A great Rap for the AADAP Dream Mural

AADAP Dream Mural by Michelle Nosco copy, originally uploaded by Mic N.

More on the AADAP Dream mural:
When interviewing the applicants wanting to assist in creating this mural we asked what kinds of things they enjoyed drawing or painting. Landscapes? People? Buildings? Animals?
All but one agreed to at least one of the above. But Luis was different. He admitted that he didn't really like to create any of the visual arts. I thought for a minute and asked "What would you do if you could do anything?" He said he likes music but doesn't play anything.
I waited.... then he said "Rap" "I like to rap".
Amazing, that's exactly what we needed. Someone who has a love for words, to make a connection between the past and the future.
This "Dream" rap is what Luis wrote. He has a gift with words.
Once again, creation is a gift of love.

AADAP Mural with a mission: keep kids out of LA gangs

AADAP montage copy, originally uploaded by Mic N.

This mural encourages kids to reach for their dreams through higher education. AADAP counselors believe that a successful life is the best way to keep kids out of gangs.

This Photo montage was created for the AADAP Rice Paper magazine story which told Angelenos about the amazing 16' tall x 44' wide Dream mural created by Michelle Nosco and her AADAP Assistants. See NoscoFineArt.com for more info.

When the mural was complete the students were asked what they wanted to do when they grow up. One student in particular demonstrated ability in drawing perspective when working on the LA skyline (far left in mural). His answer was that he would like to become an architect. Hopefully, working on this mural is a stepping stone towards attaining that goal.

CWC's Victoria & Tootsie

Victoria, Tootsie & Chela copy, originally uploaded by Mic N.

Tootsie the Pomeranian inspired a portrait that keeps on giving two different ways. First it celebrates her loving mom's birthday. While, the money donated for it helps the California Wildlife Center save many less fortunate animals in need of care.

Join us this coming SUNDAY, AUGUST 16th for the
CALIFORNIA WILDLIFE CENTER 11th Annual Celebration,
The Wild Brunch
and bid on one of three Arts For Earth Foundation pet portraits offered to support the CWC silent auction fundraiser
The WILD BRUNCH will feature:
Fabulous food, festive libations, family fun, unique silent and live auction shopping, a Maui Raffle, magic, and lively entertainment while strolling Dick Clarks beautiful 12-acre private estate "Gulls Way", overlooking the ocean at Latigo Point.

Click on the link below for tickets and information
cwcthewildbrunch.kintera.org

Louie and Chela

Louie and Chela, originally uploaded by Mic N.

This portrait of Louie was created in partnership with Arts For Earth Foundation to help support the California Wildlife Center. CWC rescues wildlife throughout LA county and Southern California. And now Louie has helped save his wildlife friends.

Max

Max, originally uploaded by Mic N.

I fell in love with Max aka Storm Trooper. Just wanted to share his image with you.

It's one of the California Wildlife Center pet portraits donated as an incentive in our fundraising campaign for them. The CWC surgical facility for rescued wildlife is state of the art. And just last week Victoria demonstrated the heart behind the facility when she allowed a baby dolphin to ride on the leather seats of her SUV on his way to the Marine Animal Rescue Center for water mammal surgery.


Arts For Earth takes each rescued life as seriously as if they were a family member. Victoria of CWC says they ARE family...I agree.

Take a look at their website, support them if you can.

www.californiawildlifecenter.org/

Or: If you want to donate artwork (visual, performance, literary) for their cause just let me know...we'll include you in our fundraising events.
ArtsForEarth@ArtsForEarth.org

love,
Chela

Creation is an act of love...

Flickr - AFEF earth - no gradient fill copy, originally uploaded by Mic N.

This is our new Arts For Earth Foundation logo! As a 3-d pyramid containing the Earth, it represents nurturing and preserving our planet. This is our mission: To Encourage Sustainable Living Through use of the Visual, Performance and Literary Arts. Literally and figuratively (no pun intended, ha) read on:

Several years (10 or 12) ago I started to feel a tangible energy coming from my artwork. This was pointed out to me. I didn't discover it on my own.
At an art festival in Santa Barbara I turned around to see a fellow beaming love at me, with a grin he said quietly "holistic art", and waived his hand in front of one of my paintings. Now, this is not a "new age" story. It's simply a story of life as I've experienced it.
I never saw him again, but he made quite an impression on me. so I started to check it out with the paintings displayed. Something actually DID feel like it was physically radiating from them.
Later a young man of about 17 hurried to my booth with his buddies and angrily stood in front of "Eagles At Midnight". They had told him there was a hidden image in the night time sky where the full moon was the eye of an eagle hidden in the silver clouds surrounding it.
He didn't believe them because he didn't see the eagle at first glance. He scared me. His look was so severe, such an angry young man waiting for life to prove itself worthy of him.
Suddenly he saw the hidden image, right there clearly filling the painting. A huge eagles head with a moon for its eye.
He was blown away. Now, since he was so surprised at seeing something he was sure didn't exist how about feeling something he had never been aware of? I asked.
It was a risk to show him what the man had shown me earlier. He might laugh at me or worse yet, think I was nuts and just walk away.
He moved his hands in a circle in front of the image. Then he started to grin and laughed. But, it wasn't in ridicule. He asked "How'd you do that?" he softened, "Is there a trick?"
This is no trick. It exists within every painting, every sculpture, every sound in music, every word ever written. Each creation carries real tangible energy with it. If you are open to it, you will feel it, too. I call it Holy Spirit, some call it love energy or the power of the Universe. It's all the same to me. God is God.
As the young man walked away he shook his head saying "and to think, a white chick taught it to me..." As it turns out, his mother and grandmother were both Chumash medicine women and have tried for many years to open up their creation, their son, to the power of love, to the traditions of their people. Somehow, this artwork opened up a door for him and he was willing to walk through. Life had proved itself worthy.
Leads me to believe that native american rock paintings were a much more significant part of the hunt for mountain lion, bear or antelope than I had thought before.

You may take me literally when I talk about the "tangible" power of love in all creation. It's an amazing sensation, taken for granted as simply part of life. How much more beautiful is this life, this world of ours when we open ourselves up to it.? Check it out, don't just take my word for it. And, please write me back to describe how it feels.
love,
Chela

Welcome to the first Arts For Earth Foundation blog. We'll let you know about upcoming Arts and eco-friendly events in California and your state, too, if you let me know about your activities. Whenever possible we'll let artists know how to use their arts to ease the suffering of those in need... plants, animals, people, the Earth.
It turns out, and no one ever mentioned this to me before, but, it turns out that people are NOT domesticated animals. huh. That explains alot. So, our natural God given state seems to be like the shark in "Finding Nemo". Remember how he wanted to be a vegetarian but had these huge cravings to eat the little fish who was his friend and trusted him?
We keep trying, and in the best of times we ease each others pain (with a little love and friendship). In the worst of times we eat each other alive. Fortunately if we strive to be more conscious we will awaken in the nick of time and do some good on this Earth. The objective is to keep on trying.
Arts For Earth is dedicated to helping those who are trying. I suppose a good motto would be: Give more than lip service. Another is: Turning passion into compassion. If you think of a good one please blog back with it!
Love,
Chela