Collage Scrap Exchange

As someone who started a "paper collection" in the 3rd grade, you can say I've been a fan of paper products for awhile. I have boxes of old maps and collage materials that have been laying around unused for far too long. Now that I'm trying to recommit some time to creative endeavors, I was thrilled to hear about the Collage Scrap Exchange. Put on by Papirmass and Brown Paper Bag, when you sign up you get matched up with another person (domestic or international) and mail each other collage material. Then you make a piece using the other person's materials. The theme is new landscapes and I couldn't be more excited! I requested an international partner so it'll as least be worth it to get some fun mail:)

Lola Donaghue

Just saw the work of Lola Donoghue via The Jealous Curator. I think I may add a print of hers to my wish list for Christmas! As someone who is timid when it comes to color, I think her work would look great in our house.

saying goodbye

This post is a change of pace but it has been a rough week around here.
I got some heartbreaking news that one of my former students had passed away and the daughter of a woman in a mom's group I'm a part of also passed away. Both of these deaths were untimely and tragic. I'm sending a donation to this organization in honor of my student:

Hope for the Day
Hope For The Day is a nonprofit movement committed to utilizing music and the arts as a defense mechanism to suicide. Our alternative approach strives to offer education, prevention and hope through creative expression.

And there is a 5k run/walk this summer which raises funds to advance research and support services at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago for kids with brain tumors, here is a link to the team put together by women from the mom's group in honor of Meera, if you are able to donate. 

california color

I have some b+w film getting processed but here are some color photos from our trip to California!

NEW55 film

Bob Crowley is trying to bring Type 55 polaroid film back! Check out the video above and his Kickstarter campaign for more info. I would LOVE to get my hands on some of this!

Joffrey Ballet- contemporary choreographers

I've been going to see Joffrey performances for the past few years after getting a groupon with some girlfriends. It is so fun to see friends, go downtown and be in the beautiful Auditorium Theatre. The latest performance was a few weeks ago and I wish I could find it on video to share but all I could find was their preview video. There were three performances as part of their Contemporary Choreographers, some were better than other but overall I was so happy I got to see them, it was so inspiring!

Kyle Abraham

Sad I missed this performance at MCA Chicago!

Fundraising

I've come across two projects recently that I think are really worth passing on. The first one is from one of my former students from Marwen. Queion is in his first year of college at Drake University and is trying to raise money for a trip to South Africa this summer where he will visit Johannesburg, Cape Town and Kruger National Park. I was lucky enough to visit all of those places when I was young and it had such a huge impact on me, I'm so excited for him!






The next project is very different, our local bakery, La Boulangerie, recently had to close and they are looking to reopen in the neighborhood. I bought their bread every week at our farmer's market and was so bummed to hear they closed. They have started a kickstarter campaign to raise some money, check it out:

Anthem

My grandmother included this quote in her Christmas letter to us this year that I LOVED.
It's from a Leonard Cohen song called Anthem. One more reason she is the coolest grandma around.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.

Thanks Baba!