Last year I entered an Art House Co-Op project, called "Sketchbook Project: 2011." Each artist was asked to choose a theme from a list of predesignated themes (I chose "Help!") and sent a 80 page sketchbook. The only requirements were to fill the sketchbook according to the theme you chose & send it back. Each sketchbook was given a barcode for tracking purposes. About 10,000 artists participated & the sketchbooks were taken on a cross country tour, to multiple exhibits, where people from all different states could look through them. Once the tour was concluded, the books were all brought back to the Brooklyn Art Library and some were digitized (if you chose to pay the additional fee) as part of Art House Co-op's digital library.
Since I do all my artwork by mouth, it was much easier for me to create the sketches/artwork for my sketchbook on my iPad & print them out. I created a description page and image for each two page layout. The book is now digitized and available for viewing through my Art House Co-op profile, or directly through this link (www.arthousecoop.com/library/4604).
It took me months to fill the book. Unlike painting, I can work on my digital artwork in bed. Since I haven't been well enough to get up & paint as often as I'd like (these last couple of years) my iPad has given me a new outlet for artistic expression. I thought this project would be a great way to help raise awareness about paralysis & spinal cord injuries. The theme "Help!" fit in perfectly with my intent to ask people to help me (and the millions of people suffering with paralysis world wide) by supporting research for a cure to paralysis. All the sketches, digital images & collages I included in my sketchbook are about my struggles with my accident, my injury and my life with paralysis.
I'm pleased with how the book turned out (with the exception of the first two page layout- my collage was pasted upside down by mistake). I'm hoping that now it is available online for viewing it will get a lot hits, and get people thinking about paralysis & spinal cord injuries. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I hope my artwork has an impact on the people that see it. I want to open people's eyes, educate the general public & hopefully inspire some people to support research & advocate for a cure. I'd love to hear feedback & please share the link with friends! Thanks <3
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Chrissy,
ReplyDeleteYour notebook is incredible. It is full of both your vulnerability and strength, and no doubt will touch many people.
The person that is being forged through this process, is quite a human being. Blessings to you.
Chrissy, I have looked through your artwork and love the emotion and feeling expressed visually. It is really good work. Thank you for sharing it with us!
ReplyDeleteI just looked through your journal and have shared it with my friends on facebook. It is so ironic that I almost entered this same journal project but decided not to because I thought I didn't have the time... well, isn't it amazing what we can accomplish when we make the time because your journal has touched me profoundly, Christina. Thank you for sharing your creative vision.
ReplyDelete- Alena
I would start a whloe bunch of words...
ReplyDeleteBut I'm not that kind of guy.
I had car accident in 1980.. paralyzed from the neck down
At the end I had a quardiparese.. menaing i did recuperate some of limbs..
I'ts difficult toe say to another person what he or she must do with here or his life;.
After 32 years I had a joy of a family, wife and son..
Blessed withe bothe of tghem and the capebilaty to go to work part-time..
So your situation is verry hard for me to capture and gfive a place..
I hope that you do what you feel in your heart ;-)
These decisions are not that easy to take ..
I wish you the best in life and the afterlife...
Bigg Huggs from Werner Vols in Belgium Europe..
It is sad to see one face these types of decision at such a young age. "Nam Myoho Renge kyo" is one way to true happiness
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