august breeze

august has been cooler than expected this year. 

instead of staunch heat that is as still as a Greek statue , the breeze is sweet and the airs spins about. 

this morning was no exception.

heading down to the 39th street district near kumed for breakfast, we slipped by the mural site.

and just as I thought, holly and several youth from the area were out painting. 

we honked and waved before heading over to Cafe 39. breakfast as usual was wonderful.

after breakfast and a minor search for a pirate hat, we went back over and chatted with holly and the youth.

they were having lunch.  a neighborhood member had stopped and dropped off water.  holly informed me that they'd been out on the lot since 9am and planned to stay until around 5pm.

It's difficult for me to articulate how pleased I am with this project... this community deserves this mural and much more... I just hope that we can push forward and secure funding for the remaining part of this project as well as establish a community garden.  

there is still so much work to be done....

but the august breeze instills a sense of true belief in tomorrow's potential. 

cheers. happy holiday.

~A 

revolving mural initiative

'revolving mural initiative' defined:

a core portion (Holly's Part) of art will remain on the wall, serving as a 'frame' of sorts for the revolving art which will change each year per 8th grade art class from Rosedale Middle School.

we will hopefully be able to scan holly's notes and sketches, as well as the scientist's sketch and hopes for the garden area within the next few days.

cheers.
~A

It has begun....

Well, it has finally happened. We have paint on the wall! After the two design sessions, holly was quick to get on the wall and get started. Holly has been out at the lot for the last two days and there is starting to be a transformation of this place. I am very excited! I'll let the pics speak.

Make Time To Change a Life

click to view flier large.

For more information about how you can make a difference in the Rosedale community, please contact Donna Devine at (913) 627-0312 or by e-mail at donnad@ku.edu

i rained something fierce last night.
i awoke to soft breathing,
thunder, and
ah,...lightning.

after closing a window and perching my
room door open--just in case payton woke up
frightened--i nestled back into sighing arms and a sweet sleep.

i love sleeping against the sound of a storm and
as with all storms... a rainbow emerged quickly the next morning...

well a rainbow metaphor that is...

checking my email I found a message from Anne Huffman from Dykes Medical Library at KUMC. the email had a flier attached.

Now I'd chatted with Sarah McQueeny a couple days ago and she informed me that after tons of discussion and work Dykes Medical Library will offer tutoring and programming for the youth of Rosedale.

I was ecstatic to hear the news, and now today seeing the flier promoting the endeavor... well, it all just hit me...: change is so possible. it is. it just takes time.

and I know I say such things frequently,
but you have to understand, I remember sitting in meetings at Dykes over the last year about the possibility of such an effort.... discussing the potential.... and for it all to come to pass.... well; I'm just at a loss of words... or really I'm not, ;-) but you feel me, yes?

I hope so.

The very fierce ladies: Wendy Wilson, Anne Huffman, Sarah McQueeny, Karen Cole, and the very divine Donna Devine... are movers and shakers, baby'.

The project is called The 39th Street Crew.

cheers... once again
to change.
~A

ps. I will post the flier above; if you have time to volunteer please contact, as the flier will detail, Donna Devine.

garden phase

the scientist did indeed say he would lead these efforts;
a rain, watering structure is something he feels quite
passionate about as well mikey.

I will see when he can get out to the lot
to brainstorm; and we will in turn rock
out the lowe's grant.

sound good, eh?

happy sunday funday.

It's.. MIKEY!!

Hello all~
My name is Mikey and I am the other part of this project. Thanks Angel for letting me have a louder voice.

As a quick update as to where we are currently in the project, artist Holly Swangstu has led two design sessions with 8 local neighborhood kids. Holly showed me the sketches for the first phase of the mural and they look great. She will begin priming on 8-22-08 and start painting on 8-24-08. She is responsible for doing a border over the top of the wall which is designed to be the unifying and only permanant art on the mural.

Phase 2 of the project will be led by Joe Faus and the Mrs. Moore's 8th grade art class at Rosedale Middle School. Each year the new class will get a chance to design and cover over the previous year's mural.

The last phase which is ongoing, is the Garden Phase. We have a small portion of this completed, but are looking forward to creating a garden "mural" of sorts. I would like to see a structure of some type that acts as a source of shade as well as a rain catchment for the garden.

Thanks to everyone for their support and interest in the project.

mikey