Redemption Art: Restoring People Through Art

2011-02-24T17:21:00.000-08:00

Today was our final day in Cite Soleil painting. It has been a stretch of mural painting, and I have to be honest and say I am ready to paint a 16x20 INCH painting :).

But you know that really really tired feeling when you have worked so hard and accomplished something really really good too? That is how I feel. And its not just about the painting. Its mostly about being where we were with the people we were with and knowing God's appointed time was now and was fulfilled to be with them. Today we probably had a 5 minute photo shoot with all our workers, wanting to take pictures with us alone and together. It was hilarious. They are ridiculous.

The hardest thing anytime we leave is people asking for things. Everyone's plea is a form of desperation, the circumstances different yet somehow the same too. The reality is we can't help everyone, and we have to tell them so.

The reality too is people seeing you and loving you for what you have. Many use God, knowing we love him, to try and get things from us, claiming they are praying for us, that they love the Lord, etc.

So that is all to say, leaving is bitter sweet. But mostly sweet. 'Cause can I blame them? I have no idea what it is like to be stuck. Where there REALLY is not opportunity. We are opportunity, a way to progress. I would love me for what I have too.

Today as our car drove away, I could not help but smile inside and out as I watched out the back window a slew of small children run after our vehicle. And that smile held a bit of sadness too knowing all the suffering we leave behind and all the things we can't do for those we really love.

Can't wait 'till we are back, Cite Soleil... See you in July.

2011-02-23T18:52:00.001-08:00

Today, my favorite part was at the end. I finished painting, and I was like, “Where is a baby?” Holding a Haitian child is my therapy. I found this little guy who I just love, and he is basically a twelve year old in a five year old body. His attitude is ridiculous and hilarious. I rocked him in my lap, joking with him that he was a little baby. He loved it. I loved it more.

My sister too today found a little one to love. That little girl rested on her shoulder for 2 hours today. Copy and paste this to see: http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10150432221590473&set=a.10150426278795473.639228.601600472&theater. Reminds me that I would not be doing what I am doing where I am doing it without my sister.

Years ago, my sister, not sure what to do with her life post college, had the opportunity to teach here in Haiti. Haiti found her. And she listened and obeyed the whisper of God to go. At the end of her time teaching here, I went.

And here we are, and here we will be together for a long long time if the Lord continues to will. Today, we had the opportunity to dream out loud with the local leader we are connected to and are invested in.

It seems God is aligning our hearts, marrying them. His heart is for the street kids. Leah’s and mine is as well. Things got written down today, doodled in fact. It seems a home for street kids is on the Lord’s agenda… ☺

2011-02-22T17:35:00.000-08:00

Today Adoo added some more of his magic to the first mural. I had originally made the sky day, and he turned it to night with stars… I LOVE IT. Honestly, I am getting bored with my murals… I mean, I am bored with my style. And that is a sure sign, God is going to swing it another way and do something jazzy fresh…

And these past couple days, I have just thought how much more dynamic art is when there is collaboration, like I have been doing with Adoo. Whether in song, word, painting, or anything with creative energy.

So, that is all to say, what is exciting me most is not my own work but Adoo’s jazzy jazz he is adding. And it is fresh. I am pretty sure he was my favorite part of the day again today, his smile and his painting.

2011-02-21T19:06:00.000-08:00

Day 4:

There is something about being on the streets in Cite Soleil, PAP that has brought me back to life. It is life in the raw. I know that is selfish b/c it is really not about me… And people are suffering all around. However, this trip has affirmed more than ever that I don’t think I am an American inside. Don’t get me wrong, I love nice things, I love comfort, I love clean. Yet, there is something within my mind that is free here, something that is unobtainable for me in the States.

We were sitting with a guy at dinner who is here on the regular working for an NGO, and he made a comment like this: “I would rather be disillusioned here doing what I do than disillusioned in America…” I love that. Reality is, five steps forward, 10 steps back in the fight for the developing world, and frankly, for The Kingdom of God.

In this fight, disillusionment crept up on me the past months. This feeling of, “I am tired of the fight. It takes too much.” However, even in that feeling, I knew I would not leave the fight. To not fight, to go home every night and sit on the couch numbing my mind with TV in my comfort, I know is not an option.

Today, I was watching this graffiti artist go to work on one of our murals. Who knew these murals would become collaborative creations? LOVE IT. Such a blessing. And, I just was filled with hope for this young man as he wrote out this verse from John on the mural…

Giving up the fight is not an option.

2011-02-20T16:28:00.000-08:00

Day 3:

There was a sweetest moment today. Sunday afternoon, we were painting on the street with our guys with Haitian Jesus music loudly playing in the background, and there was such peace. Like, “Ah, there is no place I would rather be.”

Here are some other moments and reasons why there is no other place I would rather be:

1)Honestly, it felt more like Jesus being on the streets painting with these guys than being inside the church walls this morning. I believe that God is doing something in this generation with and through art that is drawing people to Himself.

2)Robinson, the local leader we are working under, got on the loud speaker in Cite Soleil explaining the mural we painted, and how there is hope for the Haitian people of Cite Soleil through Christ.

3)Rounding up the guys at the end of the day, holding hands on the side of the street and praying together. Just beautiful.

2011-02-19T16:05:00.001-08:00

Day 2:

Our first wall is on one of the main streets of Cite Soleil, on a segment on a wall surrounding Aristide’s water tower.

We have 5 guys painting for us, plus a bodyguard. Lets just say our bodyguard is not the stature you would select for a role such as that, however he and the other guys watch me and Leah like hawks, so I have complete confidence.

Such a great day, highlighted by me falling with the ladder collapsing under me. That has honestly never happened before. Talk about God watching out. Landed on my painting arm, however with a little coaxing, she is doing ok ☺.

My favorite part of the day was meeting a local graffiti artist, age 24, who has tatted up Cite Soleil all over. Graffiti, an art form I love and respect, although often used for destruction in Cite Soleil, is going to be redeemed in these murals because I am having him do some of the writing and fonts for the verses the local leader wants written on the murals. SOOOO excited for that. Today, felt a surge of energy and excitement to hopefully empower local artists like this young man to do what I do and therefore empower their own people.

It is funny b/c I am pretty culturally aware of the Haitian people and their lifestyle, however, it is obvious they see through their Haitian eyes when I am painting. They interpret things differently as a different culture. For example, I was painting a Haitian man’s face today to represent the people of Haiti, however most did not understand that. Even the idea of symbolism is foreign to them. They thought it was Aristide. So, that is all to say, I can try my best as a white, 30 year old, American gal to paint a picture they will understand completely, however, it is their own people who will do that best.

2011-02-18T17:01:00.000-08:00

Day 1:

Lets just say the eight 4’x8’ murals grew. And lets just say that 4’x8’ is about 1/8 of the largest wall we will be painting. LOVE IT!!

So, we will officially be painting 5 walls scattered throughout Cite Soleil. Two right on the wall circling Aristide’s water tower at the center of Cite Soleil. We could paint murals until Jesus comes back around that tower!

Such a great day with lots of guys and a token girl painting with us, all around ages 18-20 and all hungry to work. I poured the primer, and they went at it. There were so many moments that I thought, this is what I am meant to do. And it has nothing to do the paint. That feeling had everything to do with watching our Haitian brothers and sisters come alive through work, to laugh with them while putting our hands to the same goal.

I felt a surge of energy and refreshing I really needed today through work with those guys. Just more and more of a sense of destiny for Redemption Art to be a source of work for those who have no hope in that area and just want to DO something with their lives.

Not too long ago, Redemption Art intentionally set itself up to be a “business as mission,” basically meaning that it is set up to empower people through work. 10% of every sale goes towards a business as mission account to pay people like those in Cite Soleil this week. Granted, it is a project to project system right now, however hopefully, more sustainability will come in the future through frequency of projects. Being in Cite Soleil so far has reminded me more and more, that is the true purpose of Redemption Art because that is where the true redemption is.

2011-02-17T17:40:00.000-08:00

Picture above: Part of mural in Cite Soleil we did in 2009, means "life" in Creole.

So tomorrow we begin painting in Cite Soleil. Our dear friend and who we consider a brother stopped by to see us at the hostel today after we arrived in PAP, Haiti. We were just catching up a bit, and he was explaining why he wants these murals painted.

He described and area where at one time 19 men were killed at one time, and where now we will be painting. He said, "To turn a place of dark into a place of light." He described how he wants people to come to Christ through this art.

And when he shared that, I was like, "God, really? You picked me to be a part of this?" Wow. That somehow my art could do this?

2011-02-16T15:11:00.000-08:00

This is a picture actually from Maai Mahiu, Kenya from this past summer with CTC International. One night, we were coming home from a nice dinner in Nairobi, and we got to see the town in its darkest form. There seemed to me an eeriness and an evil lingering behind all the trucks lined up along the highway, behind the bar and unlabeled doors. With that feeling, I had such a desire to get out of the car. To be in the midst of the darkest dark. As if I could DO anything. Maybe hoping somehow Jesus' light would shine in the midst just being in the midst of it. Anyway, I show this picture b/c it is a reminder to me of what God has called me to. Me and my sister to. The darkest places. Granted, that sounds as if there is darkness in levels. Evil is evil. Although it comes in different disguises and forms.

I was reading yesterday, and the author posed this question: "...what was it that stirred your heart over the years? Go and get it back." And I didn't know the answer when I read that question. You see, my heart has felt pretty dead lately. Like, where did my heart go? I think the work has sucked out my heart lately. Yet, I look at this picture, and I know the answer. My heart is in the midst of the darkness b/c that is where its Jesus shines.

So, tomorrow, we (my sister and I) head to Cite Soleil, Port au Prince, Haiti. To a place much like this picture. And my heart feels stirred again. I am going to get it back.

For My Sister

2010-09-30T20:42:00.000-07:00

Tonight was just spending some time laid out in His Presence, and realized that the the most treasured moments in my life have been in the dirt with Haitians. I thought of this past summer...We had finished up all our projects and were about to leave the next day. We were making our last rounds to people, tying up loose ends, and we happened down to the bakery where we did one of the murals.

At the beginning of the month, before we did the mural, the family's littlest son would kind of shy away from me. Then he got to paint. Specifically, one day, he was without a shirt, so I painted a smiley face around his belly button. When he would wipe it off, I would paint another white smiley on his little black and poking-out tummy. Somehow, after that, he would embrace me heartedly when he saw me. Who knew a smiley could do that?

Well, that last night, we were at the bakery, and he was there. He just sat on my lap in the darkening night on the stoop of the bakery, and I just remember not wanting to leave that spot with my arms wrapped around his little body in my lap. There was this stillness all around, in my heart, in my mind, in my body, in my soul.

All the paint projects, all the camps, all the good and great and awesome things God has accomplished and is accomplishing... I am so grateful, and I know it is His call, His doing. I just think He reminded me what it is really all about tonight. It is about that little boy I will see again in several months. I smile now thinking of him. I can't wait to hold him again.

And then, these pictures, below, serve as a reminder of that little boy and all those boys, you know, my Sister, that we are called to. To raise up. To be men of God. To feel loved. To feel loved. To feel loved. To feel valued. To feel called. I forget sometimes. Thank you, God, for reminding me. For reviving my heart for them, the ones we do not even know and the ones we do.

Haiti 2010

2010-08-31T12:29:00.000-07:00

This year in Passe Cataboise, Haiti, the plan was to do one mural, however we ended up doing two: One at the local bakery (a.k.a hangout for local shoddy people and my favorite place to be) and the other on the hospital. Below you will see pictures of the one on the hospital. The theme this year was magical, about dreaming beyond the possible. To create that feeling, the mural pictures larger-than-life flowers, the stars and the moon, and people in inspirational forms.

The highlight of any mural we do internationally are the people who help paint. This year, my favorite little painter was Chodly. We knew him from camp last year, and we ran into him in the mountains and told him to come back to camp this year, which he did. Then with the mural, he showed up every day, faithful and wanting to paint at the age of 13.

Wilfet was my second worker bee, who helped primarily on the bakery mural. Redemption Art has started to function as "business as mission," meaning people, like Wilfet, being empowered by having work through the business of Redemption Art.

Overall, it is such an honor to be able to paint out an expression of what I believe the Spirit of God is putting in my heart for a particular place, people and time. It is an expression of prayer and of worship as much as it is a tool for relationship and trust with the people or a way to empower them. I am continually humbled as I create the pictures I am inspired to paint out. Because while it is me, it is my hands, and it is my mind, it isn't really. It is Someone far greater in me.

Fulfilling His Promise

2010-06-17T20:41:00.000-07:00

My sister and I just returned from a two week venture to Kenya doing a large mural project and art therapy with CTC International (www.ctcinternational.org). As we were debriefing one night after a long day's work in Maai Mahiu, Kenya, I feel like God nudged me, and reminded me this: In this trip, He was fulfilling what I believe He had promised me years ago. And that is, that I would go to the nations with my paintbrush.

Of course, the past several years, we have been going to Haiti to do a similar thing we did with CTC. However, 36 hours of travel one way and CTC itself took it to a whole 'notha level.

My heart has indeed been reminded of the vastness of His promise. Of course, Jesus is enough. Period. There is something though about fulfilling God's call. Doing His workmanship that He knew long before. I was reminded of that too in this trip.

Here are some pictures and some blurbs about the mural project.

The mural tells a progressive story of CTC's mission for holistic development its five initiatives of education, environment, economy, community and health. It is a mural that specifically speaks to the women and children of the community about empowerment. The mural itself coincided with a seminar for women who participated in art therapy and teaching on empowerment from a clinical psychologist. (Approximately 50 feet long and about 12 feet high.)

The mural began on the far left with the CTC International logo, which the five fingers of the hand all interconnected represent the interconnectedness of the 5 initiatives of CTC: environment, education, economy, community and health. The thumb spirals into a thread, a common tie in the mural to represent interconnectedness.

"Ubuntu" translates "I am because we are." The women from the seminar painted this word in purple to symbolize their empowerment. In the art therapy sessions, we discussed the meaning of colors, and then used colors to express various feelings. Purple symbolized the diva in they ladies. Above the word, you see the symbol CTC uses to communicate the progression of life transformation through their work. It then spins off to a thread and needle, pointing to a sewing machine, which is a form of economy they have developed for the women in the community.

The initiative of economy is represented in the sewing machine. The Malaika Mums sew by day, while their children with various disabilities, attend school there. The initiative of community is represented in the scene of the town--the mountains in the background, the CTC center, and the Matatus driving down the road (also known as the AIDS highway and the most significant road for economy in Kenya).

Throughout the mural, there are five threads, to represent the five initiatives and how they are all connected. There are also phrases written in English and Swahili. Across the top is written a quote by MLK, Jr.

This is a scene of the Malaika kids and their teachers in school to represent the Education initiative. They are dancing, to represent that education is more than just memorizing and textbook. It is also care and nuturing for these children with disabilities, who before CTC, received little of that.

This scene represents the Environment initiative. It shows the grandmothers of the community working in the gardens that CTC has started with them. The tree represents life in the background.

Lastly, this woman represents the initiative of Health. Her eyes are closed and there is a swirl that comes from her mind's eye, to represent a woman with hope, imagination, dreams,freedom and empowerment. Health being more than physical needs met, it is also mental, social, emotional, and spiritual needs met as well. The most significant moment was watching a woman paint in "Uhuru" (Swahili for freedom), a woman who had shown there was much fear, danger and darkness in her life through the art therapy.

For Jean Benson

2010-01-20T20:24:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine and co-laborer in making art that represents Jesus well, mentioned to me that I should write down some of my thoughts… In regards to making art.

You know, quite honestly, I think I could leave painting behind, and I would be ok. I don’t wake up and think: “Yea! I get to paint today.” It is not my driving passion, my ultimate purpose, my reason for living. Painting for me is a tool. It is a gift. It is a bridge. It is a way. Let me explain.

First, let me say what is my heart’s passion. Boil it down. Jesus. Boil it up a little: the poor, the marginalized, the oppressed, the suppressed, the hungry, the abused, the abandoned, the neglected, the sick, the diseased, the wounded, the violent. These people, are my heart’s passion.

Take for example, the people of Haiti. What has happened to them. It makes me weep. Because they are the people listed above, and more importantly, they are my people in my heart. But, you know what made them my people? Of course, Jesus. Of course, my heart for them. Yet, there is another thing…This thing called art. Art was my tool to reach into their lives. It was a way for me to engage with them, to form trust non-threateningly with them, to build relationship with them even when I didn’t speak their language, and to begin the journey of life with them. Now, I consider many of them my brothers, like Jean Benson pictured above, whose whereabouts are unknown since the earthquake. Art led me to him. And now my heart hurts.

Art for me is my bridge to my ultimate passion: loving the most unloved, like Jesus did. Art seems to cross over these gaps that separate us: race, religion, age, perceptions, assumptions, socioeconomic status, social context, culture, technological skill… That is why I love what I do. It takes me to people. It takes me into relationships with people that might just be a bit harder without this gift God has given me.

Of course art isn’t the only way to bridge gaps between people. It is just a way. My way. And for that, I am grateful to God. Because in turn, through these relationships, He inspires my work. It is through these relationships that I see the living Word of God become active and real, and then it translates onto canvas and into people’s lives and hearts.

So, I guess art is my passion indirectly. Maybe I couldn’t leave it behind.

Hope through Art!

2009-12-28T10:03:00.000-08:00

Thank you for all who made Help Tammy Help Haiti's
mural happen in Cite Soleil!!
A special thank you to Global Awareness Project
and their Creative Collaboration Grant!
It is an honor to be a part of something bigger,
something that bridges the gaps between us!

Part of the team of 10 who painted with me in Cite S0leil!

The Final Product! Help Tammy Help Haiti Mural in Cite Soleil, Haiti

Final Day in Cite Soleil

2009-11-11T18:42:00.000-08:00

Today was an incredible day. Today, my sister and I completed the mural project with Help Tammy Help Haiti on the water tower they just had built in Cite Soleil.

I don't think we could have gone out of Cite Soleil on a better note. We ended our day dancing in the slum's streets with the children as men blew on horns, beat some drums, and blew on a handmade base. It was a great way to go out.

On the flip side, it was so sad too. Joyful, but sad. I am so going to miss those youth that quickly came to be like brothers, the men that were so proud to be empowered and put to use with their abilities, and the children that just wanted to be hugged and held for a bit each day.

I must say, Cite Soleil is not a one time, get in your "good work," and feel better about yourself project. It is a place my heart resides, now and in the future. It is a place that does have the danger, the poverty, the disease, the stench. But there is hope, there is beauty, there is restoration to be had in that place where there seems to be none.

My sister and I opted to put a couple of the youth in school in addition to paying for their work. Not saying that to affirm myself. I am just saying. That is where hope steps in for these people. When one heart connects with another, sees the potential, and gives a little room for empowerment and growth when there is no other option. These youth do not know yet, but Tammy will tell them, and she will make them do the leg work to get themselves in school. And I believe that they will succeed. If they fail, we will help them succeed the next time.

Each of the men that helped us paint-- about 10 in all, from the guards, to the teen guys, to the grown men--I was astonished that when they were given a task with a measurable outcome, how they succeeded. Even when I barely speak their language. Crazy!! And none of them knew they are going to be paid (Tammy will pay them after we leave)!! It makes you wonder, if these men had the opportunity, what they could be. And that leaves me with the thought: What is the next opportunity me and Leah can bring them? So, that is where I am praying right now. I hope it is sooner than later.

I wish I could post a picture or a video right now, but unfortunately, I am writing from a Haitian hostel and cannot download any of the sort. However, you can see more about where I have been if you go on You Tube and search "Help Tammy Help Haiti." There is some amazing footage about the project Leah and I have been involved with.

As of today, there is a little more beauty in that slum than there was before, and more importantly, some more hopeful youth and men than there were before.

I can't wait to see my new Haitian family again....

Lastly, I want to thank Global Awareness Project and all of our sponsors for this project in Cite Soleil with Help Tammy Help Haiti. Things accomplished because you put us there and believe in us:

1) Two youth are going to be put in school for their work
2) 480 sq foot mural for Help Tammy Help Haiti's water tower
3) 10 men and teenage youth paid for their work
and receive Haitian Bibles
4) One youth will be given shoes for his work,
enabling him to go to school
5) Ministry within Cite Soleil receiving 25 Haitian Bibles

Thank you, Jesus, for your protection and provision; for placing us in the midst of people who desire to transform lives! May this only be the beginning of all You want to do to make Your Name great in a dark place.

Redemption Art's Craziest Experience Yet: Painting in Cite Soleil!

2009-11-05T17:17:00.000-08:00

So today was the second day of painting the mural in Cite Soleil, Port Au Prince, Haiti. If you want some fast facts on Cite Soleil, read the blog below. To sum it up: Worst slum on this side of the world. This is not my photo above, but it gives you an idea of what we are in the middle of.

Anyway, today we (My sister Leah and I) had about 9 grown men and teenage guys helping us paint the the 480 square foot mural on a water tower recently built by Help Tammy Help Haiti. I was just discussing the reality of these guys helping me paint with my sister and how incredible it truly is to have some of the hardest men who have seen some of the hardest things in life painting with us. Truly "Redemption Art"at work.

However, I know without a doubt that it is not the art that is drawing these men to the project; it is the Spirit of the Living God. There is no question in my mind that this project has been orchestrated, provided by, and ordained by God. From the paint arriving here just in time to God providing those 9 men to help me.

I was reading the other day, and the author of this particular book asked the question: ""When was the last time you saw The Spirit of God at work in your life?" And I was so so so glad that I could testify to TODAY!!!

The sweetest moment of The Spirit today was this: Standing arm in arm with a 23-year old former child soldier who spent the day painting with us. For those of you who know who Wilfet is, he is the next Wilfet in my life. I can feel it. The Spirit of God at work, I tell you what.

The Forgotten City: Cite Soleil, Haiti

2009-08-31T20:44:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Cite Soleil in Port-au-Prince, Haiti today!! Read the statistics about Cite Soleil, and imaginations of violence will immediately formulate in your mind. Watch a You Tube video and you will see extreme poverty. However, what greeted us today as we entered Cite Soleil with Tammy Babcock of Help Tammy Help Haiti was wide smiles, warm embraces, and kisses on cheeks.

Today, with the help of several nationals, we completed the priming of the water tower pictured above, where we will be completing a mural in the next couple weeks that will represent the individuals who helped bring the most affordable clean water to Cite Soleil and will also represent hope and life for the people of Cite Soleil. We will have 3 Haitian youth helping us complete the mural project as well. Their hands were such a blessing today!!

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Organizations supporting this project:
The Global Awareness Project (http://www.theglobalawarenessproject.org/)
Help Tammy Help Haiti (http://www.helptammyhelphaiti.com/)

Project Mission: To help bring love, beauty, reconciliation, and restoration through art, and to create a bridge for further sustainable projects within Cite Soleil.

Written by my sister (Leah):
"Our prayer for the last year has been that the Lord would expand our borders and carry our ministry into the slum of Cite Soleil, Haiti. Cite Soleil is the largest slum in the Northern Hemisphere with a population of 300,000. It is a city within a city that holds thousands upon thousands of shanties that are surrounded by sewer and garbage. It is a place that has been forgotten because it has been claimed to be one of the poorest, roughest, and most dangerous areas of the Western Hemisphere. Washington Post has stated that over 32 gangs heavily populate the streets with little or no police present. Seven out of ten Haitians in this city strive to live on less than 2 dollars a day. It is a place where children run freely in the sewer and scrounge for days for food. 90% of the children do not attend school.

Caitlin and I first learned of City Soleil when we spent the night in Port-au-Prince, Haiti a year ago, and we met Tammy Babcock, a humanitarian from Canada, at our hotel. Tammy came across this city in the year of 2008 and it left her heart burdened. As she told us about Cite Soleil, our hearts were burdened as well. We knew we had to go. However, the next day we left without Tammy's information, without even her last name. For the past year, we prayed God would somehow reconnect us. As I searched the internet for "Tammy" and "City Soleil" this past April, THERE SHE WAS!!! We immediately contacted her and asked her if we could serve her and the Cite Soleil community in some way.

Tammy Babcock has committed all her efforts to help advocate, fundraise, and support this city and its people. When Tammy travels to this city she brings medical treatments that meet the needs of hundreds of people. Recently the non-profit she started, Help Tammy Help Haiti, broke ground for the first water tower for the city (see above). It was a day of laughter, joy, dancing, and rejoicing as some of these parents and children were seeing there first sight of clean water.

Come November my sister, Caitlin, and I will be traveling to Cite Soleil to walk the streets with Tammy Babcock and serve the people with food, service, medical treatments, and above all else the love of Christ. Caitlin will be painting a mural with a couple of Haitian teenagers on the new water tower, and Leah will be embracing the children.

I challenge you to take a moment and imagine... Imagine waking up in a shanty the size of your bathroom. Now imagine stepping outside and having to cover your nose as the stench of garbage, septic, pigs, and bad hygiene claim the streets. Now imagine that you have not eaten in days and your family has run out of the two dollars you earned on that day, and you take off for the streets in search of food. That food might be in the garbage piles or you might steal for it.

If you have a child I want you to take a moment and imagine him/her at seven years old, starving, no education, no shoes, walking in inches of septic searching for food that might help your family. I challenge you right now to think about how you can pour into the lives of these children and families. Please do not turn your eyes on these people."

Mural 4 and Camp Hope in Haiti

2009-08-12T19:35:00.001-07:00

This verse has compelled us: "Go and make disciples..." (My sister here reading a Creole bible with one of the kids.)

So, we go...

Wilfet, a young disciple of Christ.

Louvna, another disciple of Christ...

Men who have gotten their first bible.

Teaching the kiddos the Word of God during camp.

Learning about Creation and all that God created.

Teaching them the big picture of the world.

With lots of fun!

And lots of art!

For the mural, I had many helpers...

Who says you can't paint a mural in your underwear?

Or use people as ladders?

Or as stools?

Evens was one of my best helpers. Eager every day.

As was Wilfet.

My Haitian brothers.

Beautiful.

I prayed about what to paint this year.

I painted a message about family.

I painted a prayer that families would be restored in Haiti.

The verse written in Creole is from John 13:34: "Love each other.

As I have loved you, so you should love each other." Louvna

suggested it.

To Haiti and Back

2009-08-12T16:35:00.000-07:00

So, I just got back from my fourth time in Haiti, and this time, I didn't want to come home. There is something about a third world country that makes life so very, very clear. Distractions turn from busyness, time, and schedules to the starving baby at the hospital, the 27 year-old young man dying of HIV, and the 15 year-old boy who describes his life in Haiti as "misery." Yes, I am quoting him.

I don't write any of that to incite feelings of guilt or whatever. I am just saying that this is the reality of what I am feeling right now. Somehow, I guess I feel like I could be used so much more over there or somewhere like that because there are so many who need love, who need compassion, who need the love of Christ in the midst of their desparity. Yes, there are so many here too who need that. There is just something different here. Go, and you will know.

Where does that leave me right now? It leaves me wrestling in myself. It leaves me asking God: "Where? When? How?" I am not going anywhere. Yet. I just know my heart (and my eyes) are weeping for those children. You can see some of them above.

I have been reading "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier." It is pretty timely. I haven't seen the brutality this book explains, however my heart aches with the imagination of it. I know many in Haiti have experienced similar things in their lifetime. To think there are so many children who live in a such a state: poverty, separation, hunger, violence, abuse.

What am I going to do about it? What is Christ calling me to do about it?

I do know something... I know Christ is calling me to see youth come into the fullness of Christ. And I think of my dear dear friend in Haiti named Wilfet. Wilfet is 19 years old, and very much on his own in life. He came to Christ through Camp Hope, the camp my sister and I started last summer. He worked for us as a camp counselor last summer and this summer. Through this time, he has become like a brother to me and to my sister. Each day this past month, we sat with Wilfet studying English and Creole, and we would talk about Christ and how to grow in Him. Every day!! My favorite time of day was just sitting there with him and discussing life. I really believe Wilfet's life is being transformed through the love of Christ. That he has a hope and future even though he has a hard set of cards.

As I am writing all of this, I think of this verse for those children and youth: "We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God." 2 Corinthians 4:7-9. This verse gives me hope for the Wilfet's of this world, and it motivates me for those like him to know of this light shining in their hearts in the midst of the darkness.

2009-06-22T20:55:00.000-07:00

Your Visual Voice

2009-06-22T20:43:00.000-07:00

I have been reading a book about finding your visual voice. I wish I read this book years ago. I guess God's timing is perfect though.

What has really resonated with me is the fact that I, or any other artist, should not try to be like another artist--I am my own and knowing what inspires me is the most important thing.

I might like so-and-so's style, and I might wish I was more like this or that in the paint... However, the reality is, if I try to be a certain way in the paint and it is not my nature, then I will be dissatisfied on many fronts.

The author gave an example of a friend of hers who really liked another artist's loose style, so she tried to paint in a more loose form. However, by nature she was a realist, and "because she tried to follow someone else's path, she eventually became so frustrated that she quit painting altogether."

Today, I feel more confident than ever about my style, and that is because I am confident in The Inspiration. So glad to be at this point.

Doing Live Painting

2009-05-22T07:23:00.001-07:00

In 2002, while I was a senior at University of Richmond doing my art thesis, a friend of mine told me about a live chalk artist he had seen at a conference. Well, that was a seed for me. I began exploring live art and had several pictures in my mind of myself doing it in the future.

It wasn't until 2005 that I did my first live painting in Myrtle Beach, SC. Thankfully, I met an artist well known to the area--Kimberly Dawn Clayton--who does live painting and is a well known folk artist. She was and is a major inspiration to me as I explored the area of live painting. She introduced me to the concept of recycled art and using recycled materials, such as old doors, windows, and wood. She also inspired me in the use of color, being free in form, and composition.

Overall, there are different forms of live art, each unique in their own way. For those of you who might not know what live painting is, it is basically a form of painting done in a segmented amount of time with an audience of sorts.

For myself, I tend to compliment something else going on, whether it is a conference, a worship session, a wedding, a fundraiser, etc. In each setting, I paint something different, according to the people, the event, or the setting. I love painting out whatever is the spirit of what is going on.

Below, you will see some examples of my recent live paintings at the following events:
Catalyst Conference in Atlanta
Sojourners' Mobilization to End Poverty in Washington, D.C.
Alabama-West Florida UMC Youth Conference in Panama City, FL
30 Hour Famine for Woodbridge Church of the Nazarene, VA
ULM Baptist Student Ministry in Monroe, LA
Glow Retreat at North Monroe Baptist Church in Monroe, LA
FB Swartz in Monroe, LA

For more about live painting, you can see my website: www.caitlinbeidler.com.

Live Painting!!

2009-05-18T21:03:00.000-07:00

A Little Bit About...

2009-05-18T14:38:00.000-07:00

The murals below are murals that were completed with the help of various youth and community members either in Myrtle Beach or in Haiti. Their description is as follows:

1. The Myrtle Beach Mall mural (11' x 65') was a collaboration of Myrtle Beach Mall and Loris Healthcare System to promote wellness, community, and caring. I had fourth teenage youth from two different youth agencies help me complete the mural.

2. The Miracle League Memorial Mural (8' x 65') was a collaboration between The Grand Strand Miracle League, The Waccamaw Youth Center, and SOS Healthcare, Inc. Six youth helped me complete this mural. The youth were the initiators in doing this mural and also were key in brainstorming the images for the mural.

3. The Abiding Village Mural (11' x 65') was for an urban arts center for at-risk youth. One youth helped me complete this mural.

4. The Haiti Murals (10' x 40') began in 2006. The two here were completed in 2006 and 2008. The Haitian community modelled for me, gave me advice, and helped me complete the murals each year.

Community Murals in Myrtle Beach and Haiti

2009-05-18T13:41:00.000-07:00

Creating with a Biblical Worldview

2009-05-15T12:23:00.000-07:00

I was reading the other day about artists explaining their creative process. For me, understanding my creative process has only been recent.

People create according to the lense through which they see the world. In other words, people create through their worldview. Examining other cultures' works of art, one can discover a particular culture's beliefs, values, and way life; whether it is an ancient or present culture.

Personally, I perceive the world through a biblical worldview. Of course, that could mean many things to many people. To break it down, I create with the belief that Jesus Christ has redeemed mankind through His love and forgiveness; through His death and resurrection.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines redemption as "the act of redeeming." To redeem something means the following: "to get or win back; to free from what distresses or harms; to free from capitivity by payment of ransom; to help to overcome something detrimental; to release from blame or debt; clear; to free from the consequences of sin; to change for the better; reform; repair; restore; to make good; to exchange for something of value."

My artwork is called Redemption Art because I hope it leads to redemption in people's lives. I hope that it draws people to Christ in some way. That it encourages people that through Him anything can be turned for good. That through Him, we can have life, light, peace, and goodness; even in the midst of darkness.

Holiday in Haiti

2009-01-13T10:22:00.000-08:00

2009-01-13T10:14:00.000-08:00

So, on December 29, 2008, I ventured to Haiti for the 3rd time. This time, to deliver with my sister and two other gals (Jess--nursing student; Anna--photographer) relief funds for a building project in Passe Catabois (NW mountains of Haiti). My main mission was to complete the third mural outside of the hospital there.

Here are the Top 10 highlights:

10) Riding in the back of an old-school Toyota pick-up truck with 40 people, including two small babies in my lap and a heavy-duty backpack on my back.

9) Seeing my friend Marie-Jeanette, a 13 year old girl who always helps me with the murals.

8) Seeing two 17 month old twin baby girls (who were severely malnourished and looked about 6 months old) smile (see above).

7) Loving on little girls who smelled like pee.

6) Starting pen pals with youth in Haiti and youth in the US.

5) Seeing all the people helping me with the mural--from little children to grown men.

4) Seeing everyone come out of the hospital to play and sit in the sun and watch the mural develop.

3) Seeing Wilfet (a teenage boy who worked with us this summer and we're hoping became a believer this past summer) march and say in creole "Walking with Jesus".

2) Elode, a little 8 year old girl, cling to me as I held her the last time.

1) Sharing the gospel with my sister through serving, and seeing her go hard for Jesus and showing him to others through her love.

God in a box

2008-08-28T21:45:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I put God in a box. I put limits on Him. And God has none. He showed me that on this trip to Haiti. He is able to do more than I can ask or imagine. He proved that to me in Camp Hope. Our prayers were answered over and above. Through fundraising. Through the orchestration of our team. Through protection in travelling. Through bringing rain to the land when it was so dry and barren. Through caring for little babies who were malnourished. Through the perfect amount of paint that was needed. Through having a fifth team member there in Haiti for us. Through healing in unexpected ways.

So, I want to thank Him for all He has done. I give Him the credit for Camp Hope. I also want to thank my home church: 180 Degrees-- for supporting us every step of the way, in the natural and supernatural. Thank you to all of you who supported Camp Hope financially and prayerfully. We could not have done this work with out you. And I want to thank my sister (see photo above) who worked so hard to make this thing happen that a missionary in town said "shouldn't have happened" logistically.

Haiti as we know it

2008-08-28T21:18:00.000-07:00

Haiti was not on my radar until two years ago when my sister decided God was leading her there to teach 3 Haitian girls who had been adopted by Dutch missionaries in this small town called Passe Cataboise in Northwest Haiti. I honestly didn't even know where Haiti was, and I quickly learned that Haiti has a really bad rap. Us Americans are told not to travel there. As I learned about the history of Haiti, God started to break my heart for it and its people. Here is a quick history lesson:

1. Columbus "discovers" the island.
2. Original people are wiped out.
3. French get the left side of the island, Spain the right.
4. Slaves are shipped over from Africa.
5. The French colony of Haiti was one of the richest places with its crops of cotton, coffee, sugar cane, cocoa.
6. 1804 Haiti gains independence from France.
7. 2008 the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

Its crazy how one of the richest places is now one of the poorest.

I remember thinking while we were there this summer, "This place isn't going to get better." So, why go back? And to that I think and believe, "The light shines the brightest in the darkest place." If we can bring hope to the little kids--like little Michelda that you see above--then its worth it. We look forward to shining the light of Christ in the years to come through Camp Hope.

Meet the team

2008-08-28T21:08:00.000-07:00

Camp Hope was birthed by my sister's vision to bring joy and fun to the children of Haiti. This year, we had a team of five fabulous gals....

1. Leah--My sister who really was the heartbeat of the team with her energy, relating to the people, and strength of body, mind and spirit.

2. Me--I took on the role of organizer... Nicknamed "Monica" after Monica in "Friends." And I was the art lady... leading kids in the crafts... SO FUN!!!

3. Jackie--From Maine and a fellow soccer player with Leah at Roger Williams, she was such a trooper!! This was her first trip to a 3rd world country and her grace and love for the people was amazing to see come forth.

4. Ashley--From Cali and friend of Leah's, she was the spunk of the team, making us laugh, discovering a love for cooking (she cooked our five star meals every night) and a love for nursing (She would go to the med clinic almost daily.... She is now applying to nursing school... not even a thought before this trip!!!).

5. Amanda-- From The Netherlands, our unexpected Dutch addition. We had prayed for a team of five, and who knew God would answer our prayers when we got to Haiti... She was there visiting and became our 5th team member. Her helping hands were much needed!!!

A day in the life

2008-08-28T20:43:00.000-07:00

So.... Our team was in Haiti for one month.... Our typical day:

1. 6:00 am we walked around the mountains and heard people called out "Blanc" meaning foreigner or white person OR "Miss Leah, Miss Leah!!" echoing through the trees. She is quite famous there ;).

2. 9:00 am we began camp which was held in a 2 room school house. We had about 35 kids each week. The first week we did ages 6-8. The second week, ages 9-11. And the third week, ages 12-15. What was so neat during the month was that we had 3 Haitians helping us. One man, Titus, did the bible stories for us. And we had 2 Haitian teenagers--Michelda and Wilfet--help us with the kids. We were able to pay them for their help as well. Wilfet got new soccer cleats because of it.

3. From 9:00-12pm we would do arts and crafts, bible stories, games, sports, and music. Leah was a fantastic leader. She spoke the language well, which is Creole, a dialect of French. I managed to lead the kids in art, knowing some nouns and verbs. SO MUCH FUN!!!

4. 12pm three days a week we would feed the children. We hired Haitian women to buy and cook the food. It was amazing to watch the kids eat. They all were very hungry and would savor it. If there was any sort of meat, it would be left for the very last bite. Most meals were beans and rice.

5. After camp and some RandR, I would go to the hospital to work on the mural. This year the mural was 10 x 40 feet. Double last year. I had a couple teenagers really help me out this year, which was a lot of fun.See the mural above... The mural with the hands is the one I did this year (the one below it is last year's).... The scripture written on it in Creole is this: "They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will sheperd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Rev. 7:16-17. The hands are God's, the background is Haiti with people lifting their arms to the Lord, and water is flowing from His hands. I had this picture before I got to Haiti. Ashley found that verse when were were there. And, to me, that verse is for Haiti. When I finished the hospital mural, I then painted a patient room in the medical clinic. Let's just say that it was like bringing light into darkness in that room. We took paint rollers and rolled paint into every nook and cranny in that room, over all the yuck and body fluids that adorned its walls.... BONUS.

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