Oh my it is hard to know where to start to tell you about the Love Front Porch community in Homewood, PA. About the ARThouse that serves as a healing and growing space for children (and, I assume, some adults as well) in the community. As a place where people can THRIVE, can grow to become who they are meant to be.
Last Sunday, December 6, was the Night of Illumination at the ARThouse, recently moved into its new quarters. It was a time to celebrate hard work and mystically amazing futures that are made possible by the work of artist Vanessa German and supporters.
The ARThouse began when Vanessa moved to her own front porch to work on her sculptures and paintings because her basement ceiling was too low, in the process attracting neighborhood children who soon became creators themselves.
Vanessa describes the accidental formation of this powerful community of young artists. "You need to make a decision. You need to choose a color and a purpose," she told them.... and they told their friends, and it grew and grew. The growing community became an antidote to what can be frequent background noise of violence and chaos. Just listen and watch.
The young artists soon outgrew Vanessa's front porch, which led to a temporary move to an empty house down the street, then finally to its new home about a year ago (I think). It has a front porch - actually a front porch and a second floor balcony - where kids can get down and dirty MAKING. Look how this house has been transformed (these and more photos can be found on Love Front Porch's Facebook page).
So last Sunday, the Night of Illumination, I stopped by around noon with cookie dough and energy and joy (I was finally going to be in this sacred house, live and in person). A few volunteers and lots of kids were there to get the house ready for this event. Boxes and bags of books, artwork, and art supplies were scattered throughout the two stories of the home. We unpacked, swept, scrubbed, covered tables with white art paper in preparation for the guests who would no doubt want to CREATE. Within three hours, the home was bright and clean and pulsing with life. LESSON ONE: Many hands, with love, make light work.
In the tiny upstairs kitchen, we baked. I had brought my shortbread cookie dough with some jars of sprinkles and turned the project over to several young girls who took turns rolling out the dough, then cutting and decorating the cookies. There were no sprinkles left at the end of this exercise - man, those cookies sparkled! LESSON TWO: Get out of the way, and let the children fly.
Downstairs, volunteers equipped with hammers and nails followed the instructions of the children who selected artwork to be hung, and chose where and with what other pieces the pictures would be displayed. LESSON TWO B: Get out of the way. They know what they are doing.
In the tiny upstairs kitchen, we baked. I had brought my shortbread cookie dough with some jars of sprinkles and turned the project over to several young girls who took turns rolling out the dough, then cutting and decorating the cookies. There were no sprinkles left at the end of this exercise - man, those cookies sparkled! LESSON TWO: Get out of the way, and let the children fly.
Downstairs, volunteers equipped with hammers and nails followed the instructions of the children who selected artwork to be hung, and chose where and with what other pieces the pictures would be displayed. LESSON TWO B: Get out of the way. They know what they are doing.
Perhaps my favorite room in the house is the reading room - every child's (and my) dream. Soft chairs and pillows, shaggy colorful rugs, more books than you can imagine. LESSON THREE: Put no limits on your imagination. Invite in your dreams, revel in them, go deeper.
The celebration was magnificent. Children crowded around the art tables, drawing and painting, cutting and pasting. In the backyard, community members made s'mores, and chowed down on hot dogs and burgers. Out front, people hung out and waited for the coming illumination.
Larry, my honey, was home in bed, fighting his pneumonia, and I was starting to miss him, so I headed home before dark. Fortunately, Brandi Fisher and Denise Johnson shared photos of the pinnacle of the celebration on Facebook (thank you, Brandi and Denise).
Larry, my honey, was home in bed, fighting his pneumonia, and I was starting to miss him, so I headed home before dark. Fortunately, Brandi Fisher and Denise Johnson shared photos of the pinnacle of the celebration on Facebook (thank you, Brandi and Denise).
Can you imagine having such a place to BE when you were young? Can you imagine walking up these stairs, across this threshold, through this door?
LESSON FOUR: It is never too late to go up those stairs and through that door.
Thank you, Vanessa German. Thank you for your love that persists in spite of it all, and for the art that arises from it. Thank you.
Thank you, Vanessa German. Thank you for your love that persists in spite of it all, and for the art that arises from it. Thank you.
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