The Power of Engagement

Recently, on Aspire Gallery's Facebook page, I shared a fairly innocuous post from Frankie Magazine's Facebook page, calling for knitters to jump on board and knit teeny jumpers for penguins in rehabilitation.

See original post here

"The jumpers" Frankie wrote, " were to prevent birds caught in oil spills from cleaning toxic gunk off with their beaks". Even a free knitting was provided.

Penguin Jumper Pattern

I didn't think much about it apart from all being dreadfully cute until I was sent the following linked comic. The comic inferred that although it sounded lovely and big-hearted, the jumpers would distress the penguins. The jumpers instead were being placed on toy birds.

See original post here

So being a factual person and wanting facts I went straight to the source, Penguin Foundation, Phillip Island and discovered YES, the jumpers were still wanted.

Knits for Nature
"Knits for Nature is an ongoing program that begun after a number of oil spills near Phillip Island in the late 1990s to early 2000s, the program continues to support little penguin conservation on Phillip Island through knitting in a number of ways. The Penguin Foundation raises vital funds for little penguin research, conservation and the Wildlife Clinic through the sale of little penguin jumpers we receive that are the wrong size, shape, type of wool or in excess. These can be purchased at the Penguin Parade gift shop and are part of our Adopt a Penguin Pal kids pack. We have a good stockpile of jumpers suitable for rehabilitation purposes which we also distribute to other wildlife rescue centres where need be. Little penguin jumpers are also used as an educational tool to teach students and others about the devastating effects marine and coastal pollution has on marine wildlife and the environment."
See original link here.

However, what I was most interested in, is, how this story is a wonderful example of the power of getting people involved, and how such engagement can collectively raise awareness and ultimately funds to a cause. The Penguin Foundation could have rattled tins or ran television advertisements - but by allowing people to become part of a solution they achieved a far better end result.

So, let's translate this to the design and arts community. We have in this world a group of passionate, creative people who think outside the box and take chances........WOW.......imagine what can be achieved, if this group acted as a collective whole.

We have seen examples of this already happening. Calls for changes to Intellectual Property Law through submissions and petitions have created written changes to Design Registration and The Royalty Scheme.

However, it a movements such as Yarn Bombing that creates the momentous waves that ripple through the world. Yarn Bombing is street art that involves colourful displays of knitted or crocheted yarn that reclaim and personalise sterile or public spaces. It also has encompassed many agendas - from the promotion of the craft industry, awareness to the wool industry to social and humanitarian causes i.e. the homeless.

See original post here

See original post here

Original post here

This engagement of people, or people power should never be underestimated. It can create change and benefit yourself personally in the process.

The concept of Aspire Gallery, could be thought of as idealistic, but I THINK NOT. That would be underestimating the people who become involved.

I think creating a simple formula that allows awareness, sharing, encouraging and promoting which is the concept also behind Aspire Gallery will allow everyone to flourish in the process. 
I will keep you up to date on the journey.

Kreative Kisses,
Donagh

Evoking Emotion Through Art

Aspire Gallery Online is starting to have some beautiful art listed. Most of the pieces evoke a lovely sense of beauty, restfulness and calm. I am hopeful that these pieces will find homes soon and subsequently extend these lovely responses to their new surroundings and their new viewers.

Recently, I posted on the Aspire Gallery Facebook Page the following quote, and I discussed how people often forget about this point when viewing art:

see original post here

My work ( as shown below ) for example tends to create a nice, happy, feel-good feeling. That is probably because I use art as a form of relaxation and meditation and tend to let my pieces form themselves without much planning beforehand.

It is imperative as a viewer to remember that when art evokes an emotion it doesn't have to be a lovely pleasant emotion. Even, if the viewer feels a sense of disgust or is uncomfortable, the art piece is doing its' job well.

Sometimes, art can create the feeling, " What is this? " ," I don't understand." , " This is not art." But that is the point - the piece is making you think. Niggle at your boundaries and make you question. Art is making its' voice heard by making you find your own.

Below are examples of art | FABRY contemporary's work who is exceptionally good at doing exactly that.

See original post here

Art can make people address issues they perhaps may not wish to address - whether religion, politics or sex. It is by addressing such issues, discussion, debate and subsequently tolerance or resolution can be established. 

This is of course, is in utopia. The power of art unfortunately, can also scare people that require order through control. Even, here in Australia, in our relatively free and safe country - artists in Queensland had a mass exodus during the the conservative political reign when Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen was Premier (1968 - 1987). During this time creative and questioning minds were not welcome. Some artists involved in the 'Right to March' protests were even locked up a result.

Below is the flyer that was used to promote the ' Return to Sender ' exhibition at the UQ Art Museum, held in 2012. 

"'Return to Sender' is an exhibition of works by artists who left Queensland in the late 1970s and early 1980s, largely in reaction to the political and cultural milieu of the Joh Bjelke-Petersen era. While the exhibition is inspired by this exodus, it also invites a focus on ideas that were then circulating in Australian art, especially in Sydney where many of the artists were based.

The exhibition comprises works made during the 1980s and early 1990s that employed photomedia in still or moving images, some linked to performance-based practice". 

Original link here

Imagine other countries that are not so safe and free the voice art can have.

With the political unrest in Kiev, capital of Ukraine we are seeing such a voice and it is creating an impact. Revolutionary art is being shared through the internet, making people aware who may not be, turning an issue into a world-wide issue. Furthermore, art being a visual medium, and created through the hands and heart, it allows such a message to become even more poignant than a television or radio news broadcast.

See original post here

So, as a creator we need to think about the voice we are imparting through our piece, and as a buyer we should also carefully think about this concept.

Do we wish to purchase a lovely feel good, relaxed piece - maybe perfect in our reception where a calmness needs to prevail?

But, for our dining room do we wish to have a piece of art that evokes conversation, encourages debate and becomes the catalyst for further stimulating conversation?
I think perhaps, YES.

Kreative Kisses,
Donagh