of her hearts desires.

Biography

Author Photo: Bopomo Pictures

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ADD TO THE JOURNAL PAGES AND BE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY JOURNAL PROJECT!

Join now on ETSY:

Sign up for $30!

YOUR PURCHASE INCLUDES TWO ORIGINAL HAND-MADE DOUBLE-SIDED THERAPEUTIC JOURNAL PAGES CREATED BY MY FATHER AND I FOR YOU TO ALTER AND ADD TO.

YOU ALSO RECEIVE OUR BOOK, “DRAWN TOGETHER: MAINTAINING CONNECTIONS AND NAVIGATING LIFE’S CHALLENGES WITH ART.”

Click on image to sign up:

My father passed away October 25, 2012. I am blessed because he died knowing we realized our dream of creating a book about his post-stroke art; we pressed send to the publisher on October 15, 2012.

The book, DRAWN TOGETHER: MAINTAINING CONNECTIONS AND NAVIGATING LIFE’S CHALLENGES WITH ART, is now in my hands and ready to be shared with the world!

READ MORE AT: DRAWN TOGETHER

But I want to share it with you in a unique way by adding YOU to the journey.

Dad’s art provided him with a much needed connection to the world. We made journals together for many years as we processed life’s challenges.

BE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY JOURNAL PROJECT!

AND CHECK OUT GRETCHEN MILLER‘s GLORIOUS PAGES:

GORGEOUS!!!

Edwyn Collins Home Again: reawakening empowerment after a stroke with #art #music

February 23, 2013February 23, 2013 | Kat Thorsen

Edwyn Collin’s journey after his stroke reminds of my father‘s.

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Check out Edwyn’s post-stroke drawings:

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DRAWN TOGETHER: MAINTAINING CONNECTIONS AND NAVIGATING LIFE’S CHALLENGES WITH ART

ADD TO THE JOURNAL PAGES AND BE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY JOURNAL PROJECT!

Join now on ETSY:

Sign up for $30!

YOUR PURCHASE INCLUDES TWO ORIGINAL HAND-MADE DOUBLE-SIDED THERAPEUTIC JOURNAL PAGES CREATED BY MY FATHER AND I.

YOU ALSO RECEIVE OUR BOOK, “DRAWN TOGETHER: MAINTAINING CONNECTIONS AND NAVIGATING LIFE’S CHALLENGES WITH ART.”

Click on image to sign up:

My father passed away October 25, 2012. I am blessed because he died knowing we realized our dream of creating a book about his post-stroke art; we pressed send to the publisher on October 15, 2012.

The book, DRAWN TOGETHER: MAINTAINING CONNECTIONS AND NAVIGATING LIFE’S CHALLENGES WITH ART, is now in my hands and ready to be shared with the world!

READ MORE AT: DRAWN TOGETHER

But I want to share it with you in a unique way by adding YOU to the journey.

Dad’s art provided him with a much needed connection to the world. We made journals together for many years as we processed life’s challenges.

Dad’s dream was to include the community in these journals. So I am making available pages from our special journals we created around 2002-2005. They are you journal pages to keep, but my hope is that you add to these pages- IN ANY WAY YOU LIKE- and send them back to me to create a COMMUNITY JOURNAL PROJECT that will be exhibited at a DRAWN TOGETHER art event.

Jennifer Lyons pulling apart the journal and choosing her pages!

BE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY JOURNAL PROJECT!

—

Paperback: 100 pages
Publisher: Influence Publishing (January 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1771410043
ISBN-13: 978-1771410045
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches

DRAWN TOGETHER, THE DOCUMENTARY

BY JULIAN BOWERS (my son/Roar’s grandson):

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ADD TO THE JOURNAL PAGES AND BE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY JOURNAL PROJECT! #drawntogether

February 19, 2013 | Kat Thorsen

ADD TO THE JOURNAL PAGES AND BE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY JOURNAL PROJECT!

Join now on ETSY:

Sign up for $30!

YOUR PURCHASE INCLUDES TWO ORIGINAL HAND-MADE DOUBLE-SIDED THERAPEUTIC JOURNAL PAGES CREATED BY MY FATHER AND I.

YOU ALSO RECEIVE OUR BOOK, “DRAWN TOGETHER: MAINTAINING CONNECTIONS AND NAVIGATING LIFE’S CHALLENGES WITH ART.”

Click on image to sign up:

My father passed away October 25, 2012. I am blessed because he died knowing we realized our dream of creating a book about his post-stroke art; we pressed send to the publisher on October 15, 2012.

The book, DRAWN TOGETHER: MAINTAINING CONNECTIONS AND NAVIGATING LIFE’S CHALLENGES WITH ART, is now in my hands and ready to be shared with the world!

READ MORE AT: DRAWN TOGETHER

But I want to share it with you in a unique way by adding YOU to the journey.

Dad’s art provided him with a much needed connection to the world. We made journals together for many years as we processed life’s challenges.

BE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY JOURNAL PROJECT!

—

Paperback: 100 pages
Publisher: Influence Publishing (January 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1771410043
ISBN-13: 978-1771410045
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches

“Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets.” Witnessing the deterioration. #streetart #downtowneastside

January 5, 2013 | Kat Thorsen

Let us go then, you and I,

When the evening is spread out against the sky

Like a patient etherised upon a table;

Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets,

The muttering retreats

Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels

And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells:

Streets that follow like a tedious argument

Of insidious intent

To lead you to an overwhelming question…

Oh, do not ask, “What is it?”

Let us go and make our visit.

– TS Eliot Excerpt from The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock

Photos of our wall by street art documentarian (instagram) @craige13:

Check out more street art:

China Marker Bowie and other portraits

Portrait: Jacqueline

Latest updates

This is how we do it

Once it’s up, let it go

Something this fun has got to be illegal!

Beauty in the deterioration…

Joe Average

Wide-eyed with a twist of the lips

Mia More in the morning

While I stand on the roadway…

Walking the streets of dreams

Evolution of a portrait: Justine

Beauty in the deterioration Part 2

Do you know what it takes…?

We’ve gone national!

The Social Life hits the streets!

Walking the streets of dreams wall is growing

Fierce beauty: Cassandra and Shokra

A morning with Joe

Beauty in the deterioration Part 3

Portraits move us, connect us

A morning of street art on the radio

Street art, tear sheets and V-Rag Magazine!

Europe Series

Order your portrait

Anticipating TS Eliot

Latest Portraits

To prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet

The yellow smoke that slides along the street

I am art- community connections

“I am art.” #streetart wall builds connections in the #downtowneastside

November 12, 2012May 17, 2017 | Kat Thorsen

262067_10151309709545987_1350697373_n — Photo by Nancy Kirkpatrick

As our streetart wall grows, we are building connections with the local community, enjoying audience as we paint, inviting others to join.

68010_10151309709295987_1914546241_n — Photo by Nancy Kirkpatrick

We are building dialogue around the “portrait.” We are building relationships and locals are asking to have their photos taken and portraits done as they enjoy the empowerment we all feel when being seen and being heard.

And speaking of community, make sure to check out:

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Evolution of a Frida Kahlo/Otto Dix study with community input!

July 17, 2011July 18, 2011 | Kat Thorsen

I love to watch how pieces that I share with you, to add to, evolve. Here is a journey of one piece (Frida Kahlo/Otto Dix study) I started awhile back and first allowed people to add to during my March 10th event, the April 3 outdoor art market, then my June 23 event and today I worked on it with Tracey Bell! I’m adding a few things and then may let some students add to it for the finishing touches!