Can Art Change the World? Become Part of a Global Art Project to Create Community Join Me

The anonymous French street artist,"JR," won the 2011 Annual TED prize given to "exceptional individuals" devoted to changing the world.  He has discovered the "power of paper and glue," installing large-scale conceptual art projects worldwide to celebrate--for better or worse--social connectedness, or what has been dubbed "relational art."  In each of his projects the participation of local residents is central--not a means to an end. (See the YouTube video of JR's TED acceptance speech here.)

His images have graced the wall separating Jews and Palestinians, homes of Rio de Janeiro's oldest favela (seen in photo above) and the walls of Paris, New York, L.A. and Long Beach, among others.  They present images of human beings saying "Take notice.  I am here.  I am not a statistic. This is what I stand for."  And behind each image is a story to be revealed or to be imagined.

Now, as the remaining photos show, we can craft our own stories of our own communities.  JR has organized a worldwide art project called "Inside Out" where individuals and groups are encouraged to send in photos of individuals to be reproduced in large, black and white format, for displaying in public spaces.  You can click here to get a general pictorial idea of JR's "Inside Out" global art project, or go directly to his website to see how you can participate.

I am forming a group to participate in Inside Out.  So if you in any way relate to the community of Signal Hill, California and would like to participate, leave me a comment or send me an email expressing your interest.  I'm planning to have something up within the city by the end of February 2012.

I believe art can change our little corner of the world.

If you want to read more about JR and his art, look for the Nov 28 issue of The New Yorker magazine.

Also, here , one year later, is an update to JR's work, his "Inside Out" global project that is changing the world. 

      ----RCH

Community Art & Gift-Making for the Holidays

Finger Scarves, no knitting

required; yarn will be

available for purchase

or bring your own

The late musicologist Christopher Small (see earlier posts) spent most   of his 84 years trying to understand the meaning and significance of art.  In the process of writing three seminal books on the subject, he said, "All art is action--performance art, if you like--and its meaning lies not in created objects but in the acts of creating, displaying and perceiving."  Objects can be commodified and sold on a hungry and acquisitive market; but the more meaningful and personal processes of  art making cannot.

From the earliest cave drawings to the anarchy of today's street art, Small observes, "It is an activity--an urge-- in which human beings take part in order that they may come to understand their relationships--with one another and with the great pattern that connects."

The role of art, he explains, is to "Explore, affirm and celebrate the relationships of the living world that bring us together."

Nesting Orgami Boxes, for wrapping or as presents
Will use heavy scrap booking paper

This is made most clear during this approaching holiday season.  It is interesting that at least three of the world's major religions--Christianity, Judaism, and Buddhism--celebrate sacred events in the approaching months, and their art during these times reflects a great communion amongst ourselves and with the mysterious.

You have the opportunity to add this kind of meaning to your gift-giving by crafting your personalized holiday gifts for your loved ones.  While your hand-crafted gift may lack great market value, it is priceless in personal and communal value.

Two community arts organizations in Signal Hill are
holding holiday gift making workshops:

---  On December 3, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. the Greenly Art Space will be holding its "Handmade Christmas Gift Workshop," for all ages, at 2698 Junipero Ave, #113 in Signal Hill.  Click here for a flyer on the event, and for more information or to register call Kimberly Hocking 562-533-4020, or email her at kimhocking@aol.com.  Click here to learn more about The Greenly Art Space.

---  On December 11, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. the Friends of Signal Hill Cultural Arts will host its "Winter Art Workshop," for children ages 4 to 15, at the Discovery Well Park.   For more information you may call 562-989-7330 or go online to the City of Signal Hill Website .

Happy Holiday Creating!


--- RCH

Click on the labels "art" and "arts and culture" below for more posts on those topics.

Falconer on the Hill

Deann was eager to share her passion for raptors with me, when I  passed by her condo on this cool day on the Hilltop, where her family has lived for 28 years.

She was standing near the sidewalk, "manning" her newly captured female American Kestrel Nikita, introducing her to her new captive world--getting her used to being around people, preparing her for the day she will go on the hunt for European Starlings, that prolific non-native invading scourge of birdom, imported to New York from England in 1890.

Deann has been working on this for three years, ever since the day she became enthralled by a pair of nesting Coopers Hawks, outside her office window in Huntington Beach.  "It changed my life," she told me.  You can read her story and see some beautiful photos on her Website .

"One of my reasons for this journey is to educate people about raptors," she says. "Raptors are important to the environment and often are thought of as 'mean' by the uninformed.  This is very far from the truth," she says, "as they help control the population of birds and rodents and rid those species of the weak and sick, helping with the process of natural selection."  She goes on to say "They take life to live, not for fun or sport."

She is now licensed by the State of California and the Federal Government, giving her permission to practice the art of falconry; and is completing her two-year apprenticeship, under the supervision of a master falconer.   She recommends the Website Modern Apprentice for anyone who wants to explore becoming a falconer.


Since trapping Nikita near the Chino Airport, she has been on the arduous journey of training the bird to hunt.  One reason she has chosen starlings as the prey is because of their size--larger than a sparrow, not much smaller than the Kestrel itself, making it unlikely Nikita will be able to fly off with the kill.

Watching raptors in flight is a beautiful thing and, adds Deann, "The interaction of bird and human just absolutely intrigues me."

      ---RCH

For more Pleasant Encounters on Signal Hill click on "Pleasant Encounters on Signal Hill" on labels and scroll down, or check out the slide show at the right.