Help Darden Smith’s Art Program :)
October 05, 2010
'm writing today about a fundraiser we are having for the Be An Artist Program on the evening of Monday, October 18th @ Fino.
Back in 2003 I started the Be An Artist Program as a way to talk to students about seeing themselves as artists, no matter where
their interests may lay. Since then the program has gone into schools all over the US and Europe, bringing the message to students
of all ages that the things they dream about can become a reality. The main message of the program is that, "Art comes from
attention, intention, and doing what you love." I believe that art may look like the work of an engineer, a doctor, lawyer, or even
a musician.
The funds raised on October 18th will be used to bring the Be An Artist Program to schools here in the Austin area.
My goal is to bring the program to 7,500 students during the 2010/2011 school year. All contributions to the event
are tax deductible through Be An Artist, Inc.
So, help us bring the message to students here that they can be what they dream.
Now, about the event on the 18th.
Kelly Willis and I will both be playing some music (along with a couple of musical guests that I can't name here yet).
There will be a silent auction for some very unique items and special events. And to top it all off, a four course
meal with accompanying wine selections from Fino!
I know your time and resources are valuable. I wouldn't appeal to you for support if I didn't believe in this program
with all my heart. So I'm asking you to consider coming to this event. It is important to me and it is important
to the kids who benefit from the program.
For more info on the Be An Artist Program, please visit http://www.be-an-artist.com.
If you have questions on the event/want tickets, get in touch with either Jennifer Sutton
(.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)) or myself.
I look forward to seeing you on the 18th at Fino, and thanks for reading this incredibly long letter.
All the best,
Darden
**********************
Darden Smith
P.O. Box 2454 Austin, Texas 78768 U.S.A.
512.656.8204
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
http://www.dardensmith.com
http://www.be-an-artist.com
posted by Sara Hickman at 12:28 pm
comments (0) | permalink | Tweet | Share on Facebook
A Letter to My Dad—-What I read at my father’s memorial
September 22, 2010
It doesn’t matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was ---Anne Sexton
I am grateful to my friend, Noah BenShea for showing me how to find my way on what I want
to share with you via “A LETTER TO MY DAD WHO, I BELIEVE, IS HERE TODAY”.
Dear Dad,
I know where you are. You are here. And…you are in heaven. So, I know you can hear us …
and here’s what I want to say.
I hope heaven is making you laugh because I can still hear you laughing, laughing so hard you can
hardly breathe. TEARS running down your cheeks, the gasping for air as you try to regain control,
but you can’t. The laughter takes over your entire being.
I remember my first really big laugh, my first semester in college. A gorgeous spring day, a bright
blue East Texas sky, and a boyfriend made me laugh so hard I couldn’t stop. I fell over in the soft,
Kelly green spring grass, laughing and laughing, and oh man. My belly hurt so much, and still I couldn’t stop.
And because of your goofy sense of enjoying the moment or the deep appreciation of a good joke, or liking
Richard Pryor, Garrison Keillor, Chevy Chase and Gene Wilder, I laugh until my belly aches, and then I realize,
YOU gave this very hilarious gift to me. That is why you could wear balloons on your head in the shape of a spider …
or a penis. You didn’t care how it looked---it was FUN and FUNNY and that’s, truly, what was at the core of who
you were---a little boy, born to make art, first, foremost and last, and to share your genuine exuberance in
making art with other people who wanted to learn about it.
I don’t think you ever really grew up, dad. I think life was a cabaret of creation for you from the moment you
were born. Making sculptures, making paintings, sewing your own double breasted purple suit, and puppet theatres
and detailed gypsy wagons and magical doll houses that lit up and fanciful beds for us to sleep in and jewelry boxes
with night garden paintings and mirrors of hand formed wood for us to see our own reflections and 10” dancing pigs
or funny mice that could stand free (because I collected pigs and my sister, Jenny, was Jenny Penny Pickle Mouse) and
hand stitched fairies hanging from the ceiling on Christmas morning and vanity tables that said “GLORIOUS” or
“BEAUTIFUL”, in big, colorful stained glass letters, painstakingly cut out that lit up from inside with the flick of a
switch you’d inserted.
I remember being three, riding my tricycle around and around in our basement in Illinois as you were working on
a huge painting, your back to me, as usual. My tiny circles widened, and, suddenly, I rode my bright red tricycle
right through a giant, square painting of an African American woman’s face. Did you get mad? Did you thump me
on the head? No, you laughed. You thought it was very funny. I was Charlie Chaplin, you were Michelangelo.
I remember you taught me to draw a straight line. I’d just sit still in your studio and watching your hands draw
without a ruler, without a guide. I remember watching you build shelves all the way around the perimeter of your
garage studio in Houston, collecting baby jars from all the neighbors and then filling each jar with your own
mix of paints---a rainbow of colors all the way around the room: purples leading into blues and reds and oranges…
they all had special names taped on them in your perfect, architectural writing. I remember holding those cool jars
of paint in my hands and you sharing a canvas with me so I could learn about painting.
I know I learned from you that listening to what children need is a big part of being a parent. It’s funny how
many of the little things that you used to do, I took for granted, but I guess that’s what we children do when
we are young. I now not only see myself doing things you used to do, but grateful that I paid enough attention
to learn from those moments. When I am with my children, I try to say, “Look at that scarlet sunset! It’s amazing!”
or “Look at this tiny, jade green beetle.” When I want to share my passion for life, it is you continuing to share
your passion. And though I am speaking, I am sharing your voice.
I remember you loved to travel. As a child, I remember driving up to Nova Scotia and as we passed through Maine,
a giant storm came rumbling through. The sky was full of rumbling thunder and bight, white lightening,
but looming over the road, through the wall of trees, was an enormous green tail, and, without a hesitation,
you pulled right up a long, gray drive into a dinosaur park! It was closed. But still.
That was so cool of you.
Oh, and your made-up traveling stories for the family were the BEST! Your story of a friendship between a little
lost worm and a big, black crow still sticks in my heart. One time, you were making up some crazy tale, and
made mom laugh so hard, she was crying out, “Stop, stop! Pull over! You’re going to make me pee!”
And we girls in the back were laughing, wanting, HOPING mom was gonna pee.
You loved to tell stories. And I loved that in you. You repeatedly told a story that wasn’t designed to make you
look good but made you laugh. This was another wonderful lesson for a father to pass to his children. It is often
wiser to laugh than to try and look wise. Laughter is life’s own wisdom. Being loving and laughing is the healthiest
way to live. These things you taught me too.
I remember in high school our long drive to Arkansas, and our laughter, our confusion, our quiet times, our figuring
things out. I was a teenager. It was awkward. But I remember I always told you everything, even when it was embarrassing.
Many times I told you my worried teenage concerns over dinner at your favorite restaurant, Steak & Ale. Or over Mexican food.
Or over donuts. I told you because even though we didn’t live together, I wanted us to have the connection of stories,
mine and yours. Your love of stories, of travel, of food, they all became a part of my desire to entertain others.
Thank you for that, dad.
Well…Your death has been a mysterious doorway, and a lot of grieving for me, because I’m not sure where or how
that door opens.
But you still walk through it and meet me in spiritual ways. This is new to me, the places we meet. It is painful and
sudden and funny and weird. Just after your death, I felt your presence at Hobby Lobby, and cried my eyes out when
I saw the canvas, the pencils, the paints, and felt your compassion through the encircling arms of your granddaughter,
Lily. I saw you in the most beautiful fireworks at Disneyland last weekend with your granddaughter, iolana, who tenderly
held my hand as if I was a child, her understanding my feeling that it was your hand painting the sky with explosions
of gold and vermillion and robin’s egg blue. I just know you are peering over the shoulders of your grandchildren,
when they create a drawing without even trying. You continue on as a part of your daughter, Jenny, as she creates
silver jewelry with a fiery opal, or when I sit up late at night, a song popping into my head.
There’s a lot of you in me, Dad. And a lot of Mom. You both gave Jenny and me a love for music, the gift of drawing…
an appreciation for a day at the museum, to be able to share knowledge with friends and family about what we’ve
learned about Modigliani or Degas or your favorite hero, Matisse.
I know you liked people and people loved you. People thought you were a great guy. I remember all the amazing
parties at our house as a child, people dressed in fabulous, thick fur coats, smoking cigarettes, gathered around
the piano, singing songs at the top of their lungs, and eating the homemade cake you had carefully hand painted
with a nude woman lazing across the top. I ESPECIALLY remember the men joking about who was going to get
what piece….
And since you’ve gone to the other side, I’ve had so many people approach me or write me and tell me how you
changed their lives, whether through teaching or just listening or showing up with an unexpected gift. I’ve learned
a lot about you from people I wouldn’t have met but because of your passing, they have come to me and lovingly
shared their memories. Your passing has created anotherlevel of a new community. Thank you for this, too.
I remember I was always trying to find places for you to have an art show because I didn’t understand why more
people didn’t know about your amazing gift. Do you rememer, Dad, when I dressed up like an art rep.---in a
business suit with pantyhose AND heels--- and took a portfolio of your slides to the Dallas Biblical Arts Center.
I got you that show because your Christian paintings were so beautiful and I was so proud of your work---
I wanted everyone to see it.
Now memories roll from my mind: how you walked me down the aisle, how you were there for iolana’s birth;
how you surrounded Lily with stuffed animals on your bed because you were worried she’d roll off. All the purple
stuffed animals in your house, on your purple van’s windshield. How you’d fall asleep to football games, go to watch
Jenny play soccer, grilling brisket for the Mc Dermotts, burning the popcorn when mom was out of town, cutting
the weird silver eel off the hook I caught with cousin Amy when we were all in Padre Island. I remember going to Canton
with you and Gaye for antiques, and you bought me a little wooden bucket for tips so I could sing under a tree.
I remember you crying in your studio one day, and my asking Gaye what was wrong. I had been singing “Mr. Bojangles”
while you painted in the other room and you said to me, over her shoulder, “It’s so beautiful…” and I remember
you made me feel proud, you made me feel such deep love.
I remember you singing in church. I remember, as a joke, you challenged me to eat some dog food at the
dinner table. I couldn’t do it, but you did, pouring milk over the dried, weird doggy circles, and filling up
your spoon and taking that bite and leaning back and saying, “Mmmm…You really should try this!”
I was MORE than happy to lose that bet. I remember you loved our guinea pigs. I remember your love
of films and galleries and your pride in your students paintings.
I remember after my high school graduation you gave me the light blue bible with my name embossed
in silver on the front. Then, just two months later, on July 23, 1981, I went with you to the huge revival
at the Astrodome, and you encouraged me to run down on stage and be saved. The preacher hit me in
the forehead, & I fell over before I ran back up in the stands to a grinning you. I remember I came home
and excitedly told my boyfriend, Gary, who was Catholic but wanted to be an American Indian, I was born
again, and his looking at me like I’d lost my freaking mind.
I remember at 12 when you moved away from home. I remember, at 20, walking with you down the streets
of Montrose after I moved into the tree house apt. right around the corner from your house, just so I could
be close with you. I remember taking your illustration class, and one morning I walked in and you said,
“That was a great time last night!” and some of the other students hadn’t figured out we were father and daughter yet.
We both got a good laugh out of that one.
I remember how much you loved your parents, and they loved you. I remember picnics on the U of H lawn, back when
Shasta was still in a glass cage. I remember riding horses with you. I remember your excitement about moving
to New Ulm, showing me photographs about buying a rundown four store front piece of property and turning it
into your enormous plum of a studio, guest house and home. I remember hanging out in New Ulm with family and friends,
and your one of a kind handmade furniture and your enthusiasm of starting the New Ulm Arts Festival.
I remember you rocking in our backyard, not so long ago, with your white shaggy dog, Max,
in our hammock. Smiling. Enjoying the day.
Sometimes families find faults in their dads. Oftentimes dads find fault in themselves. We certainly had our share
of being a family that had problems. But, you know what, dad? It’s alright. It’s ok. I can see so clearly now.
I remember when I saw you for the last time…last fall… and you seemed young and happy and wanted to
show me something. You insisted. You stood up, and I took your precious arm and we walked around for a bit,
and you said, ‘It’s here somewhere. I drew it for you. Hmm. I really want to give it to you. Where did I put it?”
We walked in to your art gallery and saw your father’s desk, and I reminded you that it was your fathers desk,
and you smiled, and I gently suggested we go sit down some more. You thought that sounded dandy.
So we sat and held hands and smiled and talked about wonderful things and we told each other we loved
each other and for me, that was a wonderful day. A perfect day.
I looked up to you as an artist. You looked up to me as a musician. We grew, and we stayed childlike,
so, Dad, I want to thank you for helping me to find my way. When I think of you I am forever your daughter.
And you are forever my father. And I thank you for being the best father you could be. Even from a long way away.
In one of the stars
I shall be living
In one of them
I shall be laughing
And so it will be
As if all the stars are laughing
When you look
At the sky at night.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s “Little Prince”
posted by Sara Hickman at 06:08 am
comments (1) | permalink | Tweet | Share on Facebook
My father, remembered by my mom…
August 26, 2010
about my father, her husband. She said, "Always, in love." Here, then, is
another picture of my dad through the eyes of my mom.
Love and gratitude,
Sara
I always loved your dad, from the very first day I met him. I feel
very sad that he is no longer walking on this earth, but his spirit
and the love I experienced from him and his family will forever live
in my heart.
No one ever knows what happens between a husband and wife but the two
people themselves, and words are not capable of fully describing that
unique relationship. Your dad was a wonderful person and I will always
be glad that I was privileged to be a part of his life and to share
with him the making of two amazing daughters.
I know your heart is incredibly sad....
Early on he told me he wanted to do his very best with whatever he
chose to do. He wanted to be the best husband, the best father, the
best friend, the best artist, the best professor, the best person--and
he certainly always tried to do that. I believe the effort he put
into meeting his own expectations put a great strain on his heart and,
even thought it tried valiantly to bear up under that strain, it
finally just wore out from all the trying.
Your dad's love will always be with you and in you. My love will
always be with you and in you. God's love will always be with you and
in you. So, walk in love, my dear, sweet daughter, knowing that you
are always surrounded by and filled with love--a love for which there
is no end.
And now these three remain:
faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love.
-- 1 Corinthians 13:13
Love,
Mom
posted by Sara Hickman at 07:12 am
comments (6) | permalink | Tweet | Share on Facebook
Dr. Toy Press Release: Winning For “Big Bird, Little Bird” — Hooray!
August 06, 2010
I'm including the entire list so all you parents out there can see what other amazing items are available for you to resource and enjoy.
Sending summer love, year round,
Sara
TALKBACK
Dr. Toy's Names Best Children's Vacation Products
Retail Editor 2 -- Playthings, August 3, 2010
SAN FRANCISCO - The report of winning toys for Dr. Toy's Best Children's Vacation Products for summer 2010 is at http://www.drtoy.com.
The information is designed to assist children to play and learn at home and while on vacation. Dr. Toy's Best Vacation Products Awards were developed by noted child development authority, Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D. (a.k.a. Dr. Toy), as a service to consumers who desire to purchase safe, affordable, educationally-oriented, and stimulating toys and play products for children for vacation time at home or on the road.
"As a childhood specialist for 40 years," said Auerbach, "I have seen the continuous, essential need for more year-round resources for consumers to identify and choose the most appropriate products for all children."
Auerbach reports that in the years the online magazine, Dr. Toy's Guide, has been available, "thousands of visitors daily from around the world have accessed its information." It was the first Web site to evaluate toys and children's products.
The report is being released, according to Auerbach, to "encourage parents and teachers to focus on the value of play during the summer as essential to the overall learning process."
She added, "The Best Vacation Products a balanced selection from large and small, new and established, companies across the U.S.A., Canada, and overseas will provide children with exciting new learning tools that will help them not only do better in school, but also will provide more constructive activities while traveling or at vacation destinations."
The award-winning products include innovative toys, books, CDs, crafts, DVDs, games, puzzles, and many other play products for children of all ages and interests.
Auerbach believes "parents need more help to get a head start locating new, diversified products that children will enjoy as they increase learning skills and expand creativity." The products range from low to high tech for hours of constructive, educational, and stimulating fun.
"Children learn best through play and these Best Products encourage children to maximize their potential and make the most of Smart Play," said Auerbach. "By making a renewed focus on summertime as a special time for choosing new products for children, parents improve their children's development. This is a perfect time for parents to ‘take stock' and do an inventory of what their children are playing with, what is not used, and what they need next in their development."
Dr. Toy's Best Children's Vacation Products are carefully chosen, using extensive criteria she has developed over many years, from among hundreds she has reviewed at toy fairs, in catalogs, and through many other sources. The criteria she uses includes: safety, age-appropriateness, design, durability, lasting play value, cultural and ethnic diversity, good transition from home to school, educational value, learning skills, creativity, improvement in the understanding of the community and the world, good value for price, and, naturally, fun.
These are products suitable for babies to older children, include products from hand-crafted to hi-tech, and range in price on the average from $10 to $50. The winning products are affordable, well designed, and reflect the wide range of children's interests. Complete information about these and other products are included in the full report.
Dr. Toy's report includes company customer service numbers, web site addresses, age range, price, and a full description of each product. The award-winning, online magazine, Dr. Toy's Guide, features full color photos of each product, links to companies to learn more, interviews with and articles by Dr. Toy, plus hundreds of other Best Products for all reasons and seasons. At this time over 4000 products are included in the Dr. Toy's Guide with direct links to companies and toy stores on line, plus toy history, parent resources, and much more.
WINNERS:
adaptivePlay Mickey Melodies
Advance Games Say-N-Play
ALEX Ready, Set, Doodle!
ALEX Scribble & Doodle
All Mighty Productions Spoon Racers & Beanbots
Alton Road Publ Sabu & Me
Ape Park Picnic Pals Blankies
Ape Park Picnic Pals Plush
AroundSquare Deconstruction Blocks
b. dazzle Color ‘N Seek
b. dazzle Cows Scramble Squares
b. dazzle Fall Scramble Squares
b. dazzle GUITAR Scramble Squares
Big City Publ Angels from the Attic
Blue Orange Games Golden Gate
Blue Orange Games Pigzup!
Blue Orange Games Spot It!
Blue Orange Games Sumoku
Box Girls Family Dinner Box of Quotations
Buckle Toy Buckle Buddy "Bucky"
Carrera Mario Kart DS 2
Carson Dellosa Summer Bridge Activities
Citiblocs Skyline Color Sets
Community Music Little Ditties for Itty Bitties
Constructive Eating Construction Plate
Constructive Eating Set of Utensils
Corolle Dolls Tidoo Poppy
Creatively Canny Bug's Adventure Series
Critical Thinking Balance Benders Level 1
Crorey Creations Friendship Bracelet Maker
Debbie and Friends More Story Songs & Sing Alongs
Dig-It! Games Roman Town
DreamBox Learning K-3 Math
Educational Insights Hot Dots Jr.
Educational Insights Stix & Stones
EducationalGames.Biz All-Star Math Game
Eye Think Strobotop Lightphase Animator
FoxMind Canada Dig-It!
Free Spirit Pub. Treasury Hunt for Primary
Fun & Function Amazing Peanut Ball
Galloping Minds Preschooler Learns Numbers DV
GameWhys Icecap
GameWhys Paradice
GameWhys Icecap app for iPhone
Gamewright Can You See What I See?
Gamewright Dweebies
Gamewright Order's Up
Gamewright Take the Cake
Giddy Up! Barbie Blendy Pens
Giddy Up! Spiderman Color Book
Griddly Games Chronicle of the Mind
Griddly Games Words of the Wise
Growing Sound I Can Do It
HABA Bucket With Valve
Haywire Group Flickin' Chicken
Idea Storm Products Yamodo! Good To Go!
Ideopolis Alphabetz Decoder
Innovation First Int'l Hexbug Na
Inspiration Software Inspiration 9
Inspiration Software Kidspiration 3
ISEO Chemdis Pvt Rubbabu City Life Playset
ISEO Chemdis Pvt Rubbabu 3D Shape Sorter
ISEO Chemdis Pvt Rubbabu Educational Balls
ISEO Chemdis Pvt RubbaBlox Just Triangles
Itty Bitty Toy Co Sneako
Julie K Music A Sunny Day
Kreg-Kid Hip Kid Hip
Learning Resources Alphabet Suitcase
Learning Station Book About Tony Chestnut
LEGO Systems Atlantis Guardian
Lucid Publishing Reef Fish Coloring Book
Maru & Friends Doll Maru Latina Girl
Mindfull Games Verbal Volley
Mindlogic Consensus Jr Edition
North Star Games Wits & Wagers Family
Original Toy What Zit
Oshi mat LLC Oshi Mat
Out of the Box Word on the Street Jr
OWI Transforming Solar Robot
Pay Your Family First ThriveTime
PBS Home Video Super Why!
PBS Home Video WordGirl: Earth Day
Peaceable Kingdom Really Ridiculous
Prime Time Toys Sash Paddle
Russ Berrie Raggedy Ann & Andy
Safari Forest Dragon #10155
SenseAbility Games SenseAbility
SepToys SepToys Design Blocks
Sleeveless: Big Bird, Little Bird DVD
Smithsonian Folkways Go Waggaloo
Spin Master Aqua Sand Creation Kit
Spin Master Air Hogs Titan
Spin Master Bow Rod Fishing Rod
Spin Master Magic Fabric Creation
Star Kids Products Airplay
Star Kids Products Snack & Play Travel Tray
Steps4Kids Modern Manuscript
Storytime By Design It's A StoryTime Jam
Tech Source Bubble Talk
TenMarks Education Online Summer Math Program
Think-A-Lot Toys Think-ets Genius
ThinkFun Zingo! To Go
Tier Toys Animal Sea Xplorer
Trenna Productions One To Grow On!
Vraney Pocket Referee
VTech V.Reader Animated e-Reading
VTech MobiGo Touch Learning
Wild Republic Mini Morphs
Wild Republic Chompers
Wild Republic Audubon Baby Birds
WonderChess WonderElla
Yoshiritsu LaQ Imaginal Zoo
Yoshiritsu LaQ Hobby Flower Kit
Youthlight. Snoots Toots!
Zany World Games Zany World Games
Zoobies Furbie the Feline
posted by Sara Hickman at 11:27 am
comments (1) | permalink | Tweet | Share on Facebook
Update on the Baha’i Seven
June 29, 2010
Love,
Sara
Trial of seven Iranian Baha'i leaders appears to have ended
NEW YORK, 14 June (BWNS) – The trial of seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned for more than two years in Iran seems to have come to a
conclusion after three days of successive court hearings.
The seven appeared in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran on the morning of Saturday, 12 June and returned
to Evin Prison shortly after noon.
The Court was reconvened the next day, as well as this morning.
"We can confirm that a court session was held today in Tehran," said Bani Dugal, the principal representative
of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, "and it seems from what we have heard that the trial
itself has now concluded. But we have no further information at this time."
The defendants are Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz
Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm.
Before their imprisonment, they attended to the spiritual and social needs of Iran's Baha'i community,
which numbers more than 300,000. They have been held in Evin prison since they were arrested in 2008 – six of them
on 14 May and one of them two months earlier.
Their trial began on 12 January this year after they had been incarcerated without charge in Evin prison for 20 months.
At the first hearing, the seven categorically denied charges of espionage, propaganda activities against the Islamic order,
and "corruption on earth," among other allegations.
A second appearance on 7 February was concerned mainly with procedural issues. The third session on 12 April, which
was purportedly a closed hearing, was adjourned after the seven – with the agreement of their attorneys – refused to be
party to the proceedings because of the presence of nonjudicial personnel.
To view this article and a photograph, go to:
http://news.bahai.org/story/778
posted by Sara Hickman at 07:14 am
comments (0) | permalink | Tweet | Share on Facebook
