There's a part of me that loves working with my hands.  That's why I loved my undergrad in technical and design theatre, where I spent hours painting plywood to look like a brick wall, or shaping modeling clay into hands in yoga positions (to be attached to the arms of a ganesh costume), or painting details on a tribal mask, or making sausages out of nylons and stuffing.  I love getting my hands creatively dirty. Plus I love the theatre.

For a while now, I've been craving a creative outlet of some sort.  Sure, I can snap some photos, but there's something about getting my hands on a project that involves manipulating, shaping, forming a lump of nothing into something.  I'd love to take a pottery class or learn how to knit.  But I make excuses, and in the end, I'm just lazy.  So when I saw this video, I felt a bit of a kick in the bum.  But I was also inspired.  Hope you are too.

This is Sentayehu Teshale, a craftsman at work, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Stools from Mark Morgan on Vimeo.

via andrew and carissa

uph: the genesis project.

Our friend Duane Forrest is undertaking a new project in collaboration with Urban Promise Honduras, the organization Matt was involved with for the past two years.  We wanted to give Duane a shout out and show the video he made featuring what the pilot program is about.  The Genesis Project is a school for the arts providing local children, youth, and adults the opportunity to explore visual arts, music, drama, and dance.



If you'd like more information about The Genesis Project, contact Duane - duaneintheforrest@gmail.com
If you'd like to contribute financially to The Genesis Project , go here.

balloon doodle.

My friends, Joey and Andrea, entered a doodling contest and won! (woop woop) for their entry...

a self-portrait

photo by Joey Armstrong 

Andrea doodled.  Joey photoed.  Both set designed.  Sibling collaboration at its best.  Just had to show this creative little gem off.  Brilliant, eh.

ps. um, just discovered Andrea has been posting delightful illustrations-superimposed-in-photos on her blog.  Yes, I said "delightful."  Please look at them, as well as her other dynamite illustrations.  They will make you feel happy.