I wrote recently that vacation was over and it's time to get back to work...and it is. However my reflections of vacation continue. Part of my vacation time was spent at a women's blogging conference [BlogHer11] in San Diego (CA). Besides there being many bloggers (4,000), there were corporate sponsors (100). These sponsors had exhibit booths set up in one of the convention center ballrooms and it was interesting to go through there. Each booth had something cool going on; there were terrific giveaway items (very impressive giveaways) and at a few you learned something extra about the vendor.
In this particular case the vendor was Best Buy - that retailer where you can get electronic gear [I got my laptop there], dvd's [I've gotten quite a few of my tv shows there], television sets [we got ours there], appliances and more. I sound like a Best Buy commercial don't I? This isn't meant to be. I stopped at the Best Buy booth and noticed the bracelets they were giving away [see photo above]. According to the card given to me with the bracelet:
"...This bracelet was made for you by female entrepreneurs in India. They received a microloan to purchase materials to make the bracelet, and we purchased them at a fair price. Best Buy's Women's Leadership Forum is proud to support initiatives, like microfiance, throughout the world that are helping women lift their families out of poverty to a new life...."
I didn't expect to find art at the blogging conference - besides writing that is. I've written previously about a jewelry artist who lives in New Zealand, so you can see how this bracelet fits into the "art in unexpected places" topic. You might say that this bracelet does not fit the definition of "fine art" or "high end" artistic jewelry but I argue that the woman who made this item did so purposefully - she picked the colors, she picked the design placement and chose the silver bead embellishments. I appreciate the artistry of this woman's efforts.
I am a firm believer in microfinancing. Myself, I give money through Kiva. I received the exciting news just a couple days ago that a woman in Boliva achieved her 100% financing goal - and my small loan was a part of that. It's an amazing thing that small amounts, when given by lots of people, can help other people in dynamic ways. I used to write a blog devoted to small business and wrote a post in 2008 about microfinance, "Entrepreneurial success story." Part of what I said in that article: "...Grants and micro-loans for small business start-ups is the heart-stone of entrepreneurship...."
During this year's vacation, I didn't purchase many souviners for myself because when you are a grandparent taking back things for the grandchildren seems much more important. We had a nice bag full of treasures for our toddler grandson by the time we got home. Having said that, I did buy one final item before leaving the blogging conference...actually in the gift shop of the hotel connected to the San Diego convention center. I'm a big tea enjoy-er and like to collect special teacups and pots. I found this Tea-for-One [see photo at right] and fell in love with it. The colors are much more vibrant seen in person.
This pot-and-cup was designed by Island Plantations and hand-painted in China [it says so on the bottom of the cup]. I do find art in ceramics. In the case of this pot and cup I want to point out that two, maybe even three, artisans worked to produce this item. In Hawaii one person designed the shape of the pot and cup; maybe the same person or a second designed the image. [This is part of a line of items called "Bird of Paradise-Vibrant." Then it was sent to China for painting. Someone sat at her station and dipped brush to glaze. Maybe hundreds of this design were done, but this one was done well and I appreciate it.
I love the idea of supporting artisans from other countries. Yes, it is difficult to make a living in today's economy in the United States, especially for those in the arts. But it's even more difficult in other places of the world. A couple years ago I found some unique necklaces at an interesting shop in a neighboring community. The beads are made of zulugrass. I chose several and everytime I wear them I get compliments. The necklaces I own were made by Maasai women of Kenya. From the Zulugrass Jewelry website:
"...Assembly of products for The Leakey Collection - Kenya is in a non-factory setting. Women work under the acacia trees at mobile, work sites which can provide work opportunity wherever work is needed in the Rift Valley. Work sites are set up only when invited into a community by Maasai women and elders. When a community no longer wants a work site it would be dismantled and moved. This happened once in 4 years. The Leakey Collection currently has a waiting list of communities that have requested work stations, which will open as demand for products increases. Work sites spans over 150 miles in the Rift Valley. All materials used by The Leakey Collection are environmentally sustainable. In 2002 The Leakey Collection won the Environment Conscious award from the Association of Makers and Exporters of Gifts and Allied Articles of Kenya for its innovative use and management of natural materials...."
As part of my desire here at Mosaic Mandalas to share what other artists do and why they do it, I also enjoy sharing ideas of what constitutes "art" and give ideas of where you can find art around you. The next time you go on vacation, look around - look for design and color. You can even find art in a garden - here's a photo I took at Sea World Park in San Diego - someone designed this planting, choose the colors and put it all together:
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