4xafrica

Chris Smith

Elaine Ling

Brendan Bannon

I'm heading to San Francisco this week for the opening of the exhibition 4xAfrica at the RayKo Photography Center. If you are in the bay area, please stop by and say hello. The opening reception is Thursday night from 6 - 8 PM. RayKo is located at 428 Third Street.

From the website:

"Four artists, four takes on one continent. Or rather, four very different approaches to capturing the essence of what they’ve experienced in Africa. Gloria Baker Feinstein travels to Uganda photographing the orphaned children whose stories swell our hearts. Her images are at once tragic and beautiful, lyrical black and white portraits of innocence and experience. And then there is Brendan Bannon who normally photographs what others find difficult to view: refugees, AIDS patients, Somali pirates, dumpsites, but here at RayKo he will show the pictures that came in between his journeys across the continent: pastoral Africa, with images like the smallest boy minding the largest herd of camels I’ve ever seen. Another photographer, Elaine Ling has become obsessed with the Baobab tree, the gigantic trees, 1,000 years old, tower over the humans that share the land with them. Elaine, thanks to her 4×5 camera, attempts to make prints as big as the Baobab itself. Chris Smith, magazine writer and photographer based here in San Francisco, focuses on a part of Africa fewer folks think of: Urban Africa, with his raw color photographs of the unexpected beauty of some of the grittier cities on the continent. This RayKo exhibition displays four diverse views of one mysterious and amazing place: 4xAfrica."

slow photography

“The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera." – Dorothea Lange

In an article by Tim Wu on Slate.com this week I learned about something called “The Slow Photography Movement.” Basically, slow photography suggests that people taking pictures might do well to actually make the time to look instead of firing off a barrage of digital captures and relying on the LCD monitor to show them what they just saw. I think it’s worth considering.

Wu writes: “Photography is so easy that the camera threatens to replace the eyeball. Our cameras are so advanced that looking at what you are photographing has become strictly optional. What gets lost is the idea that photography might force you to spend time looking at what is in front of you, noticing what you might otherwise ignore.”

I’ve long been an advocate of the process of photography. Bringing the viewfinder to my eye, arranging things within the frame, moving into a quieter more thoughtful place, lingering on and carefully studying what’s before me has always been the joyful part of photography. When I was a kid toting around my Rocket Brownie camera, surely the pleasure of shooting came from the experience, not the resulting photos. I remember lots of times when I’d simply make a frame with my thumb and index finger, just so I could see what something might look like photographed. I think even today I am transformed more by the act of photographing than by seeing the finished product. Especially when I remind myself to: t.h.i.n.k a.b.o.u.t w.h.a.t. i a.m. d.o.i.n.g.

Slowing down is a good thing. Think about it in terms of eating or drinking or having sex or talking to a friend or driving or just moving through the day.

Or looking.

I love that photography has taught me to slow down and see. That's been the best part of the whole journey.

(And yes, I am very pleased to have captured the above image of Caleb and Ibrahim at the orphanage. But I must admit: watching the scene unfold, noticing each detail of it, patiently waiting for the "decisive moment" and enjoying the dance and the connection that was happening between the two boys brought me a lot of satisfaction. Enough if I hadn't made the picture, I believe I still would have walked away happy and slightly changed for the better. Having the picture in my hand now, though, does allow me to return to the excitement of discovering this scene, and, as I spend more time with it, I see things that I wasn't consciously aware of at the time I squeezed the shutter.)

dreams

Yesterday I received the new issue of the The Sun, and there inside its glistening black and white pages was a photograph I had submitted two years ago! The image was actually part of the Dream Series I did in collaboration with some of the St. Mary Kevin Orphanage children back in 2008. This picture illustrated one girl's dream of flying.

And speaking of dreams, I spent the morning talking with and getting to know one of Kansas City's gems, Shane Evans, whose "Dream Africa" program has led him to some very interesting places. I'm going to leave it at that for now, but something's now percolating, and it may or may not involve getting Shane to Uganda, and it may or may not involve an artist residency.

Stay tuned to learn more!!

top performers

Change the Truth currently sponsors 26 secondary school students (that’s the equivalent of high school) along with one nursing school student and one university student.

Of these 26 students, ten performed at an outstanding level this past school year. As the 2011 school year begins soon, we wish these students continued academic success. Congratulations to this hard working group of boys and girls:

(from left to right in the back row) Samuel, Abasi, Sheila, Catherine, Scovia, Amanda, Nicky, Willy

(front row) Rosette

and a very proud Mama G.

(not pictured: Joseph)

this woman needs tights and a cape

One of the best things that has happened to Change the Truth is Melissa Mosher.

During her first trip to Uganda (as a member of Team 1), Melissa knew immediately that she wanted/needed to make room in her life for the children at St. Mary Kevin Orphanage. There really wasn’t a question in this young woman’s mind. She’d be back to Uganda, and then she’d be back again.

Melissa was a member of Team 2 and then even made a solo trip. Both she and her son, Antwain, joined Team 3. By then it was just a matter of working out the details. The Moshers were moving to Uganda.

Melissa and Antwain

Melissa’s job description with CTT is: Social Worker and CTT/SMK Liaison. The director at SMK likes to call her Orphanage Manager. The children just call her Mama.

I am starting to believe she’s actually a super hero in disguise. (The capri pants and flip-flops don’t fool me one bit, Mel.)

This woman does it all.

In fact, I really don’t know how we functioned without her! Mel has opened her home to a rather large brood of children. She’s the go-to person for tabs (Tylenol), boiled drinking water, pencils, soap, Bandaids, the soccer ball pump, a little dose of “The Lion King” movie, anything that is lost and everything that feels like family. She is the one who visits the sponsored kids at their schools, makes sure there is enough to eat, makes referrals to the medical clinic, sees that homework is done, makes sure someone has remembered to water and feed the pigs and, well, the list goes on and on and is continually being invented.

When Team 4 invaded her home this past December, she welcomed us with open arms. I watched this super hero juggle ten kids’ needs at one time while making the best guacamole and salsa on the planet while making adjustments for a sudden change in plans while reminding Antwain to wash his clothes while offering a hug to a sad kiddo while suggesting a new idea to a team member while smoothing ruffled feathers while wiping tears while making sure all of us had everything we needed.

I realized while watching her in action last month that she also has talent as an organizer, a leader, a diplomat, a public speaker, an event planner, a tour operator and a think-tank wiz.

The most amazing part of it all? Melissa smiles more than anyone I know.

And laughs a lot, too.

Now that she is MY go-to person, I am learning that besides doing it all and doing it with grace and good humor, she is also an amazingly quick study. CTT just got a huge donation of seeds, for example. The donor wants to make sure the seeds are harvested, dried and reused. Mel will be an expert on the subject soon. The vocational school system in Uganda? She didn’t know much about it a month ago, but oh just wait!

Each time I ask her to take on a new task, this super hero tackles it with gusto. And she doesn't even wear a cape.

When I first met her son, Antwain, he was about seven or eight years old. He was obsessed with super heroes. He was dressed as Batman one time when I photographed him, jumping on the bed pretending to perform mighty feats.

I wonder if he knew all along there was a super hero living under his own roof. I bet he did.

Melissa, thank you for all you do for all of us. You’re one amazing woman.

If you’d like to follow Mels’s blog and learn about her daily adventures in Uganda, you can find it here.

team 4: bobbi

The following entry from Bobbi made its way to my inbox the other day. It's beautiful and very thoughtful.

"I’ve been home for almost two weeks, and my heart is still full and my thoughts continue to wander back to Uganda and the children. Each year I miss them, and each year I see them grow and gain confidence and develop purpose for their lives. And each year we see what living in an orphanage means, and the courage and strength it takes to get through each day…And this year it became clear, at a much deeper level, the impact that Change the Truth has had on these children’s lives. I watched Gloria deal with really hard issues, and saw the deep commitment she has to each child….their health, welfare, education and to them knowing how loved they are. Speaking of love, team 4 was amazing. Each member of our team gave it their all, and I know each of them would say they received so much more.


I taught Yoga to the kids last year, and this year saw the seeds that were planted bear lots of fruit. Samuel, Yaweh, and Rosette became the teachers throughout the year. Yaweh and Sam teach yoga each morning to a group of kids. They told me that before they do yoga, they go for a walk/run because it helps them with their practice. The kids are good little yogis. 6 yr. olds are in the classes right along with the 12 and 14 yr. olds. Sometimes they have to share mats, and they just naturally do that. They’re used to sharing. Rosette is in high school, and teaches at her school. They had no mats, so they just did it on the floor…can you see us doing yoga on cement floors? I think not! It’s called commitment and non-attachment. Whatever it takes! That’s true for all the kids…whatever it takes. The kids learned more about breathing and meditation this year, and I find that they grasp what they’re taught in a heartbeat. Yaweh (Joseph) told me that since doing yoga, he can never be mean to anyone again. He got it quicker than I did. Pretty amazing.




The Yoga gifts the kids got this year were really great. Suzanne had shirts made for the yoga kids that said in very cool lettering 'NAMASTE.' They LOVED them. I had shirts made for the 'teachers' with their picture on the front, and yoga teacher on the back. Very smart. Avis MADE large bookmarks that said Namaste on one side and Breathe on the other….in blues and yellows. She also made something similar for the Karate kids. They were all great.


This is my 3rd year as a CTT team member. If whoever is reading this is a supporter in whatever way of CTT, your support has changed many lives. They know that you care and that makes all the difference." - Bobbi

a talent show and a lesson in humility

This year was the second annual Christmas Day Talent Show at the orphanage. The talent show is an opportunity for anyone/everyone to show off random skills in front of a receptive and boisterous crowd. Children and team members are all encouraged to sign up. It’s a fun event that everyone looks forward to!

This year the acts included a lot of dancing and singing. Some people had clearly prepared for it, some winged it. Avis, Jennifer and their group signed (as in sign language) a song and then taught the rest of us as they performed it. Nicky and Sam got the crowd all excited with some rap and break dancing. A four-year-old newcomer to SMK, Gia, did this crazy fantastic Janet Jackson kind of dance that brought everyone to their feet screaming for more. The yoga kids gave a demonstration of poses, and the marching band played a couple songs. The show went on for a good hour or so. Every act was wonderful and was well received.

I used to know how to juggle.

That is actually a stretch. I could kind of juggle. My brother Ben taught me. At the peak of my career as a juggler I could go, umm, maybe twenty seconds before I began dropping balls.

Back in September, I thought to myself: Self, if you buy some nice juggling balls and allow lots of time for practice, you could WOW the kids at the orphanage with your amazing juggling skills at the talent show. They probably have never even heard of juggling. And won’t they be impressed when it’s Mama G., of all people, who is the one performing such a rare and difficult feat?

(Yes, it’s sad but true. I started planning my talent show act three months in advance. And yes, it’s sad but true. I thought orphaned kids in Uganda had never heard of juggling.) But let me go on.

OK, so I bought a set of really nice, colorful balls. I set aside a few minutes each day to practice, having to start at the beginning with just two balls, since it had been so long since I had dabbled in the sport. By early December, I had gotten to a place where I felt pretty smug about my abilities. Then I figured I would buy some kazoos. What better way to back-up an amazing juggler than with a band of adorable kid kazoo players? I even threw in a couple recorders and whistles, figuring my band should be as textured as possible.

I am susceptible to stage fright.

That is no stretch. But once at SMK I bravely went forward and recruited some kids to be in my back-up band and taught them how to play kazoos. (They had never heard of kazoos. Who knew?) The lessons were short and sweet. All I had to do was tell them to hum a song. We picked out a few songs everyone knew, and we were good to go.

I continued to practice in the solitude of my hotel room, assuring the kazoo band there would be an act of unbelievable, dazzling effect to accompany their enthusiastic tooting of Frere Jacques.

Then one day when I was on a walk with some of the kids, Issy picked a few berries from some tree and stuck them in her pocket. I asked why. She said: “Later, I want to juggle.”

WHAT? I mean: what?

“Yes, like this,” she politely explained. She began to casually juggle five very tiny berries (which my 56-year-old eyes could barely make out) right there in the bright midday sun.

Fast forward to the talent show.

Issy got the balls; I played (badly) one of the recorders. She was amazing.

See for yourself here.

I am always, always surprised by and delighted with the talents these children (nonchalantly) possess.

[Thanks to Brian and Jeff for the video.]

musings on my trip to uganda

On this cold, rainy day in Portland, I am sitting in front of the fireplace staring at the flames. At times like this, I can get kind of contemplative.

Over the course of the past few days, there has been a flurry of pictures exchanged between Team 4 members. They include countless images of beautiful, jubilant children.

The children from St. Mary Kevin Orphanage can be seen happily showing off their new teddy bears, t-shirts and ball caps. There they are skipping rope, doing yoga, drawing pictures, splashing in Lake Victoria, sewing, playing volleyball and wrapping their arms around their new American friends.

I am so happy the team members had a memorable journey. Each one, who has gorgeous pictures to remind them of the incredible connections they made, has come home with his/her own personal stories to tell and his/her own new insights. Most past team members have told me that their lives were forever changed by the trip: careers were altered, goals were modified, closets were cleaned out, friends and family took on greater significance, giving became a higher priority, the definition of the words “gratitude” and “resilience” were made more clear and a day didn’t pass without thoughts of the kids they befriended. I can only hope that all the Change the Truth team members, Team 4 included, will be inspired to continue providing help to those in need, and that they will always keep the children of SMK close to their hearts.

It’s all too easy when looking at these happy faces to forget the reality at hand: that at the end of the day, these kids are still orphans. Still kids who don’t have much to call their own. Still kids who eat porridge three times a day. Still kids who wear recycled shorts, shirts and dresses. Still kids who sleep in dark, stench-filled, dirty dormitories. Still kids who wash their own clothes, sweep the floors and help cook the meals. Still kids who don’t have running water and who use latrines. Still kids who often get sick because their well water is unclean. Still kids who have haunted memories. Still kids who have experienced devastating loss way too soon. Still kids who aren’t sure if they will able to go to secondary school when school fees are required.

Still kids who have no family to provide for them. Still kids who tuck themselves into bed each night.

Yes, we’ve done a lot to help them. Since my first visit to the orphanage in 2006, there have been huge improvements. Thanks to Sister Schools, there are new latrines and a covered fire-pit area. Thanks to Libraries of Love, there is a well-stocked library. Thanks to Touch the World, there is a medical clinic. And thanks to Change the Truth, there is a new motor for the maize mill, several rainwater collection tanks, vegetable gardens, an expanded brick-making project, new mattresses, blankets and mosquito nets, a marching band, textbooks and a computer lab. Vocational training rooms have been built, dorms have been painted and a full time social worker now lives on the grounds. More children go to school, and meals are served on a more reliable and consistent schedule (often embellished with nutritious treats from the garden).

I thank each of you who has helped us come this far.

But, as people who visit the orphanage for the first time, point out to me: it is still a sad, harsh environment, one that is filled with desperate children. I see the improvements, and I tend to forget how bad things really are.

This is a picture I made of Boy-Boy very early in the morning on Christmas Day, just after the sun had come up, the roosters had crowed, and he had crawled out of his bunk. For the children at SMK, this day (like all holidays) can be very difficult. Boy-Boy, like so many others, was feeling sad. In the picture, he is wearing the hat I had given him as an early Christmas gift.

The sorrow in his eyes that morning was powerful.

He perked up once he started playing with his friends, when we presented the talent show and big meal and when we distributed the gifts. He finally came to me in tears late in the afternoon after he discovered that someone had taken his new deck of cards. He could hardly contain himself.

Yes, we have helped the kids: Rose, Nahia, Shine, David, Oscar, Kato, Tony, Tina, Claire Faith, Skovia, Brian, Diane, Charity, Nicky, Sheila, Beatrice, Willy, Ivan, Rosette, Vincent, Godfrey, Joanne, Francis, Sharon and the others have a brighter outlook for the future now.

But we can’t forget how difficult their lives still are.

The following is an excerpt from a letter I received from one of our sponsored students, Nelson. In it he expresses his heartfelt gratitude for the assistance we have provided the children at SMK.

“Genuinely, CTT has really changed to our lives from the despondent to the hopeful one and above all it has supported us in all ways, which has been a meteoric rise that has helped shape our life! I say, thanks a lot for the work well done, CTT!! With this ray of hope in relation to our life, we now know that we can also make it like other children all over the world! “ - Nelson

His words make me feel good about how far we have come, but on this particular gloomy day, as I stare at the dancing flames and glance over at my picture of Boy-Boy, I am reminded of how far we have to go.

uganda dreamin'

I've spent the evening processing the first batch of my black and white work from Uganda.

I'm also missing being there.

vivian maier

I wrote about this incredible photographer in October. Her story continues to unfold, and it gets more and more interesting. I promise you will not regret spending nine minutes watching the following piece about her. (Thanks, Sandy, for sending it my way.)

newspace show

I have had such a wonderful time in Portland. The opening for my two-person exhibit (with the amazing Doug Beasley) at Newspace was Friday night. There was a nice crowd of really swell Portlanders there. Laura Valenti, Program Director at Newspace, was an exceptionally kind and gracious host and had installed a good looking show. She made the whole experience smooth and very enjoyable. It was great to see Blue Sky Gallery folks Chris, Ann and Tom, to reconnect with a few people I hadn't seen in a while and to make some new friends. The turnout for my talk on Saturday was great, and I really enjoyed speaking with those who stuck around afterward. The photo community in Portland is a lively and engaged one. It felt so good to be part of it!







My sister came down from Seattle. She's never heard me give a talk about my work; the fact that she was in the audience made the day especially sweet for me. Here we are hanging out at the condo later that afternoon.

bears!

We didn’t see any lions or tigers in Uganda, but we sure saw lots of bears.


These beautiful hand made teddy bears were donated to Change the Truth by the Mother Bear Project, an organization that connects people who like to knit, crochet and sew with children in developing nations. (Read more about Mother Bear here.) For many of these children, like the orphans at St. Mary Kevin, the teddy bear becomes a friend or a baby. And it is sometimes just about the only thing the lucky recipient can call his or her own.

Our 180 bears are just some of the tens of thousands of bears that have been lovingly stitched and then shipped off to different parts of the world. Team member Suzanne (who was responsible for making the connection with Mother Bear) managed to pack all the cuddly creatures into her duffel bags. As we opened the bags to begin assembling the Christmas gifts, we were delighted over and over again with the wonderfully unique personalities of each bear. (While a basic pattern is used, each knitter is encouraged to put his or her mark on the bear.)

Each bear was put into a colorful plastic washbasin, alongside a few other small goodies, and on Christmas Day the kids lined up to get their gifts. I think you can imagine for yourself that the soft, smiling bears were a HUGE sensation!











After posing for a few photos, most of the kids quickly disappeared with their new furry friends. We didn’t understand until later that they had made a bee line for their dormitories so they could safely stow their bears in the metal trunks that hold all of their belongings.

When I went into the girl’s dorm early the next morning, I saw for myself that the bears were neatly tucked under blankets, carefully placed into a corner of a trunk or being held, rocked or sung to.

Margaret made a raincoat for her bear. Petra made a sling so she could carry her baby around properly. Petra even had added hair to her bear’s head by sewing on pieces of yarn.




The knitters sign the bears with their own names (they also make sure to include a bright red heart over the bear’s chest) and these were the names with which each bear we gave out seemed to be christened. So there are lots of new babies and friends at St. Mary Kevin Orphanage now with names like Kelly, Christy, Lauren, Aunt Rose and Grandma Bea.

For children who have next to nothing (often nothing) in the way of material possessions, these bears will mean everything. Thank you Suzanne and Mother Bear Project.




And goodnight, Aunt Rose. Sweet dreams!

team 4: avis

One of the most rewarding aspects of leading trips to the orphanage each December is seeing the profound impact the children have on each and every team member. Volunteers' lives are changed by these journeys, even though our visits are relatively brief.

The following blog post was emailed to me by Avis after she had failed to get to work on time yesterday. The preface brought a huge smile to my face:

"Gloria,

I got in my car yesterday, headed for work, thinking about Evalyn and her story, and realized my car had driven almost 20 miles north of my exit, headed straight to the airport instead of the office in Kansas City, Kansas. My heart is still in Uganda.

I already miss you and the kids and Mel and the red dirt and the pot-holed roads and the roosters and the steamed matoke and the exhaust fumes (well, maybe not the exhaust fumes).... it is weird to be back in this other life... to have feet in two worlds... still processing... "

Here is the lovely bit of writing Avis wanted to share:

“My luggage is now empty, but my head is still packed full of children’s stories.

Stories about the past. About the civil war that raged in northern Uganda. About the rebels who came to Gulu and Lira and killed parents and burned villages. Stories about loved ones who died of cholera or AIDS. Stories about roads in the west that are still filled with landmines. Stories of loss and pain and despair.

Stories about the present. About loving, loving, loving SMK. Stories about food and new mattresses and mosquito nets and safety. Stories about school and the marching band, drumming and painting and singing and dancing. Stories about CTT and Mama Gloria. Stories about learning and growing and changing.

Stories about the future. About becoming doctors and nurses, secretaries and teachers, artists and computer technicians. Stories about becoming an airplane pilot who flies a helicopter to America!

Stories that humble me and haunt me. Stories I wish were not true, and stories I desperately hope become reality.

Stories told by children with names and faces that are now as real to me as the two children I birthed. Stories full of hopes and dreams and possibility. What will become of these children whose stories have changed my life? I can hardly wait to see what comes next!” - Avis

see you in portland!

Newspace Center for Photography is pleased to announce an exhibition of photographs by Gloria Baker Feinstein and Douglas Beasley. The exhibition opening and artist's lectures are both free and open to the public. The lectures are a great opportunity to hear both artists candidly discuss their work and process.

Opening Reception: Friday, December 7th 6-9pm

Gloria Baker Feinstein Lecture: Saturday, January 8th 2pm
Douglas Beasley Lecture: Saturday, February 5th 7pm

Newspace Center for Photography is a multidimensional photography resource center and community hub for students, working artists, professional photographers, educators, and photo-enthusiasts of all types. Through a full roster of course offerings, gallery exhibits, digital lab, darkroom and lighting studio access, artists' lectures, portfolio reviews, and more, Newspace makes a wide spectrum of enriching photographic opportunities available to the Portland/Vancouver community.

The broad curriculum is made up of beginning, intermediate, and advanced classes. From foundational, technical classes to classes on creative studio lighting, alternative processes, documentary photography, and marketing for the fine-artist, the Center has a regularly evolving variety of educational programming to choose from.

The Center's gallery mounts 12 exhibits annually. Artists are showcased in solo or two-person shows with the occasional group show or juried exhibition. Curatorial emphasis is placed on modern, fine-art and documentary photography and has included the work of emerging as well as established artists. The gallery is free and open to the public.

team 4: suzanne

"Home. I am home now, but I wonder is it possible to have two homes, one where you live and one where your heart is? I think the answer is yes, and if so then my heart is still at SMK. I catch myself looking at the clock or my watch and counting the hours to see what time it is at SMK and then my mind wanders. I see Patiency running from the dorms, past P7 and into the dining room with her blue bowl for morning porridge, which I tasted, not too bad. I see Diana making a beeline for my knees to hug and Beatrice and Jida on each hand holding tight and Rosette with stocking cap adorned and her smile beaming from across the way. Oh and then there is the special handshake, which by the time I left, I finally mastered and of course there are the laughs and giggles of many and the 'Good Morning Suzanna,' that filled the air. You never know what happens to you while on the road until you are home and then it hits you. For me being at SMK and a part of Team 4 is something that there are no words to describe, it is a feeling that I have, a warmth from the hands that held mine, the ache in my heart which misses Izzy. Petra, Sharon and Catherine, Francis, Moses, Irene and so many more. Yes, I am home, but my heart is elsewhere and will forever be at SMK until I return someday to feel that hand reach out for mine and hold it tight." - Suzanne

happy new year!

Happy children o' mine from the orphanage and from my home in KC wish you a Happy New Year!

Rose and Faswella

Nicky

Moses

Joanne

Irene

Diana



film by Nicky



Henry

mission accomplished!

Team 4's visit to Uganda has come to an end. Our days absolutely flew by.

There were lots of tears as we said our goodbyes. It was a fantastic group; the children will never forget their new friends from America.

This is a shot of the team at the craft market in Kampala. More photos and observations to come. For now, we are all looking forward to getting some sleep!

another country

There is a core group of artists at the orphanage who could paint all day and night and never grow tired of doing so. They are a talented bunch of kids, and they are a treat to hang out with. They are hard working, fun loving, appreciative, polite, humble and so affectionate.

I get the privilege each December to watch them work and to bring their paintings back to KC for the annual CTT fundraiser. I'm always blown away by their creative prowess and their deep love for making art.

A couple days ago I brought them to the luxurious hotel at which most members of our team are staying. It's not expensive by American standards, but it is a beautiful place right on Lake Victoria. For these young artists, it was only a few kilometers from their home at St. Mary Kevin, but it was truly a world away. We loaded up the car with paints, paper, canvas, pencils, pastels and brushes. When we arrived, the kids were so excited to grab their supplies, head through security and check out the sprawling grounds and gardens.

Nicky turned and said to me, "Wow, Mama Gloria. This is like another country!"

They each picked a place from which to paint. Some preferred the view of the lake, some the gardens, others the building itself. They painted for two hours, then we gathered in my room for a little TV and hanging out time.







Back: Nicky, Brian, Willy, Ivan
Middle: Issy, Brian, Oscar, Collines
Front: Tony


It was one of the nicest mornings I have ever spent.

more new images

Christmas Day

Bedsheet and Sky

Girl Jumping Rope

Hands

Rebecca

Moonrise