World Vision Partners with The Art of Helping Others
Visual art is a means of communication, in essence – a language, and each time a piece of art is viewed something unique is communicated to the viewer.
World Vision recognizes the power of visual art as a way to communicate, which knows no boundaries across cultures, languages, and worldviews. It can communicate the need to respond to child sponsorship, real-life issues of extreme poverty and social injustice, the global sex trade, or the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Visual art can inspire – and yes, even cast a vision of hope.
That’s why The Art of Helping Others has joined World Vision’s artist affiliate program, to invite visual artists, photographers and others in the visual arts to join this creative collective – to participate in group thematic exhibits and other events that advocate child sponsorship and ultimately, practice the art of helping others. It will be a brilliant way for artists to show and sell their work, and help those that lack the ability or opportunity to help themselves in communities worldwide.
Perhaps you are or know of a visual artist or photographer that would be interested in learning more about what we plan to do and would want to get involved. If so, invite them to connect with me at douglas@theartofhelpingothers.com for more information.
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Learning From the Sin of Sodom
A friend of mine recently sent me a link to an article by NY Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, Learning From the Sin of Sodom. I won’t spoil you reading the entire article but it included a pop quiz:
What’s the largest U.S. based international relief and development organization? Save the Children, CARE? While both are great mainstream humanitarian organizations, it’s World Vision, a Seattle-based Christian organization, which has 40,000 staff members in almost 100 countries – more staff than Save the Children, CARE and the United States Agency for International Development – combined.
The article also includes quotes from the head of World Vision, Richard Stearns book, “The Hole in Our Gospel” and other insights from columnist Nichols Kristof. I want to encourage you to read the article and post your comments here. The Art of Helping Others: Art. Awareness. Activism.
TAOHO Named Top Resource for Students
Earlier this month, The Art of Helping Others website was voted #46 of the top 100 sites for art students and enthusiasts to follow. Who knows, maybe there’s an honorary degree in our future? Nahhh.
Nonetheless, we thought we’d share links to some of our more conversational topics for your perusal and comments.
Silence is the Real Crime Against Humanity
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Painting By Faith Not Sight
The outsider Bahamian folk artist Amos Ferguson said, “I paint not by sight but by faith. Faith gives you sight.”
Never one to mince words, Amos Ferguson always pointed out that God gave him the talent to paint, and that he painted only through God. Amos didn’t paint what he saw, but what he dreamed.
So, what do I takeaway from Ferguson’s thinking on faith? That faith doesn’t have to be safe, nor was it intended to be; instead it can and should have a sense of loving recklessness. If we don’t leap – we don’t learn.
The artist’ job is to show up at the canvas and paint, to show up at the page and write, to eavesdrop on the conversation and create by faith – so ultimately, we can see.
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Starving Artist Feeding the Poor
Original Art for Sale to Benefit the Fight Against Extreme Poverty. Yes, I’m offering some of my signed original art for purchase at incredibly reduced prices from now through January 5, 2010.
Not only is the packing and shipping included in your purchase price, but 25% of the net proceed goes to World Vision programs that support micro-loans, the fight against human trafficking, social injustice and extreme poverty. Click here to view available original art.
Happy Holidays and thanks for practicing the art of helping others!
