Spring break is nearly over and I am feeling quite refreshed. I stayed in Providence and did art all week long. Now for some, this would seem like a terrible spring break, since I already go to art school such a thing would not really be any sort of break at all. On the contrary, I was able to do art that I haven't been able to do in a very long time. Painting and printmaking and drawing whatever I wanted. No deadlines to worry about, no requirements, and no critiques or competitions with other people's work. It wasn't even like it was art for the sake of art. No, this art had a cause. A purpose in life. To help others less fortunate than myself....... Art for Food. Henrik, being the wonderful person that he is, started this alternative spring break program last year, and they managed to raise a couple thousand dollars all through auctioning off and selling the work that was created during spring break and by works donated to the cause after Spring break. The money was donated to Heifer International, an organization that gives livestock to villages in developing countries. I was more than happy to help Henrik out with this endeavor in any way possible.
At first, we were worried about getting a gallery for the auction night. Apparently the gallery that was used last year was no longer available. Of course, God provided for us in magnificent ways. Within less than a week, 4 other galleries offered their spaces for our use. By the end of the week Henrik had narrowed it down to two choices, both of which we will use to hold gallery nights and auctions. The first gallery night, which we will have in late April to raise money for Heifer Int. is the the beautiful 17 Peck gallery. The owner of this gallery was especially excited to help us out with this apparently because when he was younger his Grandmother had given him a Christmas present of a donation of a couple of chickens to Heifer Int. in his name, and he felt that this was one of the best presents he had ever received. Not only did he offer us the gallery for the night, he also offered to provide us with all the frames for the artwork (he apparently owns a framing store as well), advertising for the event all around the city and to his long list of clientel, and to provide all the wine and food for the gallery night.
The second gallery, which is part of a Methodist church downtown, is a large space that we will use to host a second gallery/auction night in early May to benefit Pali House (pronounced "Polly"). Pali House, named after the Senior in ID who started it, is a house for a small group of teenage girls in Uganda who were former child soldiers and who, though still children themselves, have had children of their own after being raped and beaten in the war. All the money raised from this auction will go to helping to put these girls through school while providing them with safe housing, food, water, and medical care for them and their children.
As well as the galleries, God continued to provide for us and others came forward to help us out. After making an announcement about Art for Food at a Student Alliance meeting, the owner of the RISD Store came up to Henrik and offered to donate art supplies to us. So on Monday, after sharing a wonderful lunch down by the canal, Henrik and I went to the RISD Store to pick up the supplies. Well, the person there told us that we could pretty much pick out whatever we needed, and even took us down to the basement where he showed us a room full of supplies that had some slight water damage. We were able to pick out a bunch of large canvases and rolls of paper, paints and pastels. Later, they delivered all the supplies to us in the Waterman Building, which the Foundations Studies office had allowed us to use for the entire week, including the Nature Lab, plus a bunch more supplies that the owner wanted to give us. We had been given more than enough supplies to last us the week. The manager of the Watermark Cafe' also came by and gave us a box full of huge burritos, which provided us with lunch for almost the entire week. I am so grateful to everyone who came forward to help out. While there was only a few of us who stayed consistently working throughout the week, equally important were those who found out about what we were doing and decided to come and help us out and make art for a couple of hours one day, and those who chose to give their time outside of the studio to make something they could donate to us.
Easter Sunday was different for me this year. I was really excited about it coming, not because of candy or Easter baskets or anything like that. But because it mark the resurrection of our Lord. I greatly looked forward to being able to say "Hallelujah, Christ is risen!... The Lord has risen indeed, Hallelujah!" But this year, for the first time ever, I did not celebrate with an Episcopal church service. I thought about it, but in the end I decided to go to Renaissance Church because I have pledged myself as part of the covenant there and because I did not want to spend Easter alone. It was different because it was less than I expected for an Easter service, though I suppose that I am just used to all the pomp and circumstance of the Episcopal church. I really had no plans for the rest of the day, and was really just expecting to go back home and make myself some lunch and lay around by myself until Sanctuary since my roommate had gone to Boston for the weekend. Well, after church I was invited by a friend (whom I had barely just met) to come to his house and have Easter dinner with his family. 4 other friends from RISD were also going, so I decided to and have fellowship with them. The dinner was wonderful, and so was the company. Though I didn't know anyone in his large extended family, they all made us feel quite welcome there and I felt like I had become part of this family. The spirit in the house was wonderful and I experienced a family togetherness quite unlike any that I had grown up with. Dinner began with a reading from the Bible of the resurrection of Christ and eating a piece of manna with some grape juice in remembrance of him. After dinner the kids took part in an Easter egg hunt all around the house and the older kids (meaning me and my friends) went outside and played soccer. I am really grateful to this family for inviting me into their home and sharing with me the joy of Easter in the Christian community. At 6 we picked up a couple more people from RISD and drove to Sanctuary, which, as always, was the perfect end to another wonderful Sunday.
I am also really grateful that I have been able to spend a lot more time with friends that I barely see once or twice a week during the semester, and we have grown closer because of it. I even finally got to spend some time hanging out with my roommate. In fact, we had the house to ourselves the entire week and we used it to do a lot of cooking, to watch movies in the living room and just have a good time, which is rare for us since I have to spend so much time in the ID studio during the semester, getting back home most nights after she has already fallen asleep. All in all, I feel that even though I was "working" most of the week, I feel more rested and rejuvenated than I would if I had just gone back home to Texas and laid on the couch watching TV all day by myself. I realize that my family missed having me home, as I miss them, but I am still happy I stayed here, and I look forward to what more good works God can provide us with in this project, and seeing how much we will be able to raise for these great causes.
Greater things have yet to come
Greater things are still to be done
In this city
I Love you all,
~Rachael
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Providence Sunrise
This state is lyin'
It isn't an island.
It's capitol's tryin'
To be a bigger place.
It's mall is gigantic.
It's paper towels electric.
It's streets are all septic
And fill the river with waste.
The water's on fire,
And terrible drivers
Are spinning there tires
At a big city pace.
To keep it appealing
The streets are all healing.
Named after good feelings
To keep bad ones erased.
Your destination is on the Providence sunrise.
Baaaa.. baaa ba ba..................
It isn't an island.
It's capitol's tryin'
To be a bigger place.
It's mall is gigantic.
It's paper towels electric.
It's streets are all septic
And fill the river with waste.
The water's on fire,
And terrible drivers
Are spinning there tires
At a big city pace.
To keep it appealing
The streets are all healing.
Named after good feelings
To keep bad ones erased.
Your destination is on the Providence sunrise.
Baaaa.. baaa ba ba..................
Friday, March 14, 2008
Ode to the Nilla
Nilla wafers are SO good. I can't stop eating them! It's amazing, really, considering how simple they are. A perfect studio snack. But what could make Nilla wafers even better?.........
Chocolate chips? NO
other flavors? Definitely Not
Shapes? Colors? They speak for themselves
No, they are perfect the way they are, and hopefully that will never change.
p.s. Dried apricots and banana chips are also quite delicious and wonderful for those long nights in studio. MMMM......... I need to get me some more of those, I ate all mine.......
Chocolate chips? NO
other flavors? Definitely Not
Shapes? Colors? They speak for themselves
No, they are perfect the way they are, and hopefully that will never change.
p.s. Dried apricots and banana chips are also quite delicious and wonderful for those long nights in studio. MMMM......... I need to get me some more of those, I ate all mine.......
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
My Little Blue Bird
So I was inspired by some of the poetry that I heard during RCB's performance night, so I decided to try to write some myself, though I'm not very good. Pretty much the only thing I know about writing poetry is trying to make words rhyme, so this is going to be quite juvenile compared to what *you* can do, but oh well, I tried. So this is dedicated to *you.* Thanks for the encouragement.
My Little Blue Bird
I turn the corner, and there you are.
You seem so close, but way too far.
You see so far little blue bird,
Your focus is so clear.
Do you even realize that I am standing near?
My happy little blue bird,
Your colors shine so bright.
Go show them to the world,
And the world shall treat you right
Don't worry little blue bird
Your time is not yet near
One day you will be gone from me,
But you should not have fear.
And If you would come back one day,
I shall be waiting here.
Now go into the wilderness my blue bird.
Explore with all your might.
If you ever lose your way,
God will be your guiding light.
And if you would come back one day
I shall greet you with delight.
I love my little blue bird
I fear it loves me back.
For I may never have this blue bird
And a little bird, I lack.
My Little Blue Bird
I turn the corner, and there you are.
You seem so close, but way too far.
You see so far little blue bird,
Your focus is so clear.
Do you even realize that I am standing near?
My happy little blue bird,
Your colors shine so bright.
Go show them to the world,
And the world shall treat you right
Don't worry little blue bird
Your time is not yet near
One day you will be gone from me,
But you should not have fear.
And If you would come back one day,
I shall be waiting here.
Now go into the wilderness my blue bird.
Explore with all your might.
If you ever lose your way,
God will be your guiding light.
And if you would come back one day
I shall greet you with delight.
I love my little blue bird
I fear it loves me back.
For I may never have this blue bird
And a little bird, I lack.
Monday, March 10, 2008
dreaming of EHP
Ok, so I'm done with my European Honors Program application, I have been for a while actually, and I already turned it in about a week early. I've said that it doesn't matter to me whether or not I get in because theres good things about staying here as well as going. That's a lie.
Truth is I'm really looking forward to going, have been for a long time. In fact, I can't even imagine not going, like my mind doesn't want to accept the fact that there is a chance I won't even get in. I even had a dream about it last night. It was rather strange.
I see my name on this list for new members of the European Honors Program, before they actually tell everybody who got in or not.
a couple days later Julie* finds out that she got in, but Laura* was rejected for some reason.
Julie* tells me that she has already picked out her room in the Cenci in Rome, I wonder why I haven't been asked to do that yet, Julie* says that she didn't see my name on the list of people who got in.
"But I did get in! I saw my name there!"
ok, fine.
they show me pictures of houses in Italy.
"The Cenci is about this big, only less castle-ly"
I fly to Rome with my mom. They drop us off right in front of the Cenci. It is blue, and alot smaller than I expected.
We go to the back of the house where there is a large field and a big colonial-style mansion to the right. I see little creatures running around through the brush that I have never seen before. Italian wildlife, of course.
"I think that's a rabbit over there." as it bounds across the field in front of the mansion, I notice it has rather short ears to be a rabbit.
As it comes closer I see that the animal is in fact a curly-haired cat, which is chasing the little wildlife critters around.
Then I started to wake up and was surprised to find that I was not actually in a grassy field in Italy. What a disappointment.
So I'll find out in about 3 weeks whether I got in or not. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the time being.
*names may or may not be real people, I don't know, it was a pretty weird dream.
Truth is I'm really looking forward to going, have been for a long time. In fact, I can't even imagine not going, like my mind doesn't want to accept the fact that there is a chance I won't even get in. I even had a dream about it last night. It was rather strange.
I see my name on this list for new members of the European Honors Program, before they actually tell everybody who got in or not.
a couple days later Julie* finds out that she got in, but Laura* was rejected for some reason.
Julie* tells me that she has already picked out her room in the Cenci in Rome, I wonder why I haven't been asked to do that yet, Julie* says that she didn't see my name on the list of people who got in.
"But I did get in! I saw my name there!"
ok, fine.
they show me pictures of houses in Italy.
"The Cenci is about this big, only less castle-ly"
I fly to Rome with my mom. They drop us off right in front of the Cenci. It is blue, and alot smaller than I expected.
We go to the back of the house where there is a large field and a big colonial-style mansion to the right. I see little creatures running around through the brush that I have never seen before. Italian wildlife, of course.
"I think that's a rabbit over there." as it bounds across the field in front of the mansion, I notice it has rather short ears to be a rabbit.
As it comes closer I see that the animal is in fact a curly-haired cat, which is chasing the little wildlife critters around.
Then I started to wake up and was surprised to find that I was not actually in a grassy field in Italy. What a disappointment.
So I'll find out in about 3 weeks whether I got in or not. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the time being.
*names may or may not be real people, I don't know, it was a pretty weird dream.
Friday, March 7, 2008
The first of hopefully many
THEY ARE TEACHING US HOW TO COLOR!!!
This is like every little kid's dream. I never could have imagined that this is what I would be doing when I got older and went to college. It's sort of surreal when I think about what I am doing here every day and what I will be doing in the future, compared to traditional liberal arts college students.
And yet......... I'm still killing myself working so much.
No free time for me.
I have no more laundry to wear and I have been wearing the same grimy pants for the past week and they are literally tearing apart. If I had a free day I would go to the park and lay in the sun for a while. I have also been meaning to go grocery shopping, not so much for myself but so that I can have some good food to make for my friends. weird right? Well I guess the way I see it is that as long as the people I love and care about are happy, than I'm happy, and if I can somehow be the cause of their happiness so much the better.
Spring is coming and it is glorious, I love feeling the sun lightly upon my back, and hearing all the twittering birds that have come back home from from warmer places. God is shinning His blessings upon every morning of the spring, promising a fresh start, new beginnings and rebirth, not only for all of nature but also for my own soul and spirit. It's too bad I don't get to see how the rest of the day usually turns out, as I am to be found in the studio, working away towards some unforeseen goal. Sometimes I just find myself staring out the window towards the murky canal, nevertheless glittering in the sunshine.
Mid-day the sun beats down through the window panes and the bright warmth soaks into my skin. I become drowzy as my body is reminded of better days back home when I had the luxury of coming home from school and just sitting outside under the sun with my dog, watching my garden grow as a slight cool breeze stirs the air.
As the day wears on a cold wind blows and grey clouds cover the sky.
Still I am working.
People ask me how I do it, how I manage to stay so calm in the chaos of looming deadlines, working seemingly without rest . "Only by the grace of God." I tell them. I have a prayer taped to the bottom of my desk drawer, and periodically pull it out when I am in need of a reminder as to why I am there and what I am ultimately working towards. Every day is a new day and I just keep pressing on. This past week has been a no-eat, no-sleep kind of week, but the weekend promises to regain a least a little of what I have lost.
Philippeans 3:13 says that "I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has mad me his own." Indeed, Christ has made me his own, and in doing so he has given me new life, and I am fulfilled by him. It is for Him that my work comes to a halt, and I leave the studio. Forget about food, for Christ nurishes me and I am filled with the Lord. Forget about sleep, for God grants me peace and my heart rests in Him. No, I must not stay for my Lord is calling me forth to come and be in His presence. So I must give over everything to Hime, for what more do I have? I would sacrifice everything to Him, but still it could not compare to what He has sacrificed for us. I don't believe that God asks much of me compared to what I have gotten in return.
The sun is gone from the sky now and there is only an inky darkness overhead. The moon and the stars are hidden by the smog of city life and clouds attempting to hold back their rain, but my soul is filled with His brightness, and His light makes all things beautiful.
Goodnight
This is like every little kid's dream. I never could have imagined that this is what I would be doing when I got older and went to college. It's sort of surreal when I think about what I am doing here every day and what I will be doing in the future, compared to traditional liberal arts college students.
And yet......... I'm still killing myself working so much.
No free time for me.
I have no more laundry to wear and I have been wearing the same grimy pants for the past week and they are literally tearing apart. If I had a free day I would go to the park and lay in the sun for a while. I have also been meaning to go grocery shopping, not so much for myself but so that I can have some good food to make for my friends. weird right? Well I guess the way I see it is that as long as the people I love and care about are happy, than I'm happy, and if I can somehow be the cause of their happiness so much the better.
Spring is coming and it is glorious, I love feeling the sun lightly upon my back, and hearing all the twittering birds that have come back home from from warmer places. God is shinning His blessings upon every morning of the spring, promising a fresh start, new beginnings and rebirth, not only for all of nature but also for my own soul and spirit. It's too bad I don't get to see how the rest of the day usually turns out, as I am to be found in the studio, working away towards some unforeseen goal. Sometimes I just find myself staring out the window towards the murky canal, nevertheless glittering in the sunshine.
Mid-day the sun beats down through the window panes and the bright warmth soaks into my skin. I become drowzy as my body is reminded of better days back home when I had the luxury of coming home from school and just sitting outside under the sun with my dog, watching my garden grow as a slight cool breeze stirs the air.
As the day wears on a cold wind blows and grey clouds cover the sky.
Still I am working.
People ask me how I do it, how I manage to stay so calm in the chaos of looming deadlines, working seemingly without rest . "Only by the grace of God." I tell them. I have a prayer taped to the bottom of my desk drawer, and periodically pull it out when I am in need of a reminder as to why I am there and what I am ultimately working towards. Every day is a new day and I just keep pressing on. This past week has been a no-eat, no-sleep kind of week, but the weekend promises to regain a least a little of what I have lost.
Philippeans 3:13 says that "I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has mad me his own." Indeed, Christ has made me his own, and in doing so he has given me new life, and I am fulfilled by him. It is for Him that my work comes to a halt, and I leave the studio. Forget about food, for Christ nurishes me and I am filled with the Lord. Forget about sleep, for God grants me peace and my heart rests in Him. No, I must not stay for my Lord is calling me forth to come and be in His presence. So I must give over everything to Hime, for what more do I have? I would sacrifice everything to Him, but still it could not compare to what He has sacrificed for us. I don't believe that God asks much of me compared to what I have gotten in return.
The sun is gone from the sky now and there is only an inky darkness overhead. The moon and the stars are hidden by the smog of city life and clouds attempting to hold back their rain, but my soul is filled with His brightness, and His light makes all things beautiful.
Goodnight
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