Boston, Massachusetts

The Grand Unveiling

At the start of B-READY 2012-2013, I was pleased to cross paths with a community service organization from Boston University called Voices from the Middle. They focus on helping middle schoolers address issues (i.e. violence, bullying, school life) in the community through creative means. At our initial meeting I was told, after hearing a bit about St. Stephen’s and what we do, that Voices from the Middle would like to commit to working with my students for the whole year.

Since then, thanks to our most amazing volunteers from Boston University, we have been “getting our creative and performing arts on,” if you will. A few months ago, we sat down with the group and had a discussion about creating a mural that would bring unity to what they feel and go through as middle schoolers in Boston and what others go through and experience in the world. After many ideas and blueprints were drawn, a design was chosen and during Spring Break programming we began to paint. Thanks to BU and a grant for paint from Sherwin-Williams, we were able to use vibrant colors to depict what was in our hearts as well as memorializing Jorge Fuentes as a dove and remembering the recent victims of the Boston Marathon bombings.

I am so very proud of the YLCers and CITs for their hard work and dedication in this long process. I am also very grateful for Voices from the Middle and their influence in our programming this year. They have already committed to returning for the 2013-2014 school year.

If you have a chance, please check out the mural at St. Stephen’s!

Group picture!

Great work!

Check out B-READY 2012-2013 Blog and Voices from the Middle !

Boston, Massachusetts

I think I’m just having fun now.

Like the last collage, I’m sampling bits of professional renderings – the people, namely – to begin to examine how to organize the spaces and pathways.

Interesting collage!

Check out A catelogue of various projects !

Boston, Massachusetts

“Last week my brother and his kids asked me about a mural they saw being painted in South Station.   Later in the week I passed by it on my way home from the gym. It was intriguing … so naturally I started to do some homework on it.   The artwork is part of an exhibit on urban street artists put on by the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA).    The work is done by two brothers from Brazil, Otavio and Gustavo Pandolfo, who call themselves Os Gemeos.

I myself think the work is fantastic, from a distance the bright colors attract you, and the details up close are amazing.  In addition to the exhibit at the ICA, there are three outdoor installations, this one, a second one at the Revere Hotel in Boston and the third at Mama Mia’s in Somerville.   Once I inspected the first one, I just had to track the other two down — kind of like my own little scavenger hunt.

Welcome to South Station little guy, hope you enjoy your stay. “

Great mural!

Check out more of the story and photos at bostondog !

Boston, Massachusetts

“And so began my expression through painting. I was fascinated by simple modern art, where limited detail tells a story. I also do not consider myself the very patient sort who would spend too long on details, or have the talent to execute a complex piece of art!

Here we see a farmer resting by his field, with a freshly lit pipe in his hand. He has just finished playing the banjo, and has placed it aside so he can now enjoy a relaxing smoke after a hard day’s work. Notice that the fingers are elongated to show his passion in music, and to show that he’s still yearning to play his banjo. The fingers are moving as if he had is banjo in his hand. Notice his toes are curled as well, as if he was moving them in rhythm with the song in his head. “

Very nice painting!

Check out Roddam !

Boston, Massachusetts

marieomarie writes, “I always love photos looking down at the photographer’s feet. My instagram blows up each week with such shots. I like to just see where people stand, or even where I stood.

Heres where I stood last week!

Sunday:

xo “

Nice shot!

Check out Monday – Saturday at Marie, Oh Marie !

Boston, Massachusetts

egeyumusak writes, ” ‘ Togetherness ‘ “

Great composition!

Boston, Massachusetts

Angela writes, “It’s 83 degrees on the day in October. Here is a little guy cooling off in the water park in Boston’s North End.”

Wonderful, fun photo!

Check out Angelabranon’s Weblog !

Boston, Massachusetts – Castle Island

Courtney writes, “The beginning of summer at the beginning of the Memorial Day weekend!”

Looks beautiful there.  Love the angle of the shot too.  Great photo!

Check out Courtney’s blog, Courtney’s Capitolization Project !

Boston, Massachusetts

Liz writes, “I have been intrigued by  henna resist techniques for some while, but had not yet done any real experiments with them…Until last night! Last night I tried out a technique I have only heard about from one person, Penni AlZayer, who described the technique of using bread dough as a resist, as she saw it done in eastern Saudi Arabia. I loved the boldness of the patterns and the intensity of the color…So at 1am last night I began!

I cut a fairly large hole in the end of the bread dough cone and began icing my foot with decorative patterns. Some flowers, hearts, branches, an eye, dots, swirls, and spirals.

Next, I cut a large opening on the henna cone and started filling in the design with henna. It was quite fun really. I felt like I was working on a coloring book, just filling in the blank areas. It went pretty quickly.

Then, once it was basically dry, I swathed it in Tubular Bandages. It comes in a roll and you cut it to the length you want. Basically, it is like a stretchy net of loosely woven fabric. Very handy for keeping the henna in place when it was basically on all sides of my foot.

I really love it and think I may have to do my other foot tomorrow night.”

Wow, very beautiful!

Check out Liz’s blog, Inside Sweetfern Studio.

Boston, Massachusetts

“At the old city hall entrance.”

Wonderful shot!  Something very solid and lasting about this image.

And you will find lots of interesting images at mo bo ca na’s Flickr Photostream!