My life-long friend the pencil!
“Art is the signature of civilizations.”- Beverly Sills
(Ecuador) Using my.yahoo.com as email provider home page, I view the most-recent emails, the 5 top news stories, news of Ecuador/Latin America, weather stats for specific locations, and science and arts stories. The custom page provides a quick summary of the day’s pulse when I log onto the internet.
One column features amazing works of art, and whenever possible I follow that link and savor Lines & Color’s ‘Eye Candy’... This week featured a black rectangle to illustrate a more-serious post. Please take time to read Charley Parker’s Lines & Colors Is On Strike Today –
From Lines & Colors: “…Yes, it’s a small, mostly symbolic gesture, but so are the recently announced plans by the incoming administration to eliminate funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, as well as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting…”
Museo Portoviejo – Ecuador – This AMAZING group of students repeated every sentence I spoke in English!
I pondered how to share my own thoughts regarding the importance the arts play in our world. The best option seems to illustrate with images from old posts, where art played a large role in bringing people together while introducing them to the magic of self discovery.
We’ll start in Jama Ecuador, where locals are still recovering from the earthquake. I am not sure if this tree is still there, but in the past, the whimsical art continued to smile at those who considered looking up….
Luis could not stop painting! “After the post-painting contest” 2012 – Jama Ecuador (See below)
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He doubted his work and soaked in positive encouragement…
The same artist painting with amazing confidence a year later…
Supporters of the arts that attended the opening reception of The Mola Series 2012 were rewarded with a surprise painting in progress, one where anyone could add their own dollops of color!
I Can Do This – Opening Reception/The Mola Series -Museo Cancebi – Manta, Ecuador 2012
Gonzalo y Natalia – Manta Ecuador
“I Can Do This” Museo Cancebi
Museo Cancebi/Manta – Barb and Gabby add finishing touches to the I CAN DO THIS painting.
Museo Cancebi/Manta, Ecuador – Time out for painting HAPPY SHOES!
The pensive young master pondered before deciding what to write in the guest book at Museo Cancebi… Who knows what small spark might ignite a fire in a young student’s soul?
Ivo Uquillos (photo below) of Portoviejo Ecuador is known for sculptures often created for public spaces in Ecuador. His retrospective show at Museo Portoviejo drew a large crowd of fans, students, aspiring artists and patrons.
Ivo Uquillos – Sculptor/Painter – Retrospective Show – Manabi Ecuador
The “Mausoleo del General Eloy Alfar” in Montecristi (Ecuador) showcases a stunning body of work by Ivo Uquillos.
The strong phoenix emerges from the ashes.
(Sculpture detail- artist Ivo Uquillos, Portoviejo Ecuador)
Ivo takes time to acknowledge and encourage others…
Tiimeout for Art in the basement of Museo Bahia de Caraquez, a year before the April 16/2016 earthquake … Student classes – The museum often supported, encouraged, sponsored and promoted the arts in Manabi Province. (Re: Earthquake – The museum will be torn down and a new one built in another location.)
Student show in Mueso Bahia de Caraquez – What if budding artists had no mentors, no venue for displaying art, no coach to nudge them forward with words of encouragement or guidance?
Student Reception and Exposition of the arts at- Museo Bahia de Caraquez
Directora Sixtina and students
Javier’ gives positive feedback to his students- 2015 Museo Bahia de Caraquez Ecuador
Many times people shrug and say, “I can’t paint or draw a straight line,” but put a pencil or paint brush in their hand and say, “Just one minute… if you don’t enjoy it, stop..” One minute of painting stretches into two, and then three, and suddenly those mysterious doors transfer the novice into a magical realm.
Impromptu painting project – ESCoffee Guayaquil, Ecuador
The smiles tell the true story!
Museo Portoviejo sponsors and encourages the arts.
A group of lovely students studied the art and partipated in a drawing class.
Drawing Exercises – Museo Portoviejo
from 2012 “The Mola Series” – Portoviejo Museum
A December end-of-school event provided hours of entertainment in Mindo Ecuador:
Because of school programs, these young gals try on their dancing shoes – or toss them to the stars in a free-spirited performance!
Without a chance to shine, how does one discover sef confidence?
Perhaps they dream of being superstars…
She proves, “You can do this if you work hard and believe in yourself.”
It takes courage to paint an image while the entire school watches!
Rapt with attention and in appreciation of the arts!
Several months before, Ecuador’s National Ballet performed on this same floor!
The National Ballet performs in Mindo!
The country of Ecuador actively encourages and supports artists of all levels. People often comment on how positive and happy the people are; perhaps the importance of arts plays a role in fostering self confidence and happiness.
Did this lovely woman once dance in bare feet while dreaming of being a ballerina?
Let’s hope that ‘You know who’ respects the feedback regarding the arts and humanities more than he respects reports from leading scientists about the health of our planet. How important are the arts in today’s world? Does your area actively support the arts and its artists? Thanks for your feedback.
Z/Lisa
Zeebra Designs & Destinations 
Believe me, the arts will not die simply because this philistine wants to cut off support for the arts and it is yet another strike against this man who doesn’t understand the importance of the arts in creating culture. As far as I am concerned, he struck out long ago!
I am so sorry that your comment ‘slipped by’ without a thanks from me! It will be interesting in the future to look at a timeline showing his strikes!
You know Lisa.. Art will never die not matter how many leaders cut costs.. There is already a revolution building at the hearts of many an artist mind.. And their art will be written on placards.. In Poems and verse and In song and dance
Your collection of beautiful images of people creating is wonderful, I love the colours, and their commitment and the confidence it all brings.. It is beautiful to see the smiles it brings to young faces..
I Love my time creating and showing my granddaughter how to mix colours and paint.. She now knows how to make purple and brown and green shades.. 🙂 and it is this generation of 6 yr olds which will carry the weight of our future of what we adults have passed down..
They are strong, young creative little minds. confident, resourceful, and defiant too.. They need to be for the work ahead of them..
Art I think will be in safe hands..
Love and Blessings my dear friend
loved this post
Sue xx ❤
Thank you Sue for speaking my heart. It is the Peoples’ turn now to lead the ART revolution. The young ones are innately artistic — more than any generation I have seen prior — it bursts out of them in so many forms. Just in my small community, we have a five year old who can make a hat — a really gorgeous hat — from cutting a shape from a magazine page and attaching a band to make it wearable. I tried one on and was stunned at the beauty of her design. A 19 year old makes a drum from a kombucha mushroom! Another young man made a cheesecake from his own homemade soy milk, fermented, and an acorn-flour crust that he made from grinding the acorns himself! This is the kind of art that I believe is happening planet wide and cannot be stopped.
People like yourself will always make art and will involve many others in your process. My younger son who has an art degree can sit down with anyone and coach them to more artistic skill and expression in a few minutes! I see you doing that all the time.
Would it be nice to have a chunk of the Federal budget? Of course it would. Is it needed to keep art going in the world? I can’t say for sure. I can say that the creativity of those around me is oozing out of their pores. I see it only increasing in the future.
I do appreciate your concern. My mother was a music teacher in the elementary schools in the 50s and 60s and went through many budget cuts that negatively impacted the arts programs at that time. It has only gotten worse since then. However, I see the artistic spirit being brought into our world by younger generations who work with whatever is around them. There may not be a “budget” for art but I feel strongly that this will not lead to a condition of “no art.” No worries Dear One, your cause is very much alive. Hugs, Alia
What a lovely reply Alia, and thank you for that.. Yes it is a shame these arts are often the first to go.. Here in the UK as part of the austerity measures in many local government councils they threatened the local libraries with closure, and in some areas and towns these went.. Also swimming baths too.. These were usually councils which were in opposition to the elected government.. A ploy we know is used to get the people to dislike those with the majority in power so they get elected better in the next elections.. lol So lets hit the people where it hurts..
But Art now is being expressed in so many versatile ways as you have described Our younger generation are so resourceful and creative.. And maybe this will generate more creative enterprises in the future.. For Art comes in so many forms as the younger generations are our future designers and architects…
I am filled with Hope that we will rise up like the Phoenix 🙂 from the ashes we are creating..
Many thanks Alia..
Blessings Sue
How well I remember when the county where I lived suggested that they cancel the rural ‘bookmobile’ — It was an icon that I cherished, with memories of driving to town with my mother once a week during summer holidays. I’d step into that van, inhale the delicious aromas of old books, and dive into the selections contained in that rolling library….
I wonder what the younger generations will savor when they reflect on their earlier years…
Thank you both for your beautiful comments!
Thank you dear Lisa for inspiring the train of thought my friend xx
I agree with Sue; ‘What a lovely reply!” and thank you so much for sharing those stories you’re witnessing… with encouragement, the young fledglings soar out of the nest with so many rewards that come from encouragement and unconditional love. They surely treasure all of you who are part of their extended family.
May that artistic spirit soar and smile on all of us!
Today one of our women held an art hour for our children in the Lodge. I think there were six or seven kids around the table all happily engaged in projects. It was exciting to see.
Those art-type hours are magical.. it’s magical when all ages work together too.. sometimes the little ones are the best teachers, as they are totally uninhibited!
Yes indeed and the woman who organized this play period is one who holds a strong intention for the young ones to be OUR teachers. I concur.
How great that you’re teaching the color wheel, mixing colors, etc, and that will be instilled in her just like knowing instinctively which way is north.. an internal compass!
Yes, they are inheriting a lovely planet, but one that has major problems thanks to those who came before them… The arts lift our spirits and open our eyes and hearts….
Yes she loves our sessions of painting together and they forget nothing.. 🙂 such are their young absorbent minds.. Art Lifts all of our Spirits .. May we continue to be bless in sharing our gifts xx ❤
this is one of the most brightly colored artistic countries i have ever visited much less lived in. Bless you Lisa. You are a beacon drawing (literally and figuratively) the beauty which is Ecuador. Muchas gracias Amiga.
Margo! Thank you so much for your support and encouragement. You also appreciate the beauty of the people and landscape of Ecuador!
Hi Lisa just wrote a long comment endorsing the above sentiments – and was told by WordPress it could not be posted. Do you know about this?
ha… no that’s a first, but it did come through; my comments often backfire because of slow connections, but almost always – thank goodness – the ‘back’ button returns the screen to the comment. One as lovely as yours would be hard to reconstruct. Thank you!
It is the hallmark of a civilised society that sufficient funds are gladly given to facilitate artistic expression. Clearly, that’s not where we are heading at present…
HOWEVER –
Art is so bound up with what makes us human that no tyrant, no matter how ignorant, has ever been able to crush the urge to make Art in the past, nor will any present or future tyrant be able to do so. My hope is that the upcoming assault on all the Humanities will cause us in the West to attach proper value to the things which we have been for too long taking for granted – like Truth, Ethics, Justice, Tolerance, Acceptance of the Other. Tyrants cannot win here: some of the world’s greatest Art – be it via music, writing, painting and drawing – has arisen from the worst of oppression and poverty. So – Art will still be here, still being made, long after the latest tyrant has been hurled off the stage…
Thanks, Lisa, for those vibrant images. A picture surely at times is indeed worth a thousand words!
Any artist would be greatly touched by your comment; your passion comes through, and we are lucky to have people like you who stand firmly behind us/beside us or even out front in our defense!
If one has a creative way of sorting through challenges, one can see how ‘that man’ and his words/actions are triggering many to wake up and speak for what they cherish — or risk losing it. For that reason, I’m glad to see so many people waking up and becoming proactive.
Thanks, Lisa. continuing the theme of people standing up, here is a video I posted on my Facebook Page 2 days ago. It’s important…
Oh, you are SO corredt! This is very timely! Great are those with strong backbones who stand up for what is right!
It’s difficult to convince the philistines that all the arts are the ID badge of a cultured civilization. In the US, the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities consume only .004% of the national budget. Probably less than a drop in the proverbial bucket. But it’s an easy target, and if successful, politicians will be able to brag that they’ve eliminated two unnecessary drags on the national debt…while benefiting nobody.
Ah, Alli, thank you, and after that lovely reception at the Carnegie, you witness the amazing support of the arts where you live.
The arts are the ID Badge of a cultured civilization – that’s a great thought that deserves to be spread! ha – just like that pink-cap concept that caught on like wildfire!
thank you for sharing your passionate thoughts!
Lisa, based on your consistent flow of photographs, the answer is simple. If there were no art, there would be far fewer smiles. Thank you, our pied piper of art.
Sorry, I ‘thought’ that I replied to this, but sometimes my comments go awol.. Thank you Keith, for such a kind and personal comment!
Pied Piper of Art
This is a huge topic, one that goes beyond external influences. Art is about our internal conversation, our individual actions. Art can reflect hope, grief, comfort, activism, progress. Most of all art is a story of who we are and how we participate within our society. I chose to use art as a message of love, hope and compassion. Every time I come to your blog, I feel a marvelous sense of belonging.
Thank you for your powerful and heart-felt comment. I could design/ilustrate a new post stricty using your words … Thank you so much, and I embrace your friendship and acceptance as well!
I am so glad that we are connected! Hugs and more hugs!
I don’t think anything will ever stop art, it’s a need (for expression) deep within the human heart going back to cave man days. Our village is where the Rouffignac Caves are, with the cave paintings of woolly mammoths going back 17,000 years. They took candles deep into the caves to paint by. If Trump had made life difficult for them they’d have clobbered him with a club!
You made me laugh! Yes, sometimes the old ways (ancient ways) get better results!
Thank you for this feedback!
Lisa, art is heart! Now more than ever, we have to put the heart back into our lives. Your photos express the importance of art more than any words! Keep spreading your passion for the arts. It will never disappear.
I just returned from a whirlwind trip to LA for the Women’s March. 750,000 men, women, children marching in a sea of humanity. It was spectacular and a moment in my life that is embedded deep within my heart forever! Hugs to you, Lisa!
Thank you for sharing re: your trip… Most likely you’ll be posting with great stories and photos soon! Thank you, Debbie!
We need you, Lisa – for so many reasons! And as people write in the comments – Art will never die, it is a force unstoppable from within people. In countries with grim dictators, the underground art flourishes – waiting…I believe in people and their inner strength – never let this man win.
Thank you for such a sensitive comment… “Art will never die – a force unstoppable from within…”
The comment section today deserves its own post!
Arts, humanities, public radio and libraries. Things I hold dear. The humanities bring speakers to my little town, far from everywhere. Who will come give us these wonderful programs now?
I live two blocks from the border of Mexico (where there is already not one but TWO walls, about tents feet apart) but we have art. A friend of mine calls herself The Border Bedazzler and has been crossing the border to paint the ugly wall with local kids for six years. Now, to add insult, that section of wall is being ripped down and will be replaced with steel rods.
However, I am part of a group that has permanent access to a small building just across the border and we just gave it to her so she and the kids can continue to bedazzle.
Emilie that is a great story! Surely she’s gotten attention over the years from the press? How horrible that the wall will be ‘desecrated..’ especially when something with little aesthetics will replace it.
thanks so mmuch for adding your thoughts to this post!
Thanks for another great post and wonderful pictures. And thank you and the others for the comments about what is happening in the USA recently. We have to RESIST, and one way to through the Arts, that constant thread that unites everyone.
Thank you, Don, for taking the time to add your voice. In some ways, what we’re witnessing (changes for what we fear are for the worse) has a silver lining, as it’s awaking those who were not really paying attention to how our culture – and world- are changing… One often needs others as examples, those who straighten their backbones and say, “HEY! This is wrong!” instead of accepting it with a shrug of apathy.
I’mm not sure if you saw Debbie’s post from Nicaragua.. it’s worthy of a larger audience, and the comments are quite varied…..
https://retirenicaragua.wordpress.com/2017/01/26/a-sea-of-humanity
Your photos are wonderful, and those of the school programs were especially touching. They brought back my own art-filled childhood, when everyone from parents and relatives to teachers to volunteers in various programs made it possible for us to experience the joy of creating.
It does occur to me that, while we’re engaged in trying to save programs, we also need to remember that individuals create art. Granted, there are situations where people work together on projects, but each of them participates as a singular person. Strengthening and supporting one another, instilling confidence, valuing the differences among us as well as the similarities — all of these will be necessary if the arts are to flourish. Funding is one thing — but we need to preserve the fun of art — the delight and joy it brings — in the midst of the struggles to come.
Perdon for not seeing this lovely comment..
Presently I’m in Jama, and last night at my friend’s restaurant, one family came inside.. two of her daughters too a one-day drawing ‘class’ years ago… one day only, and they seemed thrilled to see me. “Mama” asked if it were possible for an English class during their holiday break — I mentioned an English/painting option, and again, one would have thought I’d said they could have the moon….
It takes so little to instill joy, especially in an area where these children endured two minutes of ‘hell’ — and ten months later they’re still enduring so much….
Art creates so much joy and hope!
Oh yes, it’s so easy at times, just a little time and one-on-one attention.. those younger students, and sometimes the older ones as well, soak in the positive energy and soar!
You’ve raised a question in my mind: to what extent in an ancient civilization like that of the Incas was art as widely practiced among regular folks as it is in many cultures today? I have the impression, rightly or wrongly, that in ancient times there was a class of professional artists dedicated to creating monuments, murals, and such for the rulers, but that ordinary people were so busy working at other things and staying alive that they wouldn’t have had time or energy to pursue art. Do you have any knowledge about how widely disseminated art has been historically?
So sorry i missed answering this one; yes, when in museums I often marvel at the exceptional beauty of the ‘antiguas’ – especially the pottery pieces. Some are finely-hewn and rival any contemporary piece. Yes, for sure those artisans/artists were the masters of their craft/crafts..
When I see the directora of the Bahia de Caraquez museum, I’ll ask her…
Art should be one of the most important lesson at school!
Yes; I firmly believe that students benefit from the discipline of art; they learn patience… there’s also the gift of analyzing which helps with strong instincts for maths. they learn to believe in themselves, and to follow their own voice — because it’s something they like- not what someone wants them to do…