The Locust Effect and The Problem of Poverty

The main topic in “The Locust Effect” breaks my heart. It is basically the argument that I made for my final project in my Ethical Philosophy of Global Justice class.

Violence and crime affect the poor. Trafficking, rape, and other forms of violence are problem of an unequal distribution of resources.

Though this book is specific to the developing world, it was seeing this poverty in my backyard as a kid that helped me to really see the problem of poverty for what it is.

#TheLilyPadProject Update Video

#TheLilyPadProject update Video

 

I have prints and greeting cards for sale! 
 
Check out my Portfolio to see Card Packs

All individual cards $5 each

Assorted Card packs (pick either watercolor or prints)

3 cards = $14
4 cards = $17
5 cards = $22
6 cards = $25

Pat Jones and Nebraska Pledge

For todays post, a seemingly politically neutral painting :)
Lily Pads
Felicia Follum
Aprox 18x48 in (will measure soon)
Hang ready print on canvas
$325

I absolutely love teaching art. But to be honest I am not a fan of some of the drama surrounding public schools which plays a large role in why I did not get an Art Education degree. You can check out my YT videos (and many other posts on my art) to see more about how I am still using my art degree to educate and help others.

#TheLilyPadProject and Human Trafficking

I tell you about #TheLilyPadProject and how you can get your own lily pad to help fight human trafficking and sex slavery. Yes all of this in 5 minutes.  The lily Pad Project is part of an art exhibition that I will be having in April at the University of Wyoming and a couple other venues.

I use the lily pads to talk about human trafficking and some specific aspects of modern day slavery.  Watch the video to find out some of the many connections I use to compare water lilies and lily pads to human trafficking.

I would love to have work up in more places so contact me if you have a venue or if you are an organization fighting human trafficking.

If you enjoy my art be sure to subscribe to my YouTube art channel.

#TheLilyPadProject Vlog Video

Hey guys!! Be sure to come to my art exhibition #TheLilyPadProject in the next couple weeks.

If you can't make it to Laramie, Wyoming no problem. Host in a local venue. I am always looking for places to share my artwork.

I wanted to share my exhibition Vlog video with you all.  If you haven't found me on YouTube be sure to head over to my channel.

13 Anti-Trafficking Resources

With estimates as high as 27 million slaves world wide and hundreds of thousands in the US it is obvious to me that much of my time needs to be spend on the topic of human trafficking.  Through research that has gone into my Lily Pads series I have found a vast array of resources addressing human trafficking and would like to share some of my favorite with you.

IJM - Simply put IJM is a human rights organization that aids in the rescue of trafficking and other victims.  IJM can be found on Facebook.  There are advocacy pages for many states that can update you with specific information for your state.  Find the Wyoming IJM Advocacy Group page here.  To find your state search "___________ IJM Advocacy Group."  If your state doesn't have one contact JusticeCampaign@ijm.org.

Photo taken in Art Alley, SD to use for inspiration.

Arts Aftercare - Arts Aftercare helps create art therapy kits to send to aftercare facilities throughout the world. Art is one of the most powerful tools when it comes to working with children, people who have experienced trauma, and when there is a potential language barrier.  Currently 10% (or more) of all my sales will go to Arts After care.  You can see more on the Arts Aftercare Facebook page.

JUBILEE - Curtis Romjue founder of Arts Aftercare is also a part of a not-for-profit band raising money for Arts Aftercare and other aspects of fighting slavery. You can find JUBILEE on Facebook.

Polaris Project - The Polaris Project has an international hotline that you can contact about all things trafficking.  They have several databases and registries for all of the state and provide a plethora of other resources including a variety of trainings.  As you read this enter their toll free number into your phone. 1-888-3737-888 Polaris Project Facebook

Truckers Against Trafficking - Truck stop prostitution plays a major roll in underage sex slavery, human trafficking, and underage prostitution in the US.   TAT Facebook page
     
Not For Sale - This organization is working on behalf of vulnerable communities and offers apps that allow you to check how products have been made. 
     Free2Work - This app grades brands on a A-F scale based on how they relate to child and forced labor.
     Slavery Map - Maps stories of slaves world wide
     The Underground Church Network - An invitation to all who have a faith based community.  There is a specific branch for the Jewish community.

End Slavery Now and the New Underground Railroad - Your organization, church, or you can be added to this list.

HumanTrafficking.org - This site has many resources.

XXXChurch.com or X3Church.com - Triple X Church helps people with sexual addictions.  Anything from porn stars and producers to the every day consumer.  Find XXXChurch on Facebook.

Obama's Speech on Trafficking

Here is a list of 7 organizations to follow on Twitter.

Many women's shelters, safe homes, police departments and other organizations have some training or knowledge on the topic.  Though there is a good chance that they are not fully qualified to handle a trafficking situation.

What are some of the most helpful resources you have found on human trafficking and sex slavery.

Water Lily Roots + Trafficking

Water Lilies are beautiful plants but the ecosystem that they have adapted to survive in is not so glamorous.  The root system and underground workings of the plant are extremely complex and parallel the system that supports trafficking.

Send a Greeting and Fight Against Sex Trafficking

Waterlily hand printed greeting cards. Blank on the inside $5 each. $1 per card goes to Arts Aftercare (an organization dedicated to helping people through the arts). If you want me to write in and send a card I am more than willing just message me the text.

You can find these cards and other products in my ETSY shop or message me on Facebook if you have questions.

Talent Showoffs: Water LIlies+ Social Justice

I recently had the opportunity to have my artwork in Talent Showoffs, a local event for artists and musicians.  Here is the Artist Statement that I used for the event.

Felicia Follum, Water Lilies (Untitled), 11x15

My work combines social justice themed Fine Art with graphic design techniques and processes. I tend to use a variety of mediums. Through research and brainstorming I strive to develop a creative language to talk about current social issues as diverse as African American hair, the LGBTQ community and Christianity, and world water.


The work on display tonight is from my in-progress series dealing with human trafficking and sex slavery. Though water lilies are beautiful plants the eco system that they have adapted to survive in is not so glamorous. The root system and underground workings of the plant are extremely complex and parallel the system that supports human trafficking. The most basic, yet significant, comparison is the function of the lily pads. Each pad takes back energy to the root, which would otherwise shrivel up and die in the mud.

Since I am still in the process of creating water lilies to represent those who have been trafficked in the United States, there are many directions in which this body of work could travel.

Please check out my Facebook page or this blog to keep up with my work and learn more about the symbols and comparisons I am making.

Waterlilies and Prostitution

lily pad painting (early stages)

In my current artwork I am using lily pads to talk about human trafficking and sex slavery.  For those of you who have been wondering how water lilies tie in with sex trafficking, keep reading. If you already have an idea, enjoy the pictures, look at more of my in progress lily pad art and keep reading just in case there is something new.  Be sure to like my Facebook page while you are at it.

Detail of lily pad (early stages)

For starters, I am comparing of the underground root system of the plants to networking system of human trafficking, prostitution, and sex slavery.  The intricate roots are located in dirty, slug and leech infested waters several feet below the surface. Traffickers and pimps manage to go unnoticed and stay just below the surface under the guise of a massage parlor owner or one of many other professions.  The dirty water tends to be hidden by the beauty of the flowers much like the happenings in the sex industry are disguised by the women with tough skin and fake smiles.

Waterlilies can often have up to 50 lily pads all connected to, and working for, the one root system.  In larger species such as the Amazon Waterlily these lily pads can grow up to 6 feet in diameter. The edges and underside often times have sharp spines and air pockets. The lily pads bring back chlorophyll to the roots and the beautiful flowers often bring back oxygen and allow the plant to reproduce. 

Beginning of some watercolors and upcycled shrinky dink

With their impressive size it is no surprise that this gorgeous and aggressive plant can easily take over a lake and choke out all other life in a body of water.  These plants have learned to adapt for survival even if it is at the expense of other life.  Many of the women and children in the industry have been forced to survive often times at the expense of each other.  This keeps them submissive and trustworthy allowing the viscous cycle of sex slavery to continue.

Here is another example of how I am using water lily to represent and talk about sexual addiction.

These are just the basics of my analogy for this body of artwork developed by significant research.  As I continue to research and develop the ideas further I will share more.

Rocky Mountain Water Lily

As many of you know I have been creating a series of artwork focusing on the water lily.
 This video is composed of my Rocky Mountain Water Lily photos from this summer.
I took all of the photos in Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone National Parks.

Which photo is your favorite?  I like the colors in the last one the best.

Open Studio Tour

My open studio was a hit.

I had a large variety of work on display.  My current work took up about half of the space.  Snakes and lizards on one wall and water lilies and lily pads (see image) on a second wall.  I had some of my posters as well as a portfolio of my Make it Plain show on display. Some photographs of the building just for fun and jewelry were on display as well.

I am so very thankful for everyone who came to my Open Studio night. We estimated that between 60 and 80 people trickled in and out. The studio space is pretty small so it stayed full most of the night which made the evening go quickly.

If you were not able to make it, be sure to subscribe to my monthly newsletter, follow my Facebook page and keep up with this blog to see some of what you missed.

It was great to share my art with everyone.  There will definitely be another studio night in the future.

Amazon Water lily, Addiciton, and Human Trafficking

Giant Amazon Lily Giant Amazon Lily

I am beginning to create artwork based on the water lily and lily pad and using this imagery to talk (or raise awareness) about human trafficking and modern day slavery.  There are many fascinating connections between the beautiful plant and the terrible world of trafficking.



The flower traps beetles inside its petals....The trap of sexual addiction (sex is more addicting than most illegal drugs and this addiction) is one of many ways that lilies can be used as a symbol to talk about the sex industry and trafficking....Keep following my blog for more social justice artwork dealing with human trafficking and water lily facts.

Have Fun and Stay Out of Jail: KONY 2012 Stencil Art

Everybody loves graffiti style stencil art.  Which is why I figured I should create a stencil for the KONY 2012 campaign (see my other KONY art).  You can use the stencil to create posters, t-shirts or to decorate your parents garbage can.

To create your own graffiti style t-shirt using this stencil follow these simple instructions
1. Cut along the outside lines using an x-acto knife.  The negative space in the O's, 0 and P will not show up, but will still read perfectly well.
2. Place a piece of cardboard or old newspaper inside a t-shirt to prevent the paint from bleeding through.
3. Position stencil on fabric and tape the edges.
4. Follow spray paint instructions and paint.

BE CAREFUL not to get the paint on surfaces other than your t-shirt (or whatever object you are painting) and always ask permission before painting.

If you would like to purchase this stencil with my poster pack check out my ETSY shop.  If you would like to create your own go for it.  I used Impact and Adobe Illustrator.  Be sure to photocopy or make several prints if you want to go stencil crazy...As my high school AP English teacher wrote on the board every Friday, "Have Fun and Stay Out of Jail."

Human Trafficking: Art+ Global Justice

My next body of artwork will be focusing on the sex industry and human trafficking.  I am not sure where this will go but I would like to share a photograph I took over Christmas break while back home in Rapid City, South Dakota. I am not sure if I will use this image or not; however, I do think that it is a strong image.  It shows the contrast and addiction that our society possesses.  There are so many addicted to porn, many who think there is nothing wrong with and few who understand the effects that it actually has on our county.  Be sure to follow my blog for more information on the sex industry and human trafficking as well as my artwork in response to the topic.  This link will take you to posts directly relating to this body of work.

My goal is to have an idea by the end of this semester and a body of work by the end of summer (or a couple months after).  This may be pushing it but I think I can make it happen.