Open Up Your Eyes

A song entitled "Open Up Your Eyes" inspired this online exploration of visual cultural. I believe in a lot of things and one of them is to enjoy the world that we have been blessed with. As an artist I am able to create and use the skills that I possess to fill this world with part of myself. This world is full of visuals and we need to see them. So with that said this will be my last post on a blog.... I never thought I would ever use an online journal before, but I have enjoyed it. It gives you a different vehicle to expresses your mind and share ideas. Although I feel that it is more important to share ideas on a more personal level. Communication has become faster and more 'high speed' but it has also become more computerized and not personal. I feel that it is important for me to enter back into this world and share my ideas and views with my friends and family. Because it is verbal communication that is more heart-felt and personal.

"Open up your eyes and see these warning signs Breaking through your heart and all the reason of your mind Open up to find your action leaves behind The very hope that's given for the world to feel alive. And the time has come to realize And see the plan you've been designed for So face the fear of all unknown And see the heart inside So open up your eyes.."-Jeremy Camp

Eco- Design

As an artist and a environmental conscience person I am constantly learning new ways to help save the planet. I usually work with natural materials or found objects in my personal artwork. I work with wool, natural fibers and yarns and other natural materials. I also like to use found objects or non-biodegradable material to help save our planet and promote eco-design. I am currently working on a weaving that is entirely make of plastic bags! This weaving will last for about 1,000 years and even long after that because of how plastic bags break down in our enviornment. The weaving is made entirely from used plastic bags that friends have donated. I didn't want to use plastic bags that were brand new because I thought that would defeat the purpose of making the weaving in the first place. I want to show people that no matter how many times you reuse a plastic bag and even if you take the time to weave it into a long tapestry it will still be here...and so will the trillions of plastic bags in dumps across the world. So I suggest you use paper instead or better yet use a canvas bag at the grocery store and mall. You can buy cute ones online and be eco-friendly and stylish!

http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/07/01/envirosax-eco-chic-tote-bags/

That website has some really sweet bags that are great alternatives to using plastic bags. You can also get creative and make your own reuseable bag :)

Here is another website I like with Eco-friendly designs and products

http://www.branchhome.com/index.php?main_page=index

Think before you throw things away! Ask yourself if you can recycle it or reuse it first! AND more importantly think before you buy buy buy...do we really need all the 'junk' that we buy these days?? Love your planet and we will all live here a little longer *peace*

Public Art

We live in a visual world- It is almost impossible to avoid all the images we see everyday. We are influenced by what we see and then we make and have an opinion about it. Companies are constantly trying to influence consumers decisions of what products to buy and even maybe what we shouldn't buy. There are images flashing by as we drive, walk, sit, and even talk with others. Is it possible to avoid all these visuals? We could alienate ourselves from socity, but is that fair. Should we have to run away from our lives to feel safe and untouched by these advertisments.

Don't get me wrong I love our visual world. Especially public art. It, unlike advertisments gives us the option to voice an opinion and view before you are sucked into the product or idea that is being presented. Public art also, in a way, advertises art as a way to express emotion and gets the art out of the museums and classrooms and into the 'real world'. One of my new favorite public artists is Bansky. He is a graffiti artist from England. http://www.banksy.co.uk/menu.html

The way he uses the art of graffiti as a vehical for his opinions on the society and views around him is awesome. Graffiti is something that I plan to use as a lesson plan focus in my classroom. It is risky, popular, and fun. This will attract the students and also get them into the idea of art outside of closed doors. Being able to take your artwork and display it in a gallery or museum is one thing but having it out there for the world to see on a wall or sign is very bold and I think that the students will respect that.

When art is brought outside of the classroom and out on the streets the thoughts and inspirations become more powerful. We invite others to join in our creation and let them make it there own.
Do you consider graffiti a form of art??

Visit Bansky's website and other graffit artists, let me know how you view the visual world and if you consider them art forms or not>

*enjoy~lizzy

Food Drive

I belong to a Christian group on my college campus and we just recently got involved with helping our neighborhood food pantry. They asked us to put out bags for a food drive. We placed bags with an encouraging note attacked. The note explained what we were doing and who we were. All the food that was donated would be going to less fortunate people in our community. Tonight we went back to these houses and picked up the bags that people put out with their donations. Sadly we received about 10 bags of food out of about 200 houses asked to contribute. This neighborhood was recently developed and had beautiful houses with new cars in the driveways and fancy Christmas lights.
I was blessed to be apart of this volunteer organization and food drive, but disappointed in the outcome of the donations. I feel that people take for granted all the blessings they have, especially during this holiday season. We do not realize that as we dig into our feast during this holiday season there are less fortunate families who are scrapping by with their grocery lists. Imagine if all 200 families donated a bag of food items and how many families that would feed. The smiles and memories made and shared between families who might not always have happy memories. It is the little things in life that count the most some times.
This reminds me of a Bible story I learned about in Sunday School. The story is about an old women who brings forward her offering in a display of appreciation. She offers only 3 small coins, but this offering is the most that they received because those 3 small coins is all she has to offer.
In this pre-holiday season, we need to count our blessings and appreciate what we have in life, because there are people out there who are praying for something more.

I-pod Invasion

I am the kind of person who smiles at people I don't know and says 'hello' to friends as I go to class. It is amazing how many people have I-PODs or headphones on and don't even notice me. I smile and they walk by like zombies. What else are they missing around them while they are jammin' out to their tones? Are you a music zombie?

Go see this movie!

Into The Wild (Happiness)

I just went to the movies with some awesome people and saw a true story retold in a beautiful way. A man on a journey and looking for something better or more meaningful in life. The man's name was Christopher. Chris lets go of everything that was tieing him down and walks away. On his way to his destination, Alaska, he meets helpful and loving people. Chris is tested and pushed to the limit. He finally gets to where he wants to but then realizes that it was not what he wanted at all. He was on a search for true happiness but the problem was he was on this journey alone. The man writes that "HAPPINESS IS ONLY REAL WHEN SHARED"

As I watched this movie I thought about how amazing it would be to experience all of these adventures, but he is right; happiness must be shared. That is why God created Adam and Eve and not just Adam or just Eve. Companionship was around since the beginning and I think that it was for a reason: Happiness. When you see something inspiring or when you learn something new you want to share it with someone. Being lonely is a fear that many people share, including myself. Being able to go through good and bad times with someone is a whole lot better than doing it alone. Sharing love, peace and hope with other people is a blessing and we must be thankful for companionship.

It is important to breath fresh air and feel the crisp breeze of the outdoors. Climbing mountains and crossing rivers. Fighting for your life....but I think it is more fulfilling to fight for someone else's life. Climb mountains and cross rivers with someone you care about and love. Live your life with the people you love, and not running away from them. "Some people feel like they don't deserve love. They walk away quietly into empty spaces, trying to close the gaps of the past."


"When you forgive, you love. And when you love, God's light shines upon you. "

Peace&Love=Lizzy

http://www.intothewild.com/ Movie Website :) check it out