"SAAA" social event inspires artists to join !

"SAAA" social event inspires artists to join !

On January 1st 2010 , located in Northern Pennsylvania ,At the Stroudsburg Area Art Alliance's weekly art socials (SAAA), everyone is welcometo show up , relax , and draw the energy off while doing what they love .

"The idea came from a group show back in April 2008," said Chris Francz, founder of (SAAA). The first art social was April 27, 2008. They had three people come in the first week. Then it went up to six people and then seventeen. Some weeks it is three people and other times it can be twelve !

The idea behind the art socials is not only to meet other area artists, but also to find some positive, creative energy and form business and un-related business partnerships.
"We can get inspired by each other and express our creativity and our frustrations," Francz said.

The mission statement : "is to bring people together to encourage, support and inform."

Nara Strete, an East Stroudsburg artist and newly member, makes it a point to go to the weekly socials held at 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday at Starbucks on Main Street, Stroudsburg."Every week I go to the socials and draw endlessly," Strete said. "It's something that is inspirational. You get to spend time with other artists and network, and hear about different events in the community."

Artists of all types are welcome — photographers, painters, any type of artists. These weekly socials often turn into more than just a fun networking night of art inspiration.It also brings together an artistic community.

Artists can and often bring their sketch books and portfolios to the socials. Checking out what everyone else's works is another important part of the sharing networking.

"There has been a lot of collaborating going on," said Francz. "I wanted this to be a little different than the usual. There is no membership fees or official forms. It's really a laid-back environment, everyone is free to come in to join or even just to view our creations."

The artists involved also have another advantage. A My-Space page is dedicated to their work is controlled by each artist. Francz does not control the page, so that artists can upload and maintain their own work as they please.

"The artists maintain the site themselves. I wanted everyone to feel in control and that they are participating," Francz said.

Everyone is welcome ! . Just bring something to work on and get ready for some fun. Even if you are new to the art community, Francz expresses that you will be welcomed with open arms."It's great to bring people together who are just starting out. You never know who they will discover or transform into a new person ," he said. "I am drawn to the people just beginning. I am really interested in the emerging artist."

If you are interested and need more information :

WHAT: Stroudsburg Area Art Alliance art socials

WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays

WHERE: Starbucks on Main Street, Stroudsburg

COST: Free; no membership required

INFORMATION: www.myspace.com/sbgartalliance

We are back with our guest Sarah Mohameed continuing the interview of why and how art became her voice .

Deena : Thank you for returning to us again . Continuing our interview , did you tell your parents about what happened to in school ?

Sarah : I wanted to but I was scared that my parents would tell the school and everyone would tease me more .

Deena : so what did you every time this bullying happens to you ? Any ritual or soothing words?

Sarah : Every time I get bullied , I have study hall so I would enter the school 's art room and just paint away .That's where I found my voice ! As I looked around , I saw a small ad about an art gallery for freshman students next month.

Deena : So you decided to join this gallery ? But how does that have to do with art as your voice ?

Sarah : It was how the art classroom was displayed with many of the students' art works and how each of it had an image . Just like seeing a poster of a new movie !

Deena : You mean a movie poster ?

Sarah : yeah , like if the poster had blood scenes in it , people will know right away its going to be a horror film . So I though I could paint my pain and sadness and show to everyone so that they can see how I felt being bullied .

Deena : So tell me on the day of the gallery , what happened ?

Sarah : On the day of the opening , all the students and guests were outside waiting to enter . But I wanted the judges first to see my painting .

Deena : But why ?

Sarah : Because I believe nobody told the head master about the bullying . I just had a feeling .

Deena : So you decided to use your painting to express how you were being badly treated in school to the head owner ?

Sarah : yes , and that way the people from the school office wouldn't hide anymore !

Deena : So tell me from when the gallery was open and how the head owner reacted ?

Sarah : When the front door finally opened , the head owner walked with three other adults that work in the international education system and walked around the room to view observe all art pieces created from the freshman . As he came upon my pieces and asked me why am I the only one with a dark and disturbed images . I told him the details of why using every art piece hung in my section , piece by piece and what their stories were about .

Deena : Did you have any difficulties repeating what happened to you ?

Sarah : At first yes , plus I had little tears coming out of my eyes . But knowing that the art you created doesn't stop or question you , it just gives a hand providing the image of what you have experienced .

Deena : What did the head owner do after hearing your story ?

Sarah : He asked to be excused for a moment and went to one corner of the gallery with the other three adults . After discussing for I guess was about ten minutes , one of the three adults went to the door and asked for my teachers to come inside . The head owner looked disappointed as he talked the staff and teachers of the school .

Finally everyone stopped talking and the head owner walked towards me and say that on behave of the school of education and himself , he apologized and asked foe the all the girls who is bullying the freshman in the school .

Deena : So what happened to the girls who bullied you ?

Sarah : The head owner had all the bully girls out of the school and send to a school ( kind of like a juvenile /reform ) for six months until further notice .

Deena : What about your parents ?

Sarah : They came to the show and were asked to talk with the head owner . After they talked and saw my art pieces , they asked me how I was and why they didn't tell em .

Deena : So you believe that art is a special place to find what you are looking for ?

Sarah : Yes ! Art made me be strong and brave ! I advise everyone to appreciate and accept art as your true friend !

Here on the 3th of January 2010 I will be interviewing Sarah mohameed through skype chat .Sahrah was one of my classmates from a private freelance art class that I attended in the summer 2006 . Sarah is a collage student in Bahrain .

Deena : Tell me Sarah , why is art considered special to you ?

Sarah : At first it was because I have always enjoyed art from an early experience , also the fact that my parent's work are art-related . (My father is an private landscape designer and my mother is a private house designer ).

Deena : What about after that ? what else was art considered to you ?

Sarah : Well , after that I used art to become my voice to help me speak to my parents .

Deena : Can you tell me a brief idea of when did this happen when you felt the need to use art as your voice ?

Sarah :In a girl's only private school , I was known as a the rich ,youngest ,freshman geek in my class and every spoiled girl there was bullying me . They called me names and was pushing me around , asking me to give money to them .

Deena : How often did this happen to you ?

Sarah : almost every school day when it was lunch break and the girls ( who was older than me ) . would push me to the girls' bathroom and order me to give them money .

Deena : Why did they pick on you specially ?

Sarah : becuase I was the youngest and they knew I was too shy or scared to stand up to them .

Deena : Did you ever try to tell anyone ? your teachers , parents ?

Sarah : I told my homeroom teacher first and she said that its ok , that its normal and that I would get over it .

Deena : Did your teacher talk to the girls who bullied you ?

Sarah : Yes , but the girls still bullied me .

Deena : And your parents ?

( sorry folks , I lost my conversation with Sarah through skype there . there is a bad connection back at her place so we will continue later on ! )

WELCOME TO MY KINGDOM !!

Greetings everyone & welcome to Ar-topia !!

I would like to first introduce myself ! My name is Deena Ebrahim Ahmadi ; a young struggling artist who knows what's to expect and feel in similar situations .

As long as I can remember , I always had a passion for creating art . I took whatever art classes were avaliable , visited many types of art galleries and shows offered in my country ( Bahrain) , and created many forms of art as I could possiblliy make can with what materials Ican find .

Though in Bahrain , the art departments and private classes were either poorly organized , too expensive , bad time arrangments to my school schedules.

My earliest memories was back when I was turning seven years old. I was starting my first year in a Arabic girls’ government & private school. I was very excited that I would be with girls who I would play with like in theose girly movies on friendship .

But I was wrong ..... to think that they would except me .

Artopia is a place where stories can be heard and shared to all the struggling artists around the world . You can give a messege to all others that you know what it's was like and can give encouragement to them whenever they face a difficult situation !

In this blog you can share your story and learn how to handle the situation if it may enter in your life . sharing your artworks and experiences can help encourage others to handle things better and help them also in their communication in the future !

"Let Art be your voice !"