Art Break Day by Art is Moving

Magical Moments & Memories

As this year's Art Break Day fundraiser enters its final week we would like to take the opportunity to share some of our favorite moments and memories. 

Because there are a zillion magical and treasured moments created each ART Break Day it's really hard to pin one down as a favorite. I am so grateful to be part of such an empowering and altruistic movement.

ART truly does transform.

One aspect I love is the diversity of spirits the saddle up to our free art making tables. Literally, people of all ages who come from all walks of life sit down together and connect through the creative process of making ART together. For me, as a witness, participant, and facilitator this is the real magic that Art Break Day brings to each community. People who would otherwise never even look or smile at each other on the street actually sit down together, talk about art, and connect. I love when I see a grandmother sitting next to a homeless person, who sits next to hipster, who is sitting next to a lawyer, who is sitting next to a toddler, who is sitting next to a police officer, who is sitting next to a street urchin...the list goes on and on.

The consistent reality of Art Break Day is that when people sit down and create together all boundaries dissolve. You can feel the peace between people as they get to just be for a moment in time. This, to me, is the bliss of ART Break Day and one of the core reasons I do this with my heART and soul. Giving people the opportunity to embrace and be empowered by their own freedom of expression is my service as an artist to the world.

Join us at one of our 14 sites and taste the experience for yourself.  It is palpable!

Namaste, 

-Lisa Rasmussen (Co-Founding Director of Art is Moving) 

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There's still time to fund this year's Art Break Day and create a positive impact in 14 locations across the world!

Contribute today by visiting our campaign page here:http://igg.me/at/artbreakday

And, please share our campaign -http://igg.me/at/artbreakday - via email, facebook, and twitter

Thank you for supporting our grand vision to make art accessible to absolutely everyone!

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My Five Favorite Things about Art Break Day

List compiled by Lauren Odell Usher (Co-Founding Director of Art is Moving)

1. Connecting communities through art. For the last 2 years I have been co-leading the San Francisco Art Site with Lisa.  Not only do I watch strangers become friends across our art site tables, but I get updates through out the day from all of our other sites.  I love the feeling that on Art Break Day communities across the globe come together to stand up for art.  To show the world that art creates a positive impact in individuals and communities and should be a part of every person's life.

2. Art is for Everyone. At the same table, at the same time, we get to watch people from all generations create art.  From baby boomers to gen Yers, all are welcome to take an art break with us. What's really great is when an entire family sits down, takes a break, and makes art together.

3. The No-Judgement Zone. A woman wandered over and asked what we were doing.  When she found out we were letting people make art for free she got a bit shy and began judging herself saying, "Oh, I can't do that, I'm no good at art." After a bit of encouragement and one of Lisa's Kitty Bliss drawings as inspiration, this wonderful woman created her own version of a cat drawing.  It is one of my favorite pieces of art we collected.  She stood proudly by it as we photographed her and walked a little bit taller as she waved good-bye.

4. Everyone needs an art break. We hope that one day an "art break" will be just as common as a coffee break. I love when I see folks taking a break from work to sit down at our art tables.  We've had police officers, food industry workers, accountants, and more join us for an art break. It's so fun to watch what making art in the middle of their day does to their mood.

5. Art can be anything.  My mom volunteers and helps during Art Break Day each year.  Last year I overheard her say to someone, "Give it a try, art can be anything." And, it can.  We've had someone sit down and paint his skateboard and another someone take liberties with our Art Break Day banner.  I love watching the creativity unfold at our art tables.

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Copyright © 2013 Art is Moving, All rights reserved. 

Our mailing address is: 

Art is Moving

630 58th Street

Oakland, CA 94609

I encourage anyone to support this great project and perhaps use it to inspire your own community work. -Sonia

Manipura- Third Chakra lesson plan

I demonstrated this lesson to two classes of high school students in the Bay Area. They responded excellently. I had to be very brief 35-40 minutes including drawing time. This lesson can be expanded and used as a brainstorming session for a larger project. It can also work as a part of other lessons using the other chakras.

Manipura, 3rd Chakra Lesson plan 

·           Objectives of the class. Students will be able to:

o   Understand what their third chakra is according to the Hindu philosophy

o   Demonstrate exercises that represent the chakra

o   Learn about artists working with memory, and body energy

o   Create a drawing based on their experience of the class (Draw body pose, laughter memory or image describing energy in the body)

·           Content standards (VPA California)

o   5.2 Create a work of art that communicates a cross-cultural or universal theme taken from literature or history.

o   2.5 Use innovative visual metaphors in creating works of art.

Introduction

·         I have found that a great way to get inspiration for art-making comes from getting to know yourself and who you are.

·         Today we are going to make some art, do body exercises, meditate and focus on one area of our bodies. As we go through this you want to pull and images that come to mind to use for you artwork later in the class.

Introduction meditation

·         Relax. Close your eyes (optional). Focus on your breath filling your lungs and bringing you warm or refreshing energy.

·         Imagine breathing in the energy from sky and letting it run through your body. (Alternate with pulling from the earth)

*Pass out flyers with images    

Energy and the Manipura

 The idea of energy flowing through your body has been around for a long time. Many cultures understand this and represented it in several ways. In Chinese medicine, it is known as Qi. It has been used to heal using Qigong and acupuncture. In my own culture a Curandera, is responsible for rubbing illnesses out of people through massage.

·         The chakra system originated from India around 1500-500 BC. It represented the complex paths and intersections that the body’s energy traveled through.

·         Chakra means wheel, so if you can think of these as places where energy gathers and swirls moving throughout your body. Each chakra is a place where energy gathers to perform its role.

·         Today we will work on the 3^rd chakra. It is the yellow one (refer to handout).

o   The Manipura is commonly known as the Solar plexus. Like the sun its color is yellow. It deals with issues of willpower, ambition and action and is weakened by all forms of shame, embarrassment and self-consciousness. Physically, it supports your liver, pancreas, gallbladder, stomach and spleen.

·        How can you tell if you need to work on your chakra: Inbalance/ Balance:

o   Do you see yourself as powerless or too powerful OR Peaceful strength that is not too dominant or submissive

o   Do you have lots of different ways of shaming yourself OR are you Confient even if you make mistakes

o   Do you see the future as full of danger OR do you see future full of life, hope and that your dreams can come true

o   Do you are generally highly stressed and often comment to others how stressed and busy you are as a badge of honor. Or do you work towards growth and are future focused.

 Ask students: Does anyone relate to these and want to share? 

3^rd Chakra Exercises

·           We are going to do another meditation and some exercises to have you feel your third chakra. These you can do with eyes open

o   Breath into your body as we did for the first meditation. Breath into your stomach letting it expand but still stay relaxed. Deep breath into stomach letting that whole area expand, back sides and front

o   Imagine you just had a delicious meal and your stomach is satisfied and full. Put your hands on your belly and rub your full stomach. Rub it really well with both hands.

o   Now I want you to think of your family, think of a funny memory. When was the last time you laughed so hard juice came out of your nose, or that time your friend farted in class or whatever you can think of. *This may not get responses from strangers, only try with a more familiar group.

o   Laugh out loud in any silly way you can think of. How does Santa laugh or Minnie Mouse.

Washing machine: Have students stand up, reach up up and out with their arms like a star. Have them swing their arms side to side twisting their belly area.

·                                             Power pose, sitting or standing, what pose makes you feel powerful (not dominating).   Imagine  that you are the principal or CEO of your company. (Demonstrate some poses where you are expanded)

  Alex Grey

·           Before we start our drawing activity I want you to flip to the back of the hand out and take a look at the art of Alex Grey.

·           He makes art that connects people to their energy and the natural energies around them. His work is very large scale and often life size.

·            He studied anatomy and actually dissected cadavers at Harvard Medical Center to gain a deep understanding of the body.

·          In the first piece Painting, it shows how an artist gains inspiration through a higher spiritual connection. He also created and experiences art with his senses and his heart. As a result the artwork this is hidden is radiant with its own energy.

·         In the other painting Theologue shows how the chakras are aligned during meditation.

          Drawing

Tell students:

Under the artwork you can see some samples of art that can help balance the 3rd Chakra.

The first uses yellow, the fiery warmth represents the energy of the chakra. The woman is also standing in a clam but strong pose.

The second can be interpreted to describe the sensations of energy in the body.

The third has a large sun and positive encouraging messages.

The last one has positive words as well and images of what the artist enjoys doing.

You can use all these as ideas to create drawing to balance your third chakra. It can be a drawing of what brings you joy, what makes you feel confident, it can be abstract and you can even write on the drawing.

Have them begin their drawings. they can share with a partner and then have some share with the class. 

----let me know if you want copies of the handouts, or if you have any questions. Thanks!