Going With The Flow

Since my ‘Art For Earth’ workshops began, I have learned how to adapt to all the many changes that continuously arise. It isn’t too difficult a challenge because I’m made of rubber and I can bend and change to navigate through any obstacle course.

I was informed that there was to be an assembly happening at Kensal Park School during the same time when I was to begin my workshop. “No problem… I’ll simply arrive a little bit earlier on that day,” was what I told the teacher. This was an easy course to navigate through – on this occasion.

Since the students were to attend this assembly and I would have no one to paint with, I asked if I could attend the assembly as well. The gymnasium quickly filled with all the primary classes. Since I have painted with many of these students, over the last several months, I had a lot of students waving at me with a “Hey! There’s Mr. Jim… Hi Mr. Jim!!!!” I spent a few minutes talking with some of my former students. It was really nice to see them again, and they made me feel really appreciated with all of their warm smiles.


The presentation was created by the senior students of the school. They performed a couple of short skits for us and there were a few speeches that highlighted the activities we saw in the video presentation. This assembly was a part of the “Me to We” campaign and their message was simple “Let’s stop thinking about the ‘me’ and what ‘I’ want and what ‘I’ should have and let’s start thinking about the ‘we’ and what ‘I’ can do for others and how ‘we’ need to work together!” It was a very powerful message.

To involve all the students of the school with this idea, a fundraising project was brought to our attention. The senior students want to raise $5000.00 dollars to go towards a clean water project that is being established in an underdeveloped country. The students have already raised close to half of this amount through other initiatives since the beginning of the school year.

Later, while I was eating my lunch in the staff room, I heard some of the teachers sharing stories about what their students wanted to do to help with this campaign. It was truly wonderful for me to witness so much heartfelt dedication to finding ways to make this world a better place.

For the rest of that afternoon and for all of Friday, the students and I worked on our painting…


Now – some of you readers may be thinking “Hey, this painting looks the same as the last one.” and it’s true. Just to clarify for some of my new readers – because I am teaching these workshops in three schools, each painting is repeated three times. Each month a different topic is discussed and a new painting is created. By the end of this school year 18 paintings will have been created of 6 different images.

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Well, it sure was a tiring week and I’m very happy because of all that was accomplished, but it’s nice to have some ‘unwinding’ time. To do this, Joanne and I and a few of our friends decided to go the London’s Food and Wine Show at the Western Fairgrounds. It was a lot of fun. Lots of people had attended and there was a lot to see, do, eat and drink!

We all began with a sample glass of wine, but soon we discovered that we had more selections than just wine. One of our friends began to sample some fine imported rums while I visited with a few of the micro-breweries enjoying a variety of beer. I even tried a cherry beer. It tasted like cherry pie squeezed into a bottle. Now, I love cherry pie, but I couldn’t imagine drinking an entire bottle of it – the sample was more than enough.

Many chefs, were there as well, with pans on burners filled with different pasta and rice sauces. We all decided to sample different foods, from different chefs and the selections were really great. Afterwards, I led everyone to the chocolate fountain that I found and we enjoyed marshmallows in warm liquid yumminess!!!

Peace is a full belly surrounded by friends.

Jim

Greats of the Grass #1 of 3

Now, I am completely aware that cities like Edmonton and Winnipeg see more than their share of cold winter blasts, but I still feel justified when I say, “Oh man! Super BRRRRRRRRRR!” It was so cold today that the students of Victoria School (and I imagine most other schools) remained inside for their recess breaks.

The day began with a rescheduling of the art contest finals. A few students were still working on their art, when I arrived, so I told them to relax, take their time, enjoy their work and that we would delay the judging until after lunch. Here are the four artworks that won the students ‘Art For Earth’ T-shirts…


Right away, the painting continued…


I really had fun with these students. We joked around a lot and the time seemed to speed by very rapidly. Within a blink of an eye, the painting was complete…


Thank you, grade 8 students of Victoria School, for making it easy to find my smile for the last three days!!!

Jim

Art For Earth – Begins For 2009

I began my environmental art workshops again, yesterday, and what a great time I’ve been having with the students of Victoria School. The topic for this painting is ‘grasslands’ and our painting is of a butterfly in a grassland environment.


The class began with me speaking with the students about environmental concerns throughout the world. We discussed issues such as global warming, population growth, poverty and war to name just a few. I had to make it clear to the students that talks like this did not exist when I was their age… in fact, many of these issues where ignored by the world – in general – until about the mid 90’s. Since then, more and more people have found it impossible to avoid these issues because the problems can no longer be hidden or ignored.

Then we talked about ways that we can share our feelings about these issues, with others, so that more people will become aware and the needed changes for the Earth’s recovery can begin. We talked about expressing our emotions and I expressed a few of mine…


After my introduction to this workshop, it was time to focus on the topic of the month. To assist me, my friend Denise – from the Ausable Conservation Authority ( www.abca.on.ca ) spoke to the class.


We learned about all sorts of animals, birds and insects that find their homes in grassland environments. We learned how grasslands clean our air and provide food for animals. We became concerned to learn that only 2% of Southern Ontario grasslands remain in existence. We became inspired to learn that we can all do a little something to ensure the survival of this delicate environment.

Then it was time to paint…


It really makes me feel overjoyed when I am painting with eager students… and this grade eight class is always eager to paint. Their enthusiasm and dedication to doing the best job they can is completely evident by their masterful skills. I am very proud of all of them.

Jim

It Was Fun – While It Lasted

My ‘Art For Earth’ workshops ended – for a while – in the middle of December. During the last few weeks I have been very busy, but I can’t complain about the amount of time I’ve had, to enjoy life. I was able to help out with many chores around the house, go to the gym a bit more frequently and catch up on some reading. Tomorrow, these luxuries will end… and I’m very excited! Within the next two weeks, three more paintings will be completed by the students in my art workshops.

I spent most of my time, during my so-called time off, preparing for these classes… and I had a little help from my furry friends.


I had to restock my supply of art prints, so my living room spent a few afternoons being filled with cardboard. I cut the cardboard to be just a little bigger than the print. Then I tape a poem or a newsarticle or a story about the artwork onto the back of the cardboard before I take them to get shrunk-wrapped.


I’m not sure what the huge attraction is to piles of cardboard, but both my cats just love to sit on them. At first it’s kinda funny, but after a while I began to wonder…


I had to leave my work, for a few minutes, and when I came back I just started laughing – two piles of cardboard with a cat on each.


Just a few days ago, the prints were ready. My supplies are running really low so I had to create a few more sets of prints. Since, I’m not a rich man, I had to create copies of my black and white images – black and white prints cost less than ten cents each while colour copies can cost up to a dollar. Now, I’ve got an equal amount of both kinds to give to the students.


The last few days, I spent preparing my canvases with primer coats of paint, designing the paintings and mixing the colours. This is the most exciting time for me. I have to put a lot of thought into the designs, thinking about the age of the students and how they will be applying the paint, etc. I always have a huge smile on my face when I’m finally happy with my design.

The next few classes will focus on the topic of grasslands in Southern Ontario. Did you know that only 2% of natural grasslands remain in this area? Most of these natural habitats have been destroyed by industrial agricultural practices, over the last one hundred years. Now, many species of birds, bugs, butterflies and even foxes and deers have become threatened because of the loss of these habitats – their homes and feeding grounds.

We’ll be discussing these issues as well as learning about what is being done to create more natural areas. My guest speaker is someone who I have worked with many times over the last five years. Denise works for the Ausable Conservation Authority and her specialty is understanding and teaching the environments found in both grasslands and wetlands.

It should be a busy and satisfying start to the year!!! Wish me luck!

Jim

Why I Love My Wife – Reason 1 638 925

Joanne and I have been together for almost fifteen years. There has never been a dull moment. Jo’ is my best friend and I always look forward to spending as much time as I can with her. Over the last few weeks, we have had quite a bit of time to enjoy together. With christmas and New Year’s both falling on Thursdays, Joanne has had a few lazy afternoons to share with me.

During this time, I’ve been busy getting everything ready for my art classes that are soon to begin again, so I spend a few hours in my ‘art room’ everyday. Joanne enjoys my busy time by taking Koly for extra long walks, reading or relaxing with a cup of tea. We may not be in the same room at the same time, but it’s nice just to know that Jo’ is still close by.

Like me, Joanne always has to be using her imagination to find ways to be creative. The artist within her has been exploring the medium of food and that suits me just fine!!! I love to eat good food. Now – don’t let me be misunderstood – we both like to prepare nice meals, everyday, but our lives are usually quite busy so having an afternoon to flip through a cookbook is a bit of an extra special treat.

A few days before christmas, Joanne had prepared an amazing beef stew with a few veggies from our garden. Earlier, while she was enjoying her morning tea, she watched a cooking show on TV – we only get four channels so we can’t be too picky – and that resulted in a beer and cheese bread that tasted wonderful with the stew.

A few days before New Year’s, Jo’ was at it again…


This time she had baked a pear tart! She made the crust from scratch, using flour, honey and crushed nuts. The sauce was made from fruits we had picked during the summer and some of my mom’s homemade red currant jam. I approached the tart with a knife, after it came out of the oven and Joanne got really mad at me, “Not ‘til after dinner!” And what a super yummy dinner we had…


Joanne made pizza! Usually, we buy frozen pizza dough from our local bakery, but today Jo’ made the crust from scratch. She lightly fried a ton of veggies, including artichoke hearts and then began to layer the ingredients onto the pizza before the shredded cheese went on.


Finally, it was dinnertime! What can I say, “Super Yum!!!!”


After dinner, I was finally able to sink my teeth into the pear tart, “Super, Super Yum!”

Sometimes the best way to save ‘our environment’ is to fill our hearts and bellies with the gifts that this world provides for us for free – plus a little hard work!

Jim

Dancin’ In The Moonlight

Dancin’ In The Moonlight

Dancing at night
within the
shadows of the moonlight
deep in the heart of love
far from the reaches
of those things
that bring us fright.

Into this love
we'll spin
with all of our might
dancing through the daisies
and the
shadows of the moonlight.

Twirling and tumbling
we'll fall past time together.
Twirling and tumbling
forever
holding each other tight.

Jim Kogelheide
February, 2002
Nelson, B.C.

In the late winter or 2002, I was living in Nelson, British Columbia and working at a hotel in the downtown core. I worked the midnight shift and often I would bring a peace of artwork to work on during the quiet hours of the early morning.

For a period of time, a cook from another restaurant in town was living at the hotel. He had problems sleeping at night and often he would come downstairs to talk with me. He always expressed the fact that he enjoyed watching me work on my art.

Several months had passed and one day he asked me if I could create a painting for his girlfriend. Her birthday was a few weeks away and he wanted to give her a very unique gift. Of course I agreed.

He told me that his girlfriend’s favourite animal is the tiger and her favourite flower is the daisy. He asked if I could paint something with those two images in it.

This cook was well decorated with many black ink tattoos and this fact help me to focus on an image that also incorporated his love for black and white renderings.

After the ink painting was complete, I thought that a love poem would really compliment this art peace and so the poem bearing the same title was born, as well.

Jim

Out of Control

The world is an artist: out of control
Reaching for every countless possibility
The artist is a world: reaching to hold
A future with countless histories

We’ve been dazzled by the lights
Since they lit our ancient caves
Now, we’re frazzled by the sights
As we’ve bound ourselves as slaves

As we struggle to break free
We draw the chains closer
So that everyone can see…
That this world is a creation: under control
Reaching for perfect stability
This creation is our world: daring to bold
That our chains were born by rude simplicity

We’ll shrug them off
With not much thought of a thought
As we rise above
All the riches that we’ve bought
Only to discover
That in the end
All we’ve done is create…

A world that knows its an artist: out of control
Reaching for every countless possibility
In a world: structured to hold
The onslaught of its own ingenuity

Jim Kogelheide
Sunday, July 27, 2003, 4:18am
New Minas, Nova Scotia