By Art We Live
By Art We Live

August 16, 2010

Maria receives her first coaching message in ‘art’

Filed under: Maria — Tags: , , , — Mimo @ 6:57 am
Maria receiving her special sketch book with drawing from Mark Siegel

Following my recent blog : http://mimokhair.wordpress.com/2010/07/01/a-message-in-art-for-maria, I had the great chance of meeting Maria Antouri again in her summer residence in beatiful village of  Faitroun in the Lebanese mountains. Maria and her mother received us and were totally thrilled at seeing the letter from Mark especially the drawing that he made of Maria in her sketch book. For me it was such a pleasure seeing Maria after one year has passed, to see her growth, the growth of her art and to be able to return to her with the special message on her journey in art.

The most special moment was when her mother Marina was reading the note to her and was so moved by the message that tears poured out of her eyes. It was a pure moment of value and sincere emotion that I was so lucky to witness. I had so wished that Mark could have been there in person to see the influence of his words and his genuine encouragement to young artists and to art. Maria and Mirna were also wishing they could meet him soon. One day it will happen!

Maria was proud to show me her new work over the last year that she did as and when she could between school assignments.

a recent drawing by Maria

Here is a link to the gallery of the meeting with Maria and photos of her recent artwork:

http://gallery.me.com/mimokhair#100713

For art, with art, in art, because of art…

July 1, 2010

A message in “art” for Maria

Filed under: By Art We Live, Maria, Uncategorized — Mimo @ 6:48 am

Another special message is on its way to be delivered to Maria this time in Lebanon. Maria is one of the “by art we live” featured child artists who is incredibly lively, bright an full of promise in her love affair with art. I am so delighted to be able to hand deliver this message scribed and drawn in her own little journal in the hope of inspiring her to do more of what she loves doing Lucky are we if find out what we love to do in life and end up doing it. Maria is happy in art, bright in art, clever in art, imaginative in art and most importantly, in love with art.

May 7, 2010

More inspiration and many thanks overdue…

Filed under: By Art We Live — Tags: , , — Mimo @ 9:59 pm

I just love it so much when I come across people in my life who do so much good, have so much dedication, offer so much service without realizing how much they do. Most of the time these people do not hear enough “thank you” or “wow” or “amazing”. They are so much into what they do and the love of it that they are content and satisfied to be in the doing.

And because of this selfless quality they grow and develop qualities and skills otherwise not easily attainable.

Such a person I met in Sandi Bassett. Sandi is the art manager at CCPP http://www.letuscreatecambodia.org and during the few days I spent around her and around the children artists of the CCPP, I was more and more amazed at how she handles, teaches and assists sometimes over 150 children at the same time.

I remember coaching in art camps myself and finding it a challenge to handle a few children at a time and that was only for a few weeks. Sandi has been doing this every day, all day for almost 2 years and plans on continuing to do so.

If you have ever been to Cambodia and felt the heat and humidity that people endure all year round, you would realize the enormity of such service. I was watching Sandi, who is a Canadian artist, coach these children so gently, keeping track of everyone’s progress never stopping or wavering her attention. Hugs were given in between, sharing of food, playful teasing, serious instruction, jokes and so much love throughout!

Sandi has children and a grand child in Canada that she says she misses so much and gets to see in the summer, but she has found her calling in this service of children who need her so much. Because of her service and the service of others in CCPP, these children get to gain confidence, earn decent money from their work, go to school, stay off the streets and beach, get medical care and most importantly feel loved.

May 6, 2010

More than one reason to smile…

Filed under: By Art We Live — Tags: , , , — Mimo @ 3:48 am

Sombath Srey Toch is a 13 year old girl who has been coming to the Cambodian Children’s Painting Project for two years. Srey Toch never smiled when she first started coming and she had no good reason to. Her mother died leaving her and her brother to the care or rather abuse of an older father who drinks heavily, is unemployed after a job related injury and beats Srey Toch and her brother regularly.

She also lost her front teeth and therefore was very shy to show her smile.

As part of what CCPP does, Srey  Toch received free dental work that fixed her front teeth. And a contract was made with the abusive father that promises him help with his home rent (and home is a one room and one bed that the whole family shares), and some weekly rice allowance if he refrains from hitting his children.

And of course the daily painting sessions bring a glowing smile to Srey Toch. Every time I saw her at the center she gave me one of these beaming smiles that should never have been hidden in the first place.

May 5, 2010

Chab Chamreoun, social worker, inspiring Cambodian

Filed under: By Art We Live — Mimo @ 9:02 pm

Huge smile always on the ready, willingness, brightness, intelligence are a few of the qualities that emanate from Chab Chamreoun, also know as “James Brown” around the Cambodian Children’s Painting Project.

He was studying for 8 years at a wat (Cambodian Temple) near Sihanoukville. There he studied and received a degree in social work. Despite coming from a very poor background, he has hopes to continue and do his masters. ” My dream was to become an engineer, he told me, but I ended up only becoming a teacher”. He obviously loves what he does despite not becoming an engineer.

He was hired by the CCPP  and is a figure of inspiration for the 160 children registered there.

I was so lucky to be able to visit some children’s homes today on the back of the motorcycle of Chamereoun. There we were on his motorbike with 10 year old Syvaren squeezed between us as we went to visit his family.

You are so lucky to meet one or two inspiring people in your life, but on this adventure “by art we live” I am meeting so many.

So many more stories to tell…

First photo is of Chamreoun, second photo is on the bike ride and the last photo is with Syvaren, his sisters and grandmother.

April 6, 2010

A care package for Safari

Filed under: By Art We Live, Safari — Mimo @ 8:38 am

The first “by art we live” package is on its way to Safari in Congo!

Safari is one of the child artists profiled by “by art we live” and his story is one that moved me so greatly. Safari (a self chosen name) is a 17 year old demobilized child soldier in the DRC. I met him back in October with the great assistance of UNICEF and MONUC  in a center for demobilized child soldiers in Goma. It was during a trip that I took looking for child artists in a beautiful African county ravaged by war. Safari was kidnapped from his home by the armed forces and was made into a child soldier against his will. The experience left him like other child soldiers devastated and emotionally fragile. He is a child who had seen too much and done many unnatural things.

I met Safari through “art” and I met “art” through him. Through painting he found his happy place, a place where he can be a child again, dream again, find hope and inspiration again. He loves color, painting, drawing and being in a state of peace that art allows him.

The UNICEF office in Kinshasa is being kind enough to facilitate the arrival of  this first care package to Safari’s hands.

February 25, 2010

Dear young artists

Filed under: By Art We Live, Isabel, Julia, Maria, Rebecca, Safari — Mark Siegel @ 9:08 pm

 

Dear Rebecca, Maria, Julia, Safari, and Isabel—and others to come,

By Art We Live is getting under way! From a crazy dream, it’s now a real project, and many are finding great inspiration from it and from you, already.

You know, it’s a strange world we live in. It has a way of making important things unimportant, and unimportant things important. As you grow up, and maybe for some of you it’s already so—the world can make your passion seem like child’s play, or something lesser, a luxury or a side note. But no, don’t ever believe it. Pursuing this passion will lead you places, it will lead to fascinating discoveries, it will lead you to grow, it will lead you to you, and can become your great service to the human story. Add to that with Art you will never be alone, and there’s great fun to be had too.

We believe in Art, like you. And it feels like Art believes in you. It’s wonderful disovering your work, as you make your start in the great apprenticeship of life.

Wishing you strength and conviction, and looking forward to our exchanges in Art,

Sincerely,

Mark

February 5, 2010

A gift of Art from another generation

Filed under: Rebecca — Mimo @ 9:40 am

Today, I went back to meet Rebecca (Lu Bei Ka) and her mother Zhang Lei in their studio in Red Town, Shanghai. In the middle of a very warm meeting and showing of the new artwork of Rebecca since I last saw her, Zhang Lei told me a wonderful story.

It is a story of a “gift” that Rebecca is about to receive from an old gentleman named “Wan Futang”.

Rebecca bowing in respect to the old artist.

Wan Futang is an old well known and very skilled Chinese artist living with his wife in Shanghai. Ever since Rebecca was 2 years old, Wan Futang visited her family every year and examined her work. He also teaches art and has been widely published as one of the prominent artists in China. Year after year Wan Futang came back and watched Rebecca’s progress and journey in art.

He told Zhang Lei last week that he feels like his whole life he has been waiting to meet the right young artist. He has been watching Rebecca for the last 12 years and he is now sure that she is the one he was meant to meet.

He said that his art is a living thing that must be given a home to as he gets older and gets ready to pass from this world. Art is the most important thing in his life, and he therefore must gift it to the right person. For this reason he said that Rebecca is ready to meet him at his studio once a week to receive his mentorship. He said that he will do this because he feels an unmistakable connection to her and he is sure that she is the one to pass to  the essences that he collected and the one to become his apprentice.

Rebecca was so delighted and she feels so honored to be able to receive these teachings that the old artist offers completely free and with no conditions. When asked what she would like to learn, she answered: “drawing trees, houses, nature, everything!”

what an amazing chance and what a great gift it is to have a chance of receiving from a master in this way, and to know the value of it.

Zhang Lei gave me some photos she took of her daughter’s meeting with the artist and has offered to take me there in a few weeks to interview him and photograph his painting session with Rebecca. So more soon…

January 30, 2010

When the eyes open the door to the soul

Filed under: By Art We Live — Mimo @ 11:37 pm

As part of identifying child artists in the Democratic Republic of Congo, I was assisted by MONUC and UNICEF in entering centers for Street children “Les enfants de la rue” as well as centers for Demobilized child soldiers in the unstable part of the country. In the middle of a war torn country, I was introduced to children with exceptional talents and a passion for art.

It was so moving being in the CAJED center for demobilized child soldiers. Just the idea of being with a child who has experienced trauma of that level and can yet be so resilient to want to be a child again is mind boggling. Most of these children spoke only Swahili, so when I interviewed them all had to be translated. But the moments that they just watched me with piercing looks and just held their gaze, I felt my breathing stop. Their eyes searched, questioned, told, sought, defied, but never wavered.

I will never forget these eyes that disarmed me completely and transmitted stories too horrible to be told with words.

October 2009

From the field in Goma- DRC

Notes from the field—By Art We Live

Filed under: By Art We Live — Mimo @ 11:19 pm



They must have hope to give hope. They cannot be struggling for survival and be expected to carry the weight and responsibility of the future. It just goes against nature not to nurture the young and helpless.

They need us who have to give. And maybe just a very small thing can change a child’s destiny. The world is built on webs of connection, it is such a mystery. One small tug this way or that could alter the balances of things. No movement is too small.

I used to feel hopeless about making a difference, because what can one person do? But I now believe that every little smile won from a sad child, every small moment of confirmation given back to a child, and every bit of dignity offered to a child who tries is a huge victory.

A tiny candle is all we need to dispel the darkness.

October 2009

From the field in the Democratic Republic of Congo