Manes and Memories
By Dorris Steeg
April 26, 2012
It might be the era of my childhood, or it might be the rural area I grew up in, or it may be growing up in the west, or it just may be normal in every U.S. school in every era…
I remember my elementary school playground when I look at this Spring Horse photo by Doris Steeg. Girls ran the playground from one end to the other, tossing their hair side to side, sometimes with one arm behind them—as if a tail, and whinnying. These were the wild horses, manes flashing and tails running, of Sulphur Springs playground. Romping around and laughing, they paid little to no attention to us boys. Us boys didn’t pay much attention to them either, but just enough, I guess, to store a memory away to surface again another day. I don’t remember when the girls quit living as wild horses, maybe about the time we boys began paying more attention to their manes. Yet, when I think about all these years of marriage…maybe the wild horse never really went away.
© David B. Bell 2012
Dialect: Life, Community, Landscape
April 24, 2012
Belinda and I will spend much of the day placing irrigation mainline and backfilling trench. That is all of the day except for a few hours this morning.
Not that long ago I read an essay on funerals. The writer compared funeral services he experienced back east to those of the west. He spoke to a belief of eastern funerals having a higher degree of ritual and communal comfort than western funerals. In part, he supported this line of thought saying the ritual of spreading ashes (a western ritual in his estimation) did not provide the community groundedness as, say, occurs when the congregational family comes together and provides food and comfort in the fellowship hall after a burial service. When I finished the essay, I could not help but to think the transplanted eastern writer missed the values and richness of culture—east or west.
Landscapes speak to individuals and communities with their own unique voice. The landscape of forested Arkansas simply speaks a different language than an arid western landscape lying east of the Cascade mountain range. More so, the dialect of the arid eastern rain-shadowed Washington Cascades is different from the twang of the arid eastern rain-shadowed California Sierras.
This morning the twang is apparent. Belinda and I have the afternoon to place irrigation line because there is no My Future after-school today. There is no after-school today because a community member died and school canceled. Instead of school today, the whole community is invited to the school gym for funeral services. For this community, in this landscape, the end of life is so important it is okay, even supported, to close school and businesses so everyone might gather, remember, and grieve together.
So, this afternoon, when Belinda and I gather to place pipe into the earth, there is a fair chance our groundedness is more than standing waist deep in the ground, but also that we have become entrenched in the deep care of our whole community.
© David B. Bell 2012
Youngster
By Roger Lynn
April 23, 2012
My Future
It is hard to imagine the type of day we had for the first Spring Horse event! Sunny and the slightest of breezes allowed for a day that began with sunrise, ended with sunset, and permitted a wonderful opportunity to experience the valley landscape and a few of its hosts. From driving to hiking folks lived with the valleys hosts up close and at a distance. And where horses were not seen, that land smiled in their place. The day became wonderful way to support My Future: extended-learning art program.
The photo “Youngster” is the first of a few photos to be posted this week!
© David B. Bell 2012
Spring Concert
April 10, 1012
My Future
My Future voices led our community into spring break. The Mount Adams Choir and Mount Adams Band came together to bestow a Spring Concert upon the community. The Mount Adams Choir, wholly made up of My Future youth, who only have two afternoons a week to practice, delivered two pieces, Grant Us Peace and Fireflies, which quieted the audience and brought forth a little community reflection.
Just under a year ago My Future Choir presented at the Mt. Adams School District late spring talent show. Students were on edge, one during their first practice on—the first time ever—stage had to leave in mid-song because the idea of standing on stage, in front of the community, was more than she could take. She came back and sang that evening, but what a difference a year makes! During the spring concert, she stood up straight, looked us, the audience, in the eye and sang as if she was in charge! The same held true for the Choir, they presented with a poise and confidence at the spring concert that wasn’t even in the auditorium at last year’s talent show.
And the audience responded!
(My Future provides Choir and Art opportunities to the youth of the Mount Adams School District thanks to your tax-deductible gift and grants. Please be generous!)
© David B. Bell 2012
First Glazed Clay, Ever!
March 24, 2012
My Future
First glazed clay, ever! Well, the first ever for My Future students. From raw clay, to bisque fire, and now to glaze, each stage spoke a little about the personality and spirit of the artist. I’d hate to say what that is or means, but I am willing to say, the gloss of glaze allows for reflection and a little self reflection, well, every once in a while, is good.
© David B. Bell 2012
Spring Horse
Photographer David Biddle
March 17, 2012
My Future
Yakama Mission
JustLiving Farm
SPRING HORSE—Yakama Reservation April 21, 2012
Spring Horse is a day for anyone who wants to experience the wild as few have the opportunity. From sunrise to sunset, you have the chance to spend a partial or full day with photographers who will help you frame a photo of wild beauty. BUT, you do not have to be a photographer to enjoy the day! If you are simply interested in experiencing the wild horses of the Yakama Reservation, join us! Bring your binoculars, spotting scopes, compact cameras, DSLR cameras, whatever fits your needs.
There is no fee for the day, but donations are encouraged. All donations go to MY FUTURE, the art-based after-school program of the Yakama Mission.
We are lucky to have five great photographers whose photo’s call for pause: David Biddle, Roger Lynn, Jeff Kent, Rebecca and Andy Lee.
Save the date of April 21 for Spring Horse and send an email to dave@justlivingfarm.org to receive further info as it becomes available and reserve a spot for the day!
Spring Horse is a collaborative opportunity provided by the Yakama Mission and JustLiving Farm—Good Spirit, Good Land, Good Food.
© David B. Bell 2012
Playing With Our Future
March 9, 2012
My Future
There is a misnomer that an after-school program like My Future only occurs after school. Sure, the program hours are mostly after school, but time put in by staff happens at all hours and that time is not only about after school.
For instance, the Small Schools Band Festival occurred this last week. An event where bands from small schools all come together for a day, create one large band, practice together all day, and at the end of the day perform for the community. Events like these not only come together with the help of many people, but they serve the students of multiple programs. This is why My Future is in partnership with the school district and other after school programs—together, much more can occur and many more can be served, than any one program can do on its own.
So, for an entire day, Belinda hung with the middle and high school band at the Grandview High School. Youth met peers from schools across the countryside, played together—a bit rough at first, ate lunch, played together—became really good!, ate supper, and then performed for the community. Not only did youth have the opportunity to meet and develop new friendships, they played unbelievable music together!
Sometimes it seems as if My Future is really in harmony with Our Future.
© David B. Bell 2012
Getting More from Fluid Absolutes
March 2, 2012
My Future
We expect a lot out of art. Sometimes we get more.
We call the time we get together during after-school hours an extended learning opportunity. However, we seldom if ever ask youth to do their homework, get a math book out, or read a book. Rather, we insist on engaging art. Now, anyone working with youth knows insisting only goes so far, but we do it just the same and eventually most youth engage for a moment. By engaging, we hope minds and imagination begin to wander the edges of structure, framework, and boxes and begin to experience the fluidity of what they think solid. The hope is that art will allow them to find math more pliable than absolute, science more provisional than solid, and the stability of a sentence’s structure only as steadfast as its ability to transport the reader while maintaining place.
There is nothing like sitting in front of a potter’s wheel, with a clump of clay, that will move ones reality of rigidity and structure to uncertainty and fluidity. Centering clay on a spinning wheel is no easy task. You can intellectually know how to center clay on a wheel, but when it comes to placing hand against clay on a spinning wheel, it becomes more about feeling than knowledge. One has to let go and allow absolutes to flow before clay spins in harmony with the wheel.
This week Mr. Kent, the high school Art Instructor, helped youth try their hands at the wheel for the first time. Soon it became apparent that when a student sat at the wheel and placed their hands to clay they became focused and engaged. In one sense there were no successes, no one came away from their first sitting at the wheel with a cup or bowl, but then, when absolutes begin to flow failures sometimes turn to successes. One youth had centered her clay, began shaping it, and soon she had something that was looking very cupish. Then in a split second, something went wrong and the clay twisted. She stopped the wheel, looked at her hollowed twisted clay, and said “Now that’s cool.” Stability and absolutes are not always what they are cracked up to be.
An hour later, while others were working clay, some on the wheel others by hand, I glanced over and watched as the “Now that’s cool” student took a book out of her bag, leaned back, and began reading. Sometimes when edges flow and absolutes become imagined, the stability of a turning page and a written word become essential, and we get more.
© David B. Bell 2012
Clay Vision
Brandon's Monster
February 12, 2012
My Future
There are some things better left said by clay. I learned this from Mr. Kent, our high school Art Instructor. Clay dries as clay wants to dry depending on the environment you are working in. In other words, it dries when it dries. Probably a lesson for all of us, we control a lot less of Creation than we would like to think. A great lesson for youth…work the clay, have a vision on where you’re going and what you want, but be free and flexible with the outcome. You only have as much say concerning your creation as the world allows. Listening to the voice of clay, or the voice of air, or the voice of humidity is a lesson for all of us?
© David B. Bell 2012
Delight of Conversation
January 28, 2012
My Future
Just a little over a week ago the Mount Adams School District honored My Future, Belinda, and David for community service and support. This was a wonderful moment in the midst of a busy school district board meeting.
Just over a year ago, My Future began offering art and choir during after-school hours. The numbers of students were small and have slowly grown since then. My Future is not popping at the seams today but the slow growth has allowed for one important thing: conversation. From the beginning, My Future has been about everyone doing art. Adopting an idea from at least one cultures way of understanding the supper table where everyone sits down and eats together, so is the goal of My Future; everyone, youth and staff alike, participate in art and choir together—at the same.
Richness percolates up because sitting around a table for an hour or so, pulling a clay pot or decorating a mask, eventually leads to conversation. Sometimes conversation is only between the youth, but then like a bump on a log, staff has a unique opportunity to hear what is happening in the community’s life. Sometimes youth forget who is at the table and the conversation becomes very interesting. However, most of the time, they are very aware who is at the table and conversation is all about what might get a rise out of staff. It is engagement such as this that makes My Future enjoyable. For being honored by the school board, by adult peers is very satisfying, but being in the conversation with our community’s youth is an opportunity of delight
© David B. Bell 2012
Playing With Crayons Conceptualizing Art
January 16, 2012
My Future
I find it really cool when youth come up with something new, something I’ve been struggling to figure out, but haven’t. Lately, during My Future afternoons we’ve been using crayons as an art medium. We started gluing crayons onto poster-board and then used a blow-dryer to melt them. Afterward melting, one would take a pen or sharpie and draw in image to fit the crayoned board. Youth did this for awhile and then moved on to drawing first, then placed tape over the drawing, then melt crayons over the board and tape, and then remove tape for the final effect.
While the youth were working on finding new ways to use crayon’s I started playing with the idea of finding a way to attain texture that was both more concentrated and detailed. After a few days of working with crayons and being very unsuccessful, I gave up. Then a day or so later, I walked by the crayon/blow-drying area and there was Ms. K using the dryer to essentially paint with crayons. There it was…just what I was looking for! Working on a volcano, she was creating texture by building up layers of crayon! Her lava became flowing and bold giving to it a feel that it was rolling down the board after it was dry. Ms. K had taken the basic suggestions on how to use crayon and heat and conceptualized a new way of integrating it with her imagination. Cool Stuff!
The first video speaks to how Ms. S took our suggestions and began using tape to integrate crayon and drawing. The second video shows Ms. K using her crayon painting technique.
© David B. Bell 2012
Of Exploding Pies and “Confetty”
January 03, 2012
My Future
The first day of My Future after the holidays brings a fair amount of energy. After a two-week break youth return to the art room with a story about something that went well or something that went really bad during their time off. 
Laughing almost always joined the really bad stories—there’s something about story of an exploding pumpkin pie (I still am not sure how that one happened!) or opening an oven door for a last minute check on the pheasant only to find the oven was never turned on!, that when told well grabs laughter from below furrowed eyebrows and throws it into the room. 
Yet, along with the laughter, the youth came back with a creative bent. Perhaps it was the laughter or the new story Auntie told that stretched the boundaries of reality or maybe it was a hike in the hills and the amazing sight of creek water trickling beneath ice, but whatever the case, this was a day to break a few boundaries and try something new.
Creations arise from imagination, crayons, paper, and a blow-dryer.
© David B. Bell 2011
Six Days Sometimes Equal Twelve
Photo by Jeff Kent (White Swan Art Instructor)
December 30, 2011
My Future
The sixth day of Christmas has me thinking about the sixth day before Christmas. After months of practicing the My Future choir presented their first formal performance to the good people of White Swan.
The Winter concert has become quite a concert in White Swan. It has become that because of the community’s good luck to have Mr. Chang as the school districts band instructor. In a few short years the White Swan band has not only grown but is playing at a competitive level when school bands come together. Due to his and the student’s hard work, the Winter and Spring concerts are not to be missed.
To have My Future invited to join a successful school event is quite an honor. So, when youth walked up before a packed audience in the High School gym there was a fair amount of queasiness mixed with strained smiles. Then the music began. Voices lifted and floated, mingling with air and space, finally whispering into ear. Time slowed, the voices of neighbors and friends embraced community, faces calmed, and ears rejoiced. Then, as music and voice faded, the audience responded. When no one was looking queasiness left the room, strain joined with joy, and celebrating smiles decorated singers and listeners alike.
Today is the sixth day of Christmas, but in a way, we have already enjoyed twelve days!
© David B. Bell 2011
Balancing Art and Life
December 24, 2011
My Future
Art soon leads to a conversation about balance. In preparing an image to burn into wood, drawings were drawn on paper and considered before redrawing onto wood. During this moment, we talked about balance. Sometimes a drawing seemed lopsided with a lot of graphite on the left and little on the right. Other times it was the heaviness of how deep and dark the burn was to be in one area and how light it would be in another.
Art conversation also led to conversations of balancing life. Those of you who are students, reading this on this eve of Christmas, remember balance. Some of you are clear that Christmas isn’t you gig, and you know, from my perspective, the world can live with it. But all of us, whether or not Christmas is part of our faith or our life, can get caught up in a season that seems to expect so much of us and has us expect so much of others. Should the energy seem overwhelming, should it seems as if the dark is powering out the light, should anger push out your laugh; remember you need only to add a little more pencil to the right of the drawing, look to the ridge and be amazed how the snow brings out ridges you have forgotten about since last winter, or stand to the side and watch your friends or your family and be astonished you are a part of them! Center your mind, balance your thoughts, enjoy the flow of life, enjoy the wind on your cheek, and be comfortable with who you are.
For everyone else reading this today…same thing!
December 28, 2011
JustLiving Farm
Dawn of the fourth day of Christmas brought cloud cover and warm weather to the valley. The warmth got me thinking about the second day of Christmas.
I had been putting off a job I find somewhat unpleasant for the last two months. By 9am Monday the temperature outside was 38 degrees and very warm compared to any day for the last two weeks, which made it seem now was as good as any time for the job.
Having laying hens wandering freely about the barn and pasture and providing us (and others) with fresh eggs is wonderful. What isn’t so wonderful is when they move beyond their productive egg laying years. Many people sell their hens off at this time for they do not want to engage in what naturally comes next—chicken dinner. We do not sell our hens for a couple of reasons. First, it seems unfair to raise a hen, have her provide years of eggs for my wellbeing, and then when it comes time to die, be carted off to place that has never been home. Now folks can say what they want concerning chicken brains and their not having a clue to what is going on, but that has never seemed the case around the farm. Hens have outsmarted more than one person on the farm over the years! It is only right, therefore, if we are to benefit from a chickens life and its death, if we are going to have a feed and water in return for eggs relationship, we all should be present at death. Second, butchering chickens means we get to have chicken dinner with the ease of mind that comes from knowing where the chicken lived, how it was treated, what it ate, and maybe most importantly, how it died. I imagine I don’t have to say more than this, all anyone needs to do is go online (or watch Food Inc.) to learn about the life and death of most every bird one might buy in their local grocery store.
However, there is a problem. I really, really don’t like killing. I know the importance of it, in fact more than once I have said all folk who eat meat should go through the killing process at least once. Maybe not literally kill an animal himself or herself, but be in the same place at the same time when the animal they are going to eat dies. It is important to know life as sacrament. It is important to know that no one—vegetarians and vegans included—on this earth is going to eat without causing death. This is why I, who would do most anything to get out of killing an animal, have come to value one who butchers well. And we have been lucky when it comes to our large animals. The Dutch gentleman who arrives at the farm and butchers our large animals has a way about him that the animals act as if they know him and are comfortable in his presence. One can’t ask for more than that. However, when it comes to chickens we are on our own and that is why I put the job off for two months.
So, on the second day of Christmas, with warm weather and blue sky, friends and family came together and spent the better part of the day with chickens. The day is never as bad as I imagine it. However, it always leaves me with an ache. An ache for life that is no more, an ache arising from the reverence that comes from sacramental knowledge of one giving its life for another, and an ache that wishes all life given for supper tables might be so revered. I think it is an ache to embrace, for at the end of the day, with friends and family sitting around the supper table, we say grace and know more fully the sacrament before us, and that, yes that, makes for a supper that tastes wonderful.
© David B. Bell 2011
Remembering Our Creative Center
December 19, 2011
My Future
I don’t know where I picked it up, but I’ve never let it go. Every person is a created being and as a creature of Creation, we are naturally creative. Yet somewhere along the way to adulthood, many of us lose our belief that I am creative. Instead, we relegate our art off to the “artist.” I don’t know how many times I’ve heard teachers say everyone in kindergarten sings as if they are a singer and then, by the time these same children graduate high school, most every one of them do not believe themselves singers. Parents know the same truth. What parent has not experienced their child radically focused and engaged with paper and crayons creating a drawing. It is as if they reside in sacred space and nothing in the world matters other than expressing a deep gift welling up from a profound Godding space within. When they are done with their creation they run and hold up a piece of paper, smile, and say something like “Look! Look at what I made!” Yet many parents, knowing the reality of their creative child was once their own do not believe themselves a creative adult.
We need to encourage, reclaim, support, and advance creativity. We and our community are the better for a bit more singing, painting, guitar picking, dancing across the kitchen floor, clever humor, glass-blowing, and sculpture! My Future, an after-school program of the Yakama Christian Mission, believes art matters. As school ends each day, My Future begins. As students enter the Art (and Band) room art begins to bubble up and alongside, life. Soon, distinguishing between art and life becomes difficult as emotions, events, and spirit meld with paint, wood, and fire. And always…always…as life leaves the confines of body and moves artfully into the world, mystery fills the room. The experience for the observer is like, well, you remember the very first time you saw a rabbit pulled from a top hat or when you first seriously engaged with the idea of a virgin birth?, it’s like that—a feeling lying somewhere between wonderment and bewilderment.
We are creative artful people and each of us need, not want, but need to experience our creative center! Ten percent of your Christmas Offering supports the creative wellbeing of youth each afternoon at the Yakama Christian Mission.
(First e-published by the Northwest Regional Christian Church (Disciples of Christ))
© David B. Bell 2011
Releasing Creative Self
November 26, 2011
My Future: Afterschool
I don’t know where I picked it up, but I’ve never let it go. Every person is a created being and as such every person is creative. Too often we relegate art off to the “artist” as if we do not have a creative bone in our body. Art has become like singing—you’ve heard this before, when we were in first grade we all thought we could sing just fine and did so in class; but somewhere along the way, we become a community of adults who believe we cannot sing and do not. 
The same holds true with art. It is impossible to walk into a first grade class and not find every child having joy in releasing their creative selves (I’ve yet to meet a parent whose child has not held up a piece of paper, smile, and say something like “Look! Look at what I’ve drawn!” Of course the challenge is often trying to figure out just what it is they have drawn!), yet isn’t it amazing how few of us as adults pick up a pencil or crayon or wood or paint, hang out for a while, and just create without reservation.
But it is never too late. Think about the next card or the next gift you want to give to friend or family. I am willing to bet, if they are over eighteen-years-of age, they would love to have something of your creation done just for them! So, grab the crayons, pull out a chunk of wood, pick up a broken limb from the yard, get the duct tape off the shelf and trust in your created creativeness!
© David B. Bell 2011
The Curious Local Faded-Sign-Out-Front Diner
November 18, 2011
Wood is curious. Like sun-dried tomatoes, if you didn’t know anything of its earlier existence you wouldn’t have a clue where it came from. Attentive folks looking at a burl may picture a knotty growth on the side of an oak tree, but you have to go a long way to look at a planed 2 by 8 and imagine a living Douglas Fir towering toward the sky. Lacking the knowledge wood was once living and thriving in a rich communal landscape; a person could never work with wood and be any good at it. If a craftsperson—from homes to furniture—does not experience life given when running their hand over a piece of wood they will never become a master crafter. Paying attention to the life of wood allows the beginner, 
apprentice, or master woodworker to revel in the remarkable and celebrate the peculiar rather than experience twisted grain and hidden knots as problem to be dealt with.
Good woodworking means opting for the local faded-sign-out-front diner on a road trip rather than I know what I’m getting because it is always the same McDonalds or Burger King. But opting for the lunch counter over the slick clown isn’t an easy thing for anyone these days. As we began working with youth on their first experience of creating art through woodburning it has been hard to get beyond the I want it now and I want it easy expectations (Honestly though, the same was true during the days of mask making and gourding). The phrase patience is a virtue doesn’t quite have the impact it once did for youth sanding a block of wood—five minutes of hand sanding is an eternity! However, for some, not all, as they finish sanding their wood block they begin to appreciate the wood for the hiccups, coughs, scrapped knees it endure when alive. More so, as they begin to burn their design into the wood, and frustration builds up because the grain in the wood doesn’t allow for a line or a shading as they imagined, they learn their particular block of wood is unique. And sometimes, just sometimes, they find they have a relationship with a piece of wood—that once was living—isn’t that curious.
© David B. Bell 2011
When Masks Do Not Mask
November 8, 2011
Masking has been the life of My Future for three weeks. Student masks were seen wandering around on Halloween, others were on exhibit at an art show in Yakima celebrating Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead), and others are displayed on parents mantels.
The type of masking we do in My Future is a process of art engaging body and community. Because the mask is plaster/fabric based, the one whose face creates the mask cannot make the mask themselves. Rather, community must be engaged—it is a two-person process, in fact, it is a two-artist process. For a mask to happen, one person applies plaster embedded fabric over the face of their partner. This means a certain level of trust must exist between the two partners. 
As the plasterer places fabric over the face of the plastered, they mold the curve of a cheek, the dimple of the chin, the crease of nose and face, and find they come to know their fellow artist in a way they never expected—they learn their fellow artist is so much different and so much the same as themselves. 
That level of trust increases if the plaster is applied over closed eyelids, for then the plasterer becomes responsible for keeping the plastered artist safe—which is very important in a room of 20 middle and high school students! Soon after the process of plastering begins, it ends when the plaster dries enough to fall away from the face, and the art is half done. (At this stage, the plasterer becomes the plastered and vise versa.)
The next day, when the mask has fully dried, is an introspective time for the plastered. One, they find their mask is never what they thought it would be. For the first time as an artist they learn another person has been the determiner of their fate. That while the mask has their attributes, all aspects of the mask to this point, like final texture (smooth or rough) or depth (where three pieces of fabric were laid as opposed to two or four), has been in the hands of their neighbor. Second, as they look at their mask, this dried mass of plaster, for the first time they begin to wonder, do I really look and feel like this—to others, to myself? Finally the get to the question: What in the world, will I do with color and fabric and beads to make this mask my own?
The whole body of the individual now engages. Not only hands and eyes with paintbrush, but the emotional 
and the spiritual self comes alive as the artist takes into consideration color, depth, balance, shading, rhythm, perspective, symbol, contrast, and unity. As the artist risks the first stroke of the paintbrush they connect with something unexplainable residing deep within self. For some, this is a contemplative time and they move to a table away from the others and connect with their mask silently. For others it is an expressive time and they smile, talk, and joke as paint, cloth, and beads are applied.
The final mask tells a story about the person from whose face it came. It speaks to how a friend understands them—a rough or smooth texture matters (it also speaks a little about the friends patience and experience with plaster as well!). And it talks about how they experience themselves—beads vs. cloth matters. The mask might also be enlightening in another way…it’s just fun to play with plaster!
© David B. Bell 2011
Gourding Engages Reflection
October 22, 2011
It is amazing how far in advance art teachers must prepare. This probably holds true for many teachers, but every time I am around an art teacher most of the supplies they are using are not new. Phrases like, “I got these beads from a yard sale last spring and the flashy gold cloth came from a friend last Christmas who had it leftover from making costumes for the winter play,” seem to be the norm when I ask art teachers where they found this or that item.
Now into our second year of My Future, not only do we find ourselves continually searching for affordable materials for the afterschool art program, but we also find we need to think seasons in advance! For instance, here it is late October and at My Future we are working with gourds harvested last October. Thanks to Robin Kabric, wonderful gardener who hangs out at United Christian Church in Yakima, we have a bunch of gourds raised in her 2010 garden. Gourds from a year ago matter because gourds need a long drying period before they are art ready. However, the timeline to have a reasonable gourd means not only is the gourd harvest last October, but that its seed had to be planted the prior spring! If it were not for Robin, thinking and planting way back in the spring of 2010, we would be gourdless today!
The process of a gourd becoming art is a slow and reflective one. Cleaning and sanding allows the artist time to think and explore cultural and familial values, remember stories, ask questions of themselves, and imagine how these values, stories, questions might be reflected on a gourd and in a manner that calls the observer to engage the art. Thing is, while it might not seem the case, working with gourds help the artists become critical thinkers!
Any chance you are interested in being a part of My Future’s ongoing story? Would you like to help promote art, reflection, and wisdom? Are you a gardener? If so, we are looking for gourds grown this year for next fall’s (2012) after-school art—got any you want to let go of? And we a looking for folks who would like to grow gourds next spring for My Future 2013 fall art (Isn’t it amazing how far into the future you must live to create artful opportunities?). Give it some thought and if you have an interest, please contact David at dave@yakamamission.org.
Duct Taped Imagination
October 13, 2011
Since last May, the Mission has been busy working on home repair projects, home rebuilding, and Doctrine of Discovery workshops. However, in the midst of it all, our work with youth has gone one. The My Future afterschool program is one I have been negligent on reporting on…SO, why not today!
School started out this year with youth working duct tape to express themselves. I find their imagination of what is possible with duct tape amazing. See for yourself!
An Evening of Unbroken Hallelujah
May 19, 2011
Watching your neighbor’s children express the best of themselves is one of the great benefits from living in a small community. Not that it doesn’t happen in larger communities, but that in a small community you see all your neighbors’ kids. One elementary, one middle, and one high school in the entire district mean everyone shows up to the yearly Talent Show. For the cost of a gallon or two of gas (Yep, in rural communities where youth come from miles rather than blocks away, folks are paying close attention to their fuel consumption these days.), you can sit down and get in a couple hours of singing and dancing. Such was last night.
Opening with first graders, the night bloomed into an evening of singing and dancing. The support from the audience, many who do not have children in school, was supportive and thunderous. The support of youth to one another, gave many who wondered what they had gotten themselves into—getting up on stage in front of hundreds of folk, was kind and encouraging—so much so that a few who were fearful standing on stage, earlier in the day, were bold in evening performances! By the time the Choir took the stage, care for one another was so unbridled, the Choirs song choice of Hallelujah seemed appropriate.
The evening was a good reminder that for all the struggle, all the fear, all the heartache of taking a chance of putting oneself on life’s stage, and being out there for all the world to see, somewhere, and often not all that far away, there is an hallelujah for all.
© David B. Bell 2011
Choir Performs Tonight!
May 18, 2011
Yesterday was a busy day in art, but that did not stop some of the Choir folk from taking a moment and practicing singing for today’s performance. The Afterschool Choir performs tonight at Harrah Elementary School—7pm!
Junior Livestock Auction Tomorrow
May 3, 2011
White Swan FFA and 4-H youth have been at the Junior Livestock show since Saturday. Preparing stalls, weighing animals, and during the last two days showing their animals for quality of meat and showmanship. With the auction arena setup for tomorrow’s auction, all that is left is an early rising so youth can wash and groom their animals for one final turn in the arena.
We will be there with them as the auction gets off the ground. If we are lucky, we will walk away with enough pork to feed all the volunteers and visitors who will visit the Mission this summer!
© David B. Bell 2011
