The Tree (and other news)

Although the tree mural itself has long since bitten the renovating dust, we can continue to enjoy the beautiful pictures Ophir Palmon took in March 2009. I recommend a visit to his newly updated website; while you’re there, Ophir has many other gorgeous photographs to take a look at.

In the meantime, we have moved on from walls and paint, to a new and exciting project: this Friday, September 4, we will be making Priestly breastplates. As always, feel free to stop by, whether you come to help out, or just to visit; we always welcome guests to our art program.

Kim and Annette

We Have a Mural

March 13, 2009

Every single Friedel student marched to the Blumkin Home last Friday to meet up with the residents, all the while followed by photographer Ophir Palmon. Later this week, I will add a gallery of pictures, but for now, I recommend everyone check out Ophir’s site, because these are the images that will be used in the actual mural. Ophir’s pictures were made possible by a more than generous contribution by the RBJH activity department. You can check out his fabulous work Here

Mural Update March 9

We started with the background, so everything will be ready for our artists in April.

Before

during

and after

Please check back often over the next few weeks, as we’ll be adding lots of images and ideas for your kids to look at. Once we start decorating the tree, we’ll need many leaves to be put on; maybe some of the kids feel like making some extra over Passover break. We’ll be providing some ideas on how to do this.

Kim, Julie, and Annette

About that Mural…

Yes, we are still working with the Rose Blumkin Home on getting the mural off the ground. Or, on the wall, to be precise. Maggie, RBJ’s activity director (for those of you who don’t know her, she’s awesome) and her team have been instrumental in helping us on our way, and this Sunday Kim and I are finally getting the preparation of the wall done.

This is what’s happening: there will be an outline of a large tree, the kids will paint it in and decorate it with flowers, leaves, anything they can think of using fabric scraps and probably some other things we’ll dig out of the storage room. They will do this together with some of the Blumkin residents, and while they get to know each other, Ophir Palmon (check out his website!) will take pictures…which will then become part of the mural.

We’re excited; if you are too, feel free to come and help. Dates are March 13, April 3 and April 24. We’ll update you on how far we get this Sunday…we’re still working out the details regarding “getting up high”. Maybe we’ll shoot Kim out of a cannon with a paintbrush in her hand. If there are no insurance issues, at least. We’ll have to ask Ron Giller about that.

PS: Friedelart can now be found on http://alphainventions.com/

Shalom Mayanot!!!

This week, the students at FJA decorated puzzle pieces. We’ve added some pictures of the Dreidel before and after, put the pieces in a box, and mailed it to Israel. The students there will put it back together; we hope they enjoy the final product as much as our kids did making it!

Happy Hanukkah to all,

Julie, Kim, and Annette

(special thanks to Karen, Danielle and Debbie: we love your dedication and enthusiasm, and could not do this without you)

Pictures 11/14

Here is what we did today, 11/14/08…the kids made a fantastic mess and the resulting artwork is intoxicating!  We are so proud of all our little artists; no matter what we throw at them, they’re always game. Enjoy!

September 12, 2008

Last week, the students enthusiastically painted many cd’s that Kim had rescued from the dumpster; this week they put it all together into one fantastic installation. If you are in the building, I recommend you come and see it for yourself. It took some serious effort to hang it up (You go, Jules!), but it now hangs in the commons. We are so proud of our kids!!