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

Print the Change- You Wish to be in the World

The objective of this lesson is to have each student think about and work with causes in their community or world that they feel strongly about. They will create a symbol that will represent and advocate for the promotion of that cause and learn how to create that message using beginning printmaking techniques. This lesson will have students discuss a cause of their choice with a peer and allow them to create multiple works of art from it.

Age: This was created for adults but can be taught to middle school students and older. I would recommend that students have some background in drawing or feel comfortable doing so for the lesson.

Setting: This lesson needs an open space where students can sit at a table and have enough room to walk around. The room will be arranged with printing stations set up with different colors on them. Students can carve at their seats but also get up to get paper and work at the print stations. A drying rack or a space to hang or set the prints to dry is needed. For public schools, the pace can be slowed down over a week.  One or two days can be set apart just for printing.

Special considerations: Depending on the age and maturity of students the instructor should remind the participants to be sensitive when discussing other peoples causes. They should be non-judgmental and create an environment of support. Carving tools are sharp, so safety precautions must be discussed and followed.

                                                          Materials:

 Student materials: image from home, journal or paper for notes/sketch, soft linoleum block (4 x 5 in or larger) several sheets of paper various colors, printmaking ink (black or various colors), carving tools (enough for each student), damp sponges to clean fingers, paper towels, brayers (rollers), paper to cover the tables, wax paper or clear transparency to roll ink on, scissors and masking tape. Optional: baron, drying rack, tracing paper to transfer drawings.

Teacher materials: samples prints, materials for demonstrations and posters.

Activities:

        Preparatory activities: Ask students to find an image that represents an issue that they feel strongly about bring it to class.

      Introductory activities: Welcome and share the intention of the workshop. Share the image they selected and why. Is there any experience that influenced the selection of this image?

    Think, Pair, Share: With a partner students will brainstorm and ask, what the world would look like if the issue was resolved? What symbol would represent what they would want to see in the world?   Students will begin to sketch their ideas in a journal or on a paper.

·     I will show a few examples (printed out) of symbols that could represent a cause. We can discuss these focusing on how they are sending their message. I will let them know at this time to consider how much positive and negative space they are using and to try to keep it balanced.      Transition into the demonstration on how to work with linoleum. This includes, explaining how the tools work and safety using step-by-step posters. Students can take notes in their journals.

Sample of tool and safety poster

·      Students will sketch an idea of the symbol that they will print, draw it or transfer it to their linoleum and begin to carve it. The teacher should carefully monitor this step for safety and to assist students.

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     Teacher will give a demonstration on printing the linoleum and reviewing the set up.

                    The teacher will also review the types of techniques and paper that can be used.

-   Rainbow roll- using two color inks on one block. Adding color on the paper then printing on top once it has dried

-  Chine-collé- gluing thin paper under the print to add color

-   Ghost print- printing repeatedly until the ink fades

Students will being printing

  

       Closing- As a group we will discuss the challenges and successes they had during the workshop. They will describe the symbol that was chosen and share a print that was successful. In order to begin to share the message of their symbol students will select one of the many prints they made and exchanging of a print with each other.

           Follow up options- The teacher can demonstrate how to convert the image into a flyer for distribution using Adobe photoshop or other available programs.

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