Agape Art

Call to Artists: Virtues 2010

Agape Art presents

“Agape Art 2010: Virtues”

Fitton Center for Creative Arts

101 S. Monument Ave • Hamilton, OH 45011 • www.fittoncenter.org

Student Gallery Sponsors: James H. & Evelyn E. Hader Charitable Foundation

Call to Artists: 

Entries Due (& delivered) by March 3^rd , 2010

This show will be on display March 6^th - April 8^th, 2010 at the Fitton Center for Creative Arts.
 Reception: Wednesday, March 24^th 5pm-8pm

The Artwork:
All themes and genres are welcome; “Internationally-inspired” work and mixed media is encouraged!
Any work in oil, acrylics, mixed media, pastel, watercolor, drawings, graphics, photography, sculpture, jewelry, handmade gifts, and textiles as well as a limited number of installations or conceptual pieces are welcome. Work must be ready to install or hang (with wire if needed).  Art will be installed on March 5^th.

The Reason:

This is a fundraising event to support the Agape Art program that sends a local team of artists to facilitate an international art camp at Rainbow Village Orphanage in the Philippines each year. This will be the first public event to exhibit the beautiful advanced artwork that was created by the Agape Girls in 2009.  We invite our local community (artists & patrons) to participate in this special art show that brings unity from opposite ends of the world.  No application fees are associated with this show. Rather artists are encouraged to donate a percentage of their sales to benefit the Agape Art program.  This is a great opportunity to sell your artwork and to have your work seen by the community! Please invite your network to help boost attendance and sales even more! 

The Details:

Artwork must be delivered by March 3^rd to one of the following:

Becky Palmieri, Montgomery, OH beckypalmieri@gmail.com 513-505-5194

Kadie Sanders, Clifton, OH kadiecreative@yahoo.com 513-368-3022

Kelly Sanker, Hamilton, OH kelsankner@gmail.com 513-227-8585

(Please call to make arrangements to drop off your artwork).

The Liability:
Artists are responsible for insuring work while in transit. Artists are also responsible for providing work that is sturdy and durable for necessary hanging and displaying purposes.  Any special display criteria should be discussed with Kadie Sanders prior to the event.  Agape Art reserves the right to omit any submissions do not fit this show or that we deem too fragile to display safely.

Please fill out the entry form and submit to Becky Palmieri at beckypalmieri@gmail.com. 

Agape Art in 2010 and beyond

Dear Agape Art Friends-

It’s been a while, but here’s the latest from Agape Art and all that you will find here:

•    Agape Art in 2010 update
•    Call to Artists (submission deadline: March 3rd)
•    Mark your calendar for the next Agape Art show!  “Agape Art 2010: Virtues” at the Fitton Center for Creative Arts on Wednesday, March 24th 5-8pm. 
•    Workshops coming soon. . .

Update on Agape Art:  We are in the midst of transition as we look forward to what the future holds for Agape Art in 2010 and beyond.  For the past three years, the central focus of the Agape Art ministry has been the young girls at Rainbow Village Orphanage in the Philippines.  As the girls have grown, the ministry of Rainbow Village has changed a bit too.  In 2009, 9 of the 13 Agape Girls were discharged from Rainbow.  Some were reunited with families, while others were finally ready to move out and begin life on their own as young adults.  Praise the Lord that Rainbow is able to be a refuge to those in need, and a bridge to bring those children into families of their own or into adulthood.  Due to these changes at Rainbow, there will be no Agape Art trip to the Philippines in 2010.

In the coming months, as we re-center our vision without an upcoming trip, we will focus on a couple of events including art shows and workshops.  During our most recent trip to the Philippines in April 2009, the girls reached a new level of creativity and developed some of their most exquisite work yet!  We are very excited to finally share this with our Cincinnati community.  The exhibit will be on display in the student gallery at the Fitton Center of Creative Arts in Hamilton, OH in March with a special reception on Wednesday, March 24th, 2010 from 5:00-8:00 PM.  Please join us as we celebrate this beautiful body of work!

We will also be trying something new by offering bi-monthly Agape Art Workshops beginning in the spring of 2010.  The Agape Art Workshops will be led by previous Agape Art team members, where we will teach some of the unique projects inspired by the artwork created by the Agape Girls during our previous art camps in the Philippines.  Anyone ages 12-80 with a creative interest is encouraged to sign up!  No experience is necessary. 

I, Becky Palmieri, on behalf of Agape Art will continue to raise financial support for the benefit of future Agape Art programs and initiatives.  Some of these initiatives will include future trips to Rainbow Village or other locations that could benefit from the Agape Art program, some basic support and requested items to Rainbow Village. . . . Or perhaps even one day, the opportunity to sponsor selected Agape graduates for a visit to the U.S. for en extended learning experience.

Thank you all for your loyal support.  Please hang on for the ride as we seek to find what is in store for the Agape Art ministry.  Look forward to seeing you at our upcoming Agape Art shows and workshops.

Find Agape Art on Facebook and become a fan!

With love,

 

Becky Palmieri

Founder/Director of Agape Art

513.505.5194

 

Safely home.

After 40 hours of strenuous and eventful travel across the world, the Agape Art team arrived back in Cincinnati at 8:30pm on Friday, May 1st.  We were greated by a few of our family members whom we were all very excited to see.  Thanks for all the prayers and support that made this trip one of the best yet!

If you're just checking in to read about our trip for the first time, I'd encourgage you to scroll down and start at the beginning on the previous page if you have some time. . .Trust me. . . It's all good!

Becky

after the hospital and the ferry...

ok, well for starters, in this small airport in Cebu where we are waiting for our flight, I have a bandage around my foot! And yes, I said Cebu is where we are...a bit different from plan.

I had a pain in my foot increasing since last week. I talked to the staff nurse and she informed me that xrays only cost $4 and it might be a good idea since I have a long flight ahead, and for peace of mind, to see what exactly is going on with it. Being the last day, I woke up early and collected 5 journals to write in. I felt pressure to do this, because writing to them about what I see in them is helpful to process my feelings and my experience. Did I say that before? Anyway, my point is, when I discovered I may have to cut into this time to sit in a hospital, I was a bit worried. No actually, I was upset and afraid and mad and all these emotions. I didnt understand why I had to do this the last day. Of course, being around strong believers is also soothing in crisis moments. "God is in control." Ok, well, my options are to ignore my problem or take care of it. I chose to take care of it...Woohoo!!!!

So the staff nurse and I ventured to the hospital. It is a little different from the hospitals I know. We walked right into the emergency room to ask for a doctor. No waiting room really. The doctor was actually someone the nurse knew through church. He sent us to get xrays . While sitting and waiting for xrays, there were people rolled in on gurneys by family members. They lifted the person up by the sheet underneath them. One guy brought in was bloody from head to toe. The nurse assumed a motor accident. Another was an older man rolled in by who appeared to be 5 brothers or cousins who were his grandsons. The gurneys were about 1- 3' off the ground which the family members sat on while they waited for their loved one to be xrayed. The wheelchairs were interesting as well.. They were lawn chairs bolted to wheel chairs. So different.

Anyway, I spent 3 hours there , talking with the nurse. It was such a special  conversation . The doc said no fracture, but just some strained tenons or ligaments. He wrapped my foot and said to stay off it for 6 weeks. Hmmm....I go back to painting houses on Tuesday...hmmm....Well,  God is in control!

Speaking of that, there was a second time that was made clear to us. After saying tearful goodbyes to the girls, we arrive at the airport to find a cancelled flight that is not rescheduled until after our connector flight. Becky and Sheryl spent over an hour working with them about options. The only thing was to drive 1/2 hour to take a ferry with our car to another island and drive 3 hours to Cebu where we could get a later flight. That is where we are now. Our flight is due to arrive in Manilla at 2 am and we need to go to check in at 5 am for our 11 hour flight. Wow.

On our drive to Cebu, Mike was on a mission to get us to the airport!!! Becky was sure there were more than a few pedestrians who almost lost a leg.

So now, we are winding down and still going. It is evident the journey is not over.

See you soon!

It was a big Wednesday!

Kadie was right.  We had a super exciting day yesterday that we all wanted to write about but no one had the energy.  She gave you a great start, but I get to share some of the really exciting parts with you.

First, that conversation she spoke of in the missionaries home here at Rainbow was completely off schedule for us.  We were supposed to be shopping for souvenirs in town, but what happened in that kitchen was far more glorious than shopping could ever be.  . . Kelly Sankner accepted Christ!  It was certainly a journey that Kelly set out to explore through this experience, and I know that many of you back home have been praying for her.  Praise God for he answers prayers and has designed a new creation in her this week!  Kelly's heart has really been leading to this, in subtle ways over the past couple months as she prepared for this trip, and then in many experiences this past week at Rainbow including the Agape girls sharing testimonies with her, seeing her prayers for our team and this ministry answered, and the powerful messages that became very personal to her at church here this week.  I'm sure you'd all like to hear from Kelly, but said it was okay if I shared the good news with all of you.  I think she's still working on some of the words to say to describe the change in her heart this week.  She's getting great practice as she tells the Agape girls and they are eager to celebrate with her!

Following that, we shared a relaxing day with the girls.  Some of them did art projects that they really enjoyed and wanted to do more of.  Others just hung out and swapped sketch books to write rememberances to each other.  For a special treat in the evening, we took all the girls and a few of the missionary staff to town for pizza.  I got to ride on a motor (small motorcycle that is extremely common here) all the way to town.  Huge adventure for me!  Aren't you proud of me James?  I loved it!  It's a totally new view of Dumaguete from the back of a Motor.  Aaron, the 18 yr old son of the missionary family here, took each of our team members for a ride on it today.

And if that wasn't enough adventure. . . we all headed to the Boulevard after pizza to try some belut.  For those of you that are not familiar, belut is a Filipino specialty that was actually featured on FEAR Factor!  It's a fertilized egg (that means baby chick) that is then boiled in a uniquely flavored vinegar. The vendors sell it each evening on the Boulevard and you order it by day.  That means 16-day or 18-day since fertilization.  The most developed is a 21 day.  It looks just disgusting as the body is beginning to form and the smell doesn't add much to tempting you either.  But it was a challenge and our Agape Art team proved to be up to it.  With the Agape girls and missionaries behind us as our cheering section, all three of us actually tried it!  Kadie and I actually chewed and gulped the whole thing!  This is kinda a first for me:)  After visting 4 times, this was certainly a first to actually eat the whole thing!  It was not the most pleasant taste and I couldn't chew fast enough to get that texture out of my mouth, but by golly I was proud of my feat!  Here's a picture to help you all understand.

Sadly, we say our good-byes at Rainbow this afternoon and then head to Manila to spend the night.  We will begin our long 24-hour journey home as we board a plane from Manila tomorrow morning.

It was a big Wednesday!

Kadie was right.  We had a super exciting day yesterday that we all wanted to write about but no one had the energy.  She gave you a great start, but I get to share some of the really exciting parts with you.

First, that conversation she spoke of in the missionaries home here at Rainbow was completely off schedule for us.  We were supposed to be shopping for souvenirs in town, but what happened in that kitchen was far more glorious than shopping could ever be.  . . Kelly Sankner accepted Christ!  It was certainly a journey that Kelly set out to explore through this experience, and I know that many of you back home have been praying for her.  Praise God for he answers prayers and has designed a new creation in her this week!  Kelly's heart has really been leading to this, in subtle ways over the past couple months as she prepared for this trip, and then in many experiences this past week at Rainbow including the Agape girls sharing testimonies with her, seeing her prayers for our team and this ministry answered, and the powerful messages that became very personal to her at church here this week.  I'm sure you'd all like to hear from Kelly, but said it was okay if I shared the good news with all of you.  I think she's still working on some of the words to say to describe the change in her heart this week.  She's getting great practice as she tells the Agape girls and they are eager to celebrate with her!

Following that, we shared a relaxing day with the girls.  Some of them did art projects that they really enjoyed and wanted to do more of.  Others just hung out and swapped sketch books to write rememberances to each other.  For a special treat in the evening, we took all the girls and a few of the missionary staff to town for pizza.  I got to ride on a motor (small motorcycle that is extremely common here) all the way to town.  Huge adventure for me!  Aren't you proud of me James?  I loved it!  It's a totally new view of Dumaguete from the back of a Motor.  Aaron, the 18 yr old son of the missionary family here, took each of our team members for a ride on it today.

And if that wasn't enough adventure. . . we all headed to the Boulevard after pizza to try some belut.  For those of you that are not familiar, belut is a Filipino specialty that was actually featured on FEAR Factor!  It's a fertilized egg (that means baby chick) that is then boiled in a uniquely flavored vinegar. The vendors sell it each evening on the Boulevard and you order it by day.  That means 16-day or 18-day since fertilization.  The most developed is a 21 day.  It looks just disgusting as the body is beginning to form and the smell doesn't add much to tempting you either.  But it was a challenge and our Agape Art team proved to be up to it.  With the Agape girls and missionaries behind us as our cheering section, all three of us actually tried it!  Kadie and I actually chewed and gulped the whole thing!  This is kinda a first for me:)  After visting 4 times, this was certainly a first to actually eat the whole thing!  It was not the most pleasant taste and I couldn't chew fast enough to get that texture out of my mouth, but by golly I was proud of my feat!  Here's a picture to help you all understand.

Sadly, we say our good-byes at Rainbow this afternoon and then head to Manila to spend the night.  We will begin our long 24-hour journey home as we board a plane from Manila tomorrow morning.

Thursday morning

Good morning, friends,

All three of us were so eager yesterday to blog about our day, as it was a very powerful day. But, at the end of it, we all just needed to rest.

First of all, yesterday caused me to ask myself this question.... "What exactly is a mission?"These are my thoughts.

Mission work means going where God calls you, one step at a time. You find purpose in missions. God is involved in everything about it. Its actually for him that you go.

I remember a few years ago , I realized I wanted everything about my life to be a miracle. I love miracles! This trip has reminded me that is a lifestyle. If I go back to the US and keep my same job,or if I move to the Phillipines, (examples) , no matter what, I am a changed person after this mission trip.

That means to me that God called me to this mission to change me. There have been so many things -little things- relational mostly, that have impacted my need for God in my life. I have been looking at myself and seeing how I have been surviving the past 3 or so years, and its so far from where I really want to be.

Here at Rainbow, the people are rich. They know who they are in Christ. I think that is what it comes down to. They believe in God's love, and know it well. It has touched my heart.

Yesterday, the lead missionaries here spent the morning with us. There were tears and prayer. Something about their readiness to share lead us to many beautiful realizations. It felt so good to be in a safe presence and just open up, so tenderly.

We then proceeded to town. We shopped. We had an hour, so it was quick. It really is what I suggest ,if ever you go shopping in a different culture!!!There is so much to take in!

We came back to the going away party for the one of the missionaries here. The food was AMAZINGLY SCRUMPTIOUS!!!!!  O my gosh! I dont know how to spell the words but very good. You have to ask us when we come home to describe it!

After that, the girls began handing us their sketchbooks...."Draw or write in my book Ate Kadie"

Well, for those of you who know me, writing is such a good way for me to pour out my heart. I really tend to open up and experience my true feelings when I write. So, as I began, I tried to keep it light and funny...little comics reminscent of the week's projects. One girls scrunched her face at the drawing I did...."Is that it?!"

Oh, ok, I thought. I am not getting it. So, of course, one of them helped me to understand. This is my time to really tell them how I feel. To share my heart, this is what they are after. Of course this means getting more emotional, but it is better too, really!

As I wrote to each girl,my heart started to really feel sad. I cant believe we are leaving this place. My heart is here. How do I let go and process these deep feelings in a healthy manner?

Well, thankfully, in that conversation with the lead missionaries I mentioned earlier, they confronted this struggle with us. Apparently, its part of it. So, I ask your prayers for us about this. It is really hard.

There was more exciting things that happened, but I am going to stop here!

Love, Kadie

Putting it all together

Wow!  What a day!  We worked hard today from 9am to 8pm with a short 2 hour lunch break that seemed very short.  Over breakfast, our team exerted lots of effort as we made our plans for the day and tried to figure out how to tie all of our activities this week together.

We began with what we called a "paint circle dance". We arranged 16 pieces of paper in a circle in the grass and gave each girl a color of paint.  We walked around the circle each adding a stroke to each paper.  First we did it as a color wash, and then we used some thicker paint.  We were learning to not be attached to our artwork so much, but rather to work through layers.

The abstract pieces then became backgrounds for the final embellishment projects we had the girls working on today.  We encouraged them to take a character that they created earlier this week and put that character into a scene.  The concept part was really hard for them, and learning to work with the background or layer over it was even harder for them.  They pushed through though and after a while they were all busy working through the process.  We taught a few mixed media techniques including using some natural resources to add texture.

Their final projects turned out great!  Plus, we got some great compliments from Mama Sheryl that she noticed the girls enjoying the projects this year more than ever before.  I think they have all really matured as individuals and as artists.  And these projects are really challenging them to create and fine the art from within themselves.  We were quite proud today.

                

Those that know me well have often heard that I don't always consider myself an artist, but more so the visionary that puts this all together.  Kadie has been very encouraging and has said many times "Becky, this is your body of work.  I get it now!"  I think she's really right.  This is my portfolio.  Orchestrating all of this is using the creative gifts that God has given me.  This is my art ( just a little challenging to have everyone else see it sometimes).  I am just as proud of the work they create as I am of my own. 

Quick story. . our newest Agape girl is nearly 15, but socially extremely far behind and operating more like a 7 year old in some way.  Cutting shapes out of paper with scissors is even a little new for her.  It has been a challenge to help her keep up at times because she really needs someone to walk through it with her and even do some parts for her.  She has a heart of gold though and all she really wants is to spend time with us and be included with the other girls.  The past couple of days, she has laid low a bit as she realized how challenging our projects became.  She's enjoyed learning to trace from coloring books and some other simple projects we have given her.  Yesterday, we spent the day working on making our own journals, photo books, etc through book binding.  She quickly recognized the challenge and opted out.  While Kadie worked out the process of teaching us all, Kelly and I got really into making our own books since we didn't have to give so much attention to the little one.  Just as I was collecting all of my paper to put inside the book, she came and stood right between Kelly and I, eager to be a part of it.  I asked her to be my helper and her eyes lit up!  She LOVES to help.  As I punched wholes in each page, I gave them to her to collect on a thread to hold them all together before be bound the book with wire.  She sat with me as we then bound the book and picked out a few beads for the cover.  A short while later, I heard her shouting with enthusiasm, "Look what we did, Ate Karen (one of the missionaries here)!"  She was so proud of it!  She had helped in the smallest way, but she was really proud and felt accomplished as if she had been the one labouring over every detail.  It totally warmed my heart and reminded me of the way I feel about each of their work.  I am so proud of what THEY have created!

Becky Palmieri

good Tuesday morning!

Wanted to say hello to our loved ones. At dinner last night, Becky and Kelly and I all talked about those back home we miss. Getting emails from you and hearing how your life is going and things are happening, really makes the distance feel real.

The girls did a great job yesterday. We started out the day, collaging mats. The girls cut out shapes and coordinating colors. Lots of small talk and happy smiles during this session. We moved into teaching book binding. This took all day, but was well worth it. The girls have the start to finish instruction that they can make these books after we leave. Very nice!

The girls came to class yesterday sporting their yo-yos. In their hair , on their shoes. It was great. They really liked that lesson too. Yo-yos are fabric decor that resemble a flower. You put a button in the middle of the bunched up fabric and flatten it out. Very charming. They took these and ran with them. Kelly lead this night time lesson. We all sat in a circle. Again, lots of laughing and happiness.

Last night, as we were finishing up the books, a few of the girls shared some dance moves with us. I cant believe it, but I forgot how to do the cha cha, even though I have had a few lessons back home! Thankfully, the girls reminded me how to do it!

You know you are growing closer when you start dancing with each other!!! And Becky, got it all on film. O my!

Good times we are having here. Please continue to pray for us as we are starting to turn towards home in our hearts.

Love you and cant wait to see you!

Kadie

good Sunday morning!

Good Sunday morning!

It’s around 6 am. I am waking to the girls outside and the multiple roosters. A handful of the girls slept outside because of a “brown out”. That means all the electricity is out. It is cooler outside than in. Wow, and talk about dark! It was pitch black, when I woke up for a moment in the middle of the night.

Yesterday the three of us plus 2 more missionaries went to Apo Island. Apo means  grandchild. As if Negros is the grandmother, Apo is grandchild. It is a small island of only 700. It was very interesting to see. There is no running water on this island, nor electricity. They have to take the 35 min boat ride to the main island to transport water. So, for example, we ate lunch at the resort on the island. In the bathroom, the water to wash my hands was in a large bucket. I had to take a smaller bucket to scoop out water.

Apo is known for its snorkeling and scuba diving. A few of us saw water snakes, periwinkle starfish, sea turtles! Really truly amazing! We had a guide named Kenneth, a younger local boy who went with us the whole day. He was so nice to have along. We all got stung multiple times by little jellyfish. That was really a hindrance, but we kept exploring. All the amazing colors and shapes were so beautiful.

 

Being on the ocean got me thinking a lot about my life. I grabbed my sketchbook and began to draw a house on the cliff of the island.  Then I began drawing some of the fisherman in small boats around us. I felt really good to draw.

I am thankful for this day.

 

The missionary woman we met, who went with us was really neat to talk to . She  works with the children up in the mountains. I understand the mountain people here are similar to country folk back home. They are more craftsman ,living off the land, and have less things and less money. She had some really cool stories about her life. She lived in Romania for 1 ½ years doing mission work. She talked about how different it was there from here, for her.

It has been very enjoyable to talk about different cultures. There was a German diver on the ride to the boat for 

Apo

. He was talking about

Germany

and some of his experiences traveling. It was really cool to meet both of these people and hear their experiences.

After our long day yesterday, and coming home to a brown out, we went to sleep very early. It was a very long sleep, lots of dreams, and very well rested this morning.

Today we go to church with all the children from Rainbow, even the babies! We come back for a big lunch on the patio. And later we go to a Scandanavian mission and serve food to some of the people there. This mission is really neat. I hear they built housing to transfer a lot of people who were living in the city dump, out and into this housing. Every week Rainbow helps minister by serving food. I am looking forward to going there today.

 

Well, signing out for now. Love and miss you all!

Kadie