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Wednesday, September 17, 2014

13 Things We Should Say More

This weeks assignment for my US-BRAZIL Connect kiddoes is to come up with 10+ things we should say more. So here is my list. 

1. I love you
2. Can I hug you (or just give hugs)
3. I'm sorry
4. Why?
5. Why not?
6. Who is this a problem for?
7. What can I do to help?
8. How can I make a difference?
9. What is the real problem?
10. What is your name?
11. Let's be friends
12. What's your opinion/thought/belief?
13. And honestly when there are no words...smiling or dancing can be enough
What are 10+ things you think should be said more often?

And a random side note... 

I'm just climbing away at a youth center in Brazil....there is some incredible artwork on the other side of this wall. 

Yep, this youth center also has a community art gallery as well! I is possible that one day I will have a garage or room or space with art and a rock-wall too :) now I'm rambling. 

Rad!

Tchau amigos!

Friday, September 12, 2014

Pay it Forward

Joinville from my window
We have all heard of various Pay it Forward (PIF) projects where you do something for people and they in return do something for someone else.
As a part of the US-Brazil Connect program I am required to complete a PIF project focused on culture or language. As an artist, I naturally chose to create and share some art. I am still working on this project and plan to for a little while, since my response to Brazil will be quite in depth and large and I still am not sure where it will go. I also expect my creative response to continue for some time.

My Project

I am creating artwork based on my experience in Brazil. Much of this work is in progress and still in sketch form. I have also been journaling a lot about Brazilian culture, my experience and Portuguese.
As of now some of the topics I am exploring include art, music, African diasporan culture, relationships between men and women, women’s roles, women’s beauty, religion, non-suggestive physical affection and more.
Joinville Rooftops

Artwork and Sharing

I created several drawings while I was in Joinville and had them in an exhibition in Brasilia for a month after. I am now taking these drawings and sharing them on YouTube and in my Blog. I will be uploading one or two short videos per day and creating a post every other week, so it is difficult to say when it will be finished. As I post them I will share them on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites.

How To Follow My Brazil Response

I also have linked several blog posts to US-Brazil Connect's website.

The part for this assignment that has been completed so far can be seen on my Art+ Blog and on my YouTube Chanel Felicia Follum. Check back regularly to see new additions. You can also see my art responses to India and other travel. Check in the side bar.

 

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Stranger Danger and Facebook

Why I don't add strangers on Facebook.

As a disclaimer: I am not the average 250 close friend Facebook user. I love people and diverse groups of people. I love followers and even follow people with interesting posts or art. So feel free to follow or message me on my personal page and like my art page.

But to the pointfugas of this post...

I have several reasons why I dont add people I don't know on Facebook.

First, it's my page so others don't get to choose who I do and don't add. I don't like it when people try to get me to do things I don't want to do. It makes me uncomfortable when people ask over and over. Once is enough...if I say let's just chat, then let's just chat.

Second, I really prefer to use Facebook for staying in touch with friends who have moved or I have moved away from. I also love  staying in touch with people who I have met during my travels.

Now I also have Facebook friends from high school (or before) that I don't talk to often. They may Facebook stalk me every now and then or like a post here and there, but I don't need random people that I have completely forgotten exist stalking my page in a few years.  That's not what my Facebook is about.

Third, it can be a safety thing. People are not always who they say they are...I have a friend (family) who is in prison and uses facebook. He added my friends little sister. She accepted because she saw I was friends with him. A few months later I sent her his mug shot saying that he was in prison for rape. And he lived only a few hours from her (his profile info was 90% fake). She immediately deleted him. Granted this is an extreme, but it still happens. No matter how much I trust someone they still know crazies and may even be friends with one. I don't like the idea of strangers friends adding me or seeing my info. I don't like that there is a good chance your friends even good people will begin to add me and then begin to say things like "you added such and such, so you need to add me."

Ok, yes, I do have friends that I have never met. Most are friends of friends or artists. Very few are language buddies. And none asked to be friends before I knew anything about them.

But lets go back to my first reason. These are all people who have respected me and my boundaries. We have chatted for some time (often 6 or more months) and I consider them friends, which takes me to the second point. I considered them friends before adding them. I can tell you their name, where they are from, what they like to do and more.

these are just a few of my reasons.

So my answer is still "no, I will not accept you random friend request" but we can chat on here facebook. And please do not ask again.

Before I get accused of being mean, again, I do love followers and even follow people with interesting posts or art just because. I also like to meet new artists and interesting people. If you are an artist and would like to collaborate or are someone who wants to know more about my art, dont hesitate to message me and explain who you are. As I woukd have the respect to do if I wete messaging you.

So feel free to follow or message me on my personal page and like my art page.

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

More Women

In progress women paintings.
I'm still getting back into the groove of things.  You may be thinking that it's taking me a while to adjust. And it is. But keep in mind we also moved to another state in a very different region of the country.


Now that I am back I am excited to start creating artwork again. People seemed to really like the women n sarees that I painted. I also like to paint them which is convenient. So I am continuing with this theme of women and the mixing of cultures...can't wait to share some new stuff.

The photos shows a few of my in progress paintings.