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The Power of a Bike

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The people, experiences and emotions involved in a bicycle’s search for new purpose are eloquently told in “The Bicycle“, a short film by Chris McCoy & Adam Neustadter.


 

Bikes from Santa, and a little sister’s smile (Zeester family photo)

I was 8 years old, my sister was 5, when Santa Claus surprised us with two shiny and new bikes under the Christmas tree.  Our first ride!  It was exciting for the entire family.  Mother and Dad took us both out early the next day and taught us how to ride.  I remember being a little nervous about getting on a big bike, but it didn’t take me long to get the hang of it, and then I wanted to go fast and ride forever.  What a thrill to ride all day long —cruising the hood in search of solo adventures, going to the library to hang out, testing my racing skills against any challenger (bikers, dogs & cars), visiting neighbors, and finding new friends.  Many years later, my mother revealed the bikes were not exactly “new”.  Dad had found rusty old, beat up bicycles, and spent weekends repairing and restoring them in my grandparent’s home cellar.  That, of course, made a special gift and cherished ‘first bike’ memories even more dear. 

 

“As a kid I had a dream – I wanted to own my own bicycle. When I got the bike, I must have been the happiest boy in Liverpool, maybe the world. I lived for that bike.”                                                                                                                         —- John Lennon

 

[su_dropcap]A[/su_dropcap] kid with a bicycle is empowered with the ability to travel and explore, building confidence and independence, and learning valuable lessons and lifelong skills with each ride.  However, many children are not able to enjoy the benefits of bike riding  as there are obstacles, financial as well as safety issues that have resulted in a shocking decline in the number of children who ride bikes or walk to school in the US (48% in 1969 to 13% in 2009).  Addressing these problems are community and global organizations dedicated to making bicycles accessible to every child and creating bike-friendly cities and neighborhoods, offering ‘build & earn a bike’ programs, bicycle give-aways, mechanic, repair and safety classes, group touring and activities as well as citizen advocacy projects for walk & bike safe streets.  You can participate in efforts to get kids on bikes by donating time, money and/or used bikes.  Sometimes it’s the smallest thing that can make a big difference in the world.

Here’s a short list of community & global bikes for kids programs and information on bike safety:  

Austin Yellow Bike Project in Austin, TX

The Oasis Bike Workshop in Nashville, TN

Free Bikes for Kids (Minnesota, Utah, Georgia)

World Bicycle Relief

Safe Kids Worldwide (bike safety tips)

Kids Health – Bike Safety

More Information/Resources:
League of American Bicyclists – A non-profit organization that works to create safer roads, stronger communities, and a bicycle-friendly America through information, advocacy and promotion. Established National Bike Month in 1956 to showcase the benefits of biking and “encourage more folks to give biking a try”. [May is National Bike Month, May 14-18 is National Bike To Work Week, and May 18 is Bike To Work Day]

Smart Cycling – safety guide, tips and videos, League of American Bicyclists

 

 

I was 3 years old and life was becoming a drag, then my grandfather came to my rescue and built me a Tree Swing. 

 

 

 

 

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Feature photo of “My first bike, first ride” is courtesy of Zeester Media LLC, CC BY-NC-ND

Polar Bear

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Cinematographer Dom West and photographer Joshua Holko along with director, Abraham Joffe and crew trekked over 120 miles per day in Svalbard (a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean located about midway between continental Norway and the North Pole) to capture polar bears on film for the video documentary, Ghosts of the Arctic.  It’s awesome.

 

A polar bear's home is on the ice.Polar bears are marine mammals that have been around for a very long time, and for thousands of years, have been an important figure in the material, spiritual and cultural life of indigenous people throughout the Arctic region.  A ‘sister species’ to the brown bear, the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) evolved somewhere around 350,000 – 6 million years ago, and at some point, split off from the brown bear and moved North, during which time a series of evolutionary changes occurred allowing the polar bear to survive the harsh conditions of the Arctic.  The polar bear of today has black skin covering a layer of fat up to 4.49 inches (11.4 centimeters) thick, small ears, a short tail, and fur made of dense, insulating underfur with top guard hairs of varying lengths that prevent heat loss, and paws and claws perfect for roaming around the Arctic and swimming.

Home for a polar bear is on the ice in the Arctic region, including Alaska, Canada, Russia, Greenland and Norway (60-80% are in Canada), and it feeds almost exclusively on the fat of ice-dependent seals. As sea ice advances and retreats each season, polar bears may journey thousands of miles to find food, and they rely on the ice to travel, hunt seals, breed, and sometimes den.

Prior to the 1970’s, polar bear populations were in decline as a result of unsustainable hunting and trapping that began as far back as the 1600s, but a 1973 international agreement that strictly regulates commercial hunting helped the population numbers improve.  It’s estimated there are currently 22,000-31,000 polar bears in the world.  In the 21st century, however, polar bears face additional threats including pollution, oil & gas exploration/development, shipping, human-bear interactions, and climate change as Arctic sea ice is disappearing at an alarming rate.  If ice-free periods exceed a polar bear’s fasting ability of 220 days, it will be difficult, if not impossible, for polar bears to survive, especially in areas that lack an alternate food source.

In May 2006, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) added the polar bear to its ‘Red List’ of the world’s most imperiled animals, predicting a 30% reduction in the polar bear population in the next 45 years.

BYU Polar Bear Research Video:  Working with Polar Bears International, Brigham Young University Professor of Wildlife Sciences, Tom Smith, and his students are engaged in a multiyear study to monitor maternal polar bear den sites in Alaska and to determine how climate change is impacting these animals.

Information/Resources:
Polar Bear International (Polar Bears 101, Human Interaction, Tracking Map & FAQ)
Defenders of Wildlife – Basic Facts About Polar Bears 
World Wide Fund For Nature – Polar Bear Status
International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Red List of Threatened Species -Polar Bears
Conservation of Polar Bears in Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada
How a Production Team Broke Cameras and Braved -30° to Shoot Polar Bears in 4K, by Emily Buder, No Film School (August 2, 2017)

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Feature photo is a screen shot taken from the Untitled Film Works video, Ghosts of the Arctic
Photo of Arctic polar bear is courtesy of Pixabay/Pexels, CC0

THROW

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It’s written that Ancient Greek philosopher Plato said, “Life must be lived as play”.  A simple, but profound truth that goes back 2,400 years.  Today, Coffin Nachtmahr inspires us with his story of how a simple toy invented by the Ancient Greeks — a yo-yo changed his life.  Watch the video-doc Throw, and discover the amazing benefits of play.    

“Throw” is a video documentary from Early Light Media.  [Editor’s Note: As with all media content provided within On2In2™ website, this video is intended for adult audiences, not children. The dialogue in “Throw” contains some expletives.]

YO-YOING

First invented by the ancient greeks, the yo-yo went down & up, and that was it— until 1928.  That’s when Pedro Flores, founder/owner of the Yo-yo Manufacturing Company, introduced his ‘looped slip-string’ design modification.  A simple twist, but it changed the game by boosting variety in movement and spin, and started the yo-yo modern era.  New technology and designs in yo-yo body shape, type and mechanism have continued to transform the yo-yo over the last four decades, enabling throwers to create and perform more and more amazing tricks.  More tricks adds to the challenge and the fun, but a big-time throw is not all about the yo-yo, is it?

Mastery of the yo-yo takes some know-how and practice.  Best to start with the basics:  Click/Tap the link “How to use a Yo-Yo” for a 12-step instruction.  The Yomega Power Brain XP * yo-yo is designed for beginner & intermediate play, includes instructions, and priced at less than $15 (10/1/2016).

      ⇓  Yomega gift set* includes 3 classic yo-yo’s (beginner, expert & pro level) plus instructional DVD.

* If you purchase a yo-yo via a link within this page, Zeester Media LLC may receive a small commission. This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase.

 

Cherished memory of the swing my grandfather made for meFind More Inspiration
How to Beat the Bull
Happy and Proud
A Thousand Sparks
Life Inspired (an On2In2™ collection of videos)

 

 

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Feature photo is a screen shot of Throw video

Surfing the Greats

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It’s certainly not easy to surf Toronto.  Some would say impossible.  When you’ve got the passion and the right attitude, you really can do just about anything, and at the same time, have fun, make friends and inspire.

See what it takes to catch a wave in the icy cold waters of the Great Lakes in this short documentary On Days Like These We Must Surf by Jake Kovnat.

 

NASA photo of Great Lakes covered in snow and ice shows how brutal surfing the lakes is during the winter months.
Great Lakes 1/27/2005, NASA Visible Earth, PD

The Great Lakes are a series of five interconnected freshwater lakes (Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron aka Michigan-Huron, Erie, and Ontario) located primarily in the upper mid-east region of North America on the Canada-US border. By total surface area, the Great Lakes are the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth, and they are often referred to as ‘inland seas’ because they look much like oceans with rolling waves, winds, currents, great depths, and distant horizons.

Think you’d like to give lake surfing a try?  Surfing the Great Lakes any time of year is difficult.  Add the freezing cold winter elements, and it becomes brutal.  The best surfing, however, is during the winter months because winter storms generate strong winds that produce the biggest waves that come in super fast.  Other challenges involved with lake surfing include wind forecasting, getting the proper gear and board, and avoiding debris in the lake.  Not for everybody, and getting images of a sunny beach out of your head is another big challenge.

Information/Resources:
Surf the Greats surf shop,  sells gear and boards specifically designed for lake surfing, offers classes on lake surfing and wave forecasting, and organizes meetups and competitions.
NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory – Scientists study, monitor, and predict ice coverage on the Great Lakes
The Alliance for the Great Lakes, a non-profit organization that works to protect the Great Lakes

Nordurland is about surfing in the harsh, cold waters of the North Atlantic.  Watch as three friends from the subtropical northern rivers of NSW Australia travel to isolated, snow covered coastlines in search of remote waves, and discover the great challenges and rewards of a northern adventure.  Filmmaker Ishka Folkwell beautifully captures the vast and stunning landscapes, and you’ll see glaciers, mountains and powerful icy surf come to life on screen. 

 

Big wave surfing is an extremely dangerous sport.  So, who does it and why? — Free 2 Watch video documentaries capture epic rides as well as personal stories of big waves surfers, including Rodrigo Koxa’s record breaking ride on an 80 foot (24 meter) wave at Nazaré on November 8, 2017.

 

Watch the world's best wakesurfing pros compete in the 2017 World Wake Surf Championship

FREE 2 WATCH – On Demand Great surfing action and stories on the Cranking Surf video channel, an On2In2™️ selection of favorite videos.

 

 

 

 

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Featured image of surfer by George Nietsch/Unsplash CC0

A Thousand Sparks

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“If you watch a thousand sparks cascading,
They’re all wee thoughts,
or possibilities,
or ideas;
And, if you could think like that……….”

                                                                               Robert Fullerton

At 13 years old, his formal education ended, and at 17, he started working at a shipyard in Govan, Scotland.  An early start to a life of grueling labor, but Robert Fullerton looked through the reflecting glass visor of his welding helmet and found inspiration in the spirit of the shipyard.

In the video documentary, “Mining Poems or Odes” from the Scottish Documentary Institute (produced by Jack Cocker, directed by Jack Cocker), Robert Fullerton reveals how he learned to write, his creative process, and ‘tools of the trade’.

 

 

Robert Fullerton’s story reminds us that sparks of inspiration are everywhere, and the real magic is in a book.  His passion for books and writing began when his workmate and mentor, Archie, gave him a copy of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists* by Robert Tressell**, the pen name of author Robert Noonan (1870-1911), an Irish-born house painter.

The novel is set in the fictional town of Mugsborough, and based on Noonan’s personal experiences of poverty and exploitation and his views on the relationship between working-class people and their employers, the gross injustice and inequalities of society, and workers’ acceptance of the status quo. Out of work and ill, Noonan was in dire straits during the writing, and there are traces of the anger and bitterness he was feeling in the Ragged story, along with compassion and a sense of humor.

Widely regarded a classic of modern British literature and ranked as a ‘best loved’ novel in a 2003 BBC survey, the completed manuscript originally called, The Ragged Arsed Philanthropists, was rejected by three publishing houses before Noonan died in 1911 at age 40.  His daughter was able to sell the book rights to a publisher for £25, and an edited version (with most of the socialist ideology cut out) was published in 1914.  Forty years later, Robert Noonan’s original manuscript was found, and the unabridged edition was published in 1955.

*Editor’s Note:  The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists is available to read free in ebook form or online, and is also free to download and print, courtesy of Project Gutenberg.  The volunteer organization founded in 1971 by American Michael S. Hart (1947-2011), inventor of the ebook, has created a digital library offering over 53,000 ebooks of literary works in the public domain that can be accessed, read, downloaded and printed—all free of charge.

Information/Resources:
Wikipedia: Robert Tressell, The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, Govan, Project Gutenberg, Michael S. Hart
“Welder Turned Poet….”, The Daily Record (February 14, 2016)

 

Exploring the history of black arts and activism in AmericaThe historical works created during times of social unrest and cultural change continue to inspire today Activist Arts

 

 

 

Still shot of shadows intersecting with space and thought during art exhibition was taken from video documentary "Intersections" by Walley Films. Artist Anila Quayyum Agha discusses her creative process and exploration of all human experience.There’s more inspiration here→  Watch:  Creative Perspectives,
an On2In2™ collection of short videos

 

 

 

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Feature photo of welder is courtesy of Pixabay/Pexels, CC0

**Zeester Media LLC may receive a small commission for a book purchase you make via the link to this Robert Noonan biography “One of the Damned:  The Life & Times of Robert Tressell” by F.C. Ball.  This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase.

Artisan

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Arts and Crafts: Find your passion and the joy of creating a work of art here at On2In2™
Stan Reinshagen, inspiring artisan & hobbyist

My father was an ardent hobbyist. You might also call him a “generalist” because he didn’t focus on a specific hobby or category of interest.  He was a music lover and amateur musician (trumpet), gardener (vegetables), BBQ master (with a killer secret sauce), meister mechanic, weekend golfer, and smooth social dancer (the waltz).  While he didn’t have a creative arts background or formal training and never thought of himself as “talented”, a few hobby classes taken while serving in the US Air Force sparked a passion for the creative process, and he spent many happy hours in his private studio (the garage), exploring his varied interests and testing his handcrafting skills while working on a variety of arts and crafts projects. 

Dad made really beautiful things in ceramic, wood, metal, and leather.
All are treasured pieces.  Most importantly, he found joy in creating, and inspired our family to love ‘making things’.  Let his story inspire you — Make your soul grow.

To help you get started on the search for your passion and the joy of creating a work of art, below is a list of arts and crafts hobby categories for inspiration (including a few links to topical articles) as well as Zola’s arts & craft photo gallery, and there’s a collection of video documentaries on the Art Works and Creative Perspectives channels that include insightful stories from artisans about their work, motivations, and approach to the creative process.

But, please….before buying a bunch of hobby supplies, do a little research and consider the things required for the crafting (time, money, work space, tools, supplies, basic skills and physical abilities) and what you’d like to try. Then, start small.  For example, it doesn’t take much to start coloring, and many find the creative process of ‘coloring within the lines’ to be relaxing and therapeutic.  Find FREE adult coloring books → HERE.  Also, look for arts & crafts instructional classes offered in your community by colleges, museums, art galleries, recreation centers, and local artisans.  If that doesn’t work for you, search libraries and book stores for crafting books, and do some googling.  You’ll be amazed at the variety of instructional books, online courses and ‘how to’ videos available.

 

 

The Arts & Crafts Idea List

Candle and Soap Making

Ceramics/Pottery

Crafting

Digital Art

Glass:  Cutting and Blowing

Jewelry Making

Model Building (replicas of cars, planes, ships, railroads)

Leatherworking

Paint/Watercolor/Sketch  

Paper:  Papermaking;  Decoupage

Photography

Recycled Plastics Art 

Sand Sculpting

Textile:  Sew/Knit/Crochet/Embroidery/Weave

Welding and Metalworking

Wood: Woodworking;  Woodcarving/Whittling;  Woodburning

For more crafting inspiration, click/tap these links:
Watch: Art Works
Rubberband Art
Watch:  Photography
Watch:  Digital Arts 

 

 

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Zeester Media LLC may receive a small commission for a purchase you make via the Amazon link within this page. This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase.

Feature photo is courtesy of Gratisography CC0

How to Beat the Funk

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If you are feeling down in the dumps or just need a good laugh, watch a few of the short videos in this fun, free-to watch On2In2™ video collection of dogs being dogs and their inspiring stories of love and joy.    

In 80 unique photographs of dogs captured in meditative, serene moments of ‘Zen’, photographer Alex Cearns celebrates the wisdom, beauty and power of dogs.  Zen Dogs is a book for every dog lover and anyone looking for a little of that doggy peace, love and joy.  *Zeester Media LLC may receive a small commission for a book purchase you make via the link within this page. This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase.

 

If you're wondering what your dog is thinking, you should listen to this dog as he reveals thoughts and feelings about life and love.If only we knew what our dogs were thinking!  Martin, a dog with some issues, tells his story in “Dog Speak”, providing a few clues to the mystery of what dogs know and think.  And, a lot of laughs, too.

 

 

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Feature photo (dog on the road) courtesy of Freestocks/Pexels CC0

My Tree Swing

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Grandfathers are for loving and fixing things.
                                                                                       — author unknown

The tree swing my DIY grandfather made for me became my happy place.
Swinging © Zeester Media LLC

I was only 3 years old, but I still remember the day my grandfather installed a tree swing for me on a branch of one of the big pecan trees in the front yard. And, I remember the events leading up to that day as well as the feeling of pure joy while swinging in a very special swing.

Guess I was having a little trouble adjusting to the new baby sister situation in our house because my mother had her hands full, and I was feeling somewhat ignored as do most children when first realizing they are no longer the center of their parents’ attention.  The final straw for me was when I asked my mother to swing me in the baby swing she had set up in the kitchen.  It looked like so much fun, and I wanted to try it out.  But, my mother said “no”, I couldn’t sit in the baby’s swing because I was “too big and would break it”.  Of course, she was right, but I was more than just a little upset, and wondered why this baby got all the fun and attention.  Life was becoming a drag.    

Then, my grandfather came to my rescue.

He appeared one day carrying a couple of tools, rope and a piece of wood, and said “come with me”.  Then, I watched as he set up a simple, but amazing tree swing.  A swing just for me.  No babies allowed.

Over the years, that tree swing became my happy place, and a reminder of my good fortune to be so loved by an understanding, DIY grandfather who knew exactly what I needed.

 

My Swing © Zeester Media LLC

Benefits of Swinging       

Swinging is a lot of fun, but there are also big benefits, both physical and emotional, for children as well as adults. 

Motor Skills.  Swinging requires using legs, arms, and core in a way that helps a child’s development of gross motor skills (locomotion, balance and coordination) and fine motor skills (hand, arm and finger coordination; grip strength; and arms and legs circling motions).

Feels Like Flying.  Finding a sense of balance and spatial orientation while the body moves about in different positions takes a bit of physical exploration, and swinging is a sensory experience like no other because flying through the air on a swing helps a child learn to respond to movement and gravity and develop balance, coordination and body awareness.

Inspires Imagination.  A swing is the perfect activity for imaginative play— maybe you’re a bird, on a magic carpet, or flying high in the sky like a superhero. 

Uplifts Spirits.  There’s just something about the easy rhythmic movement under a tree, breathing fresh air and feeling a gentle breeze that seem to trigger feelings of pleasure, relaxation and calm, and there’s also a rush of excitement when swinging faster and higher.  This magic works for people of all ages.  

It’s a Good Workout.  Keeping a swing in motion burns off a few calories (200/hr) and helps condition ligaments, tendons, muscles and joints.  The swinger controls speed and height of swinging, so you can do as much as you like at your own pace.  For more challenging adult workouts, try kneeling or standing on a swing.      

Grandfathers are for loving and fixing things
Opa & Me © Zeester Media LLC

In memory of Ben F. Kneupper “Opa” (1903-94), small business owner, barber, florist, volunteer fireman, gardener, baker of pies and cookies, fixer-upper handyman, cancer survivor, devoted family man, and much loved grandfather.  He inspired all who knew him with his ability to overcome adversity and find joy in the everyday. ❤️

 

 

 

Want to build a tree swing? 

Below are links to helpful ‘how-to’ information and DIY instruction, plus shop for tree swing assembly kits. 

Children’s Tree Swings – A Guide To Good Practice, written by Monkey-Do, produced by London Play (downloadable pdf) — Expert advice on the safe sitting, installation and use of children’s rope swings in trees.   

How to Make a Rope Swing, WikiHow

How To Make A Tree Swing, step-by-step DIY instruction on building and installing a backyard tree swing

SHOP Check out variety of tree swing assembly kits that can make construction easier here →    TREE SWING KITS and SUPPLIES  *Zeester Media LLC may receive a small commission for a purchase you make via this Amazon link.  This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase.

 

A bike ride is more than fun and good exercise -- the real power of a bicycle is that it opens up the world for exploration.A bicycle is so much more than a toy — The Power of a Bike 

 

 

 

 

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Feature photo of swing is courtesy of Pixaby, CC0

The Overview Effect

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The iconic Earthrise photo was taken in 1968 by NASA astronaut William A. Anders during the Apollo 8 mission, the first manned spaceflight to orbit the Moon. Never before had a human observed the Earth rising, and Anders’ amazing, first-ever color photo of our stunningly beautiful planet emerging from a lunar horizon still takes your breath away.

“We came all this way to explore the Moon, and the most important thing is that we discovered the Earth.” — William A. Anders

 

 

To See The Earth As It Truly Is* 

[su_quote cite=”Frank Borman “]It was very, very sobering to see this little blue marble in the middle of all that darkness.  [/su_quote]

The awe-inspiring effect of seeing the whole Earth from the vantage of space (known as “Earth gazing”) is most often described as an overwhelming sense that Earth is an “interconnected whole with one destiny”. An understanding that’s key to our survival. Of course, we can’t see it and feel it firsthand (only 24 humans out of 7.3 billion world population have had the experience) until space travel becomes practical for the general public, but innovative technology continues to provide us with more and better information and visuals.

The short documentary Overview (from Planetary Collective) explores a cosmic worldview with reflections from “Earth gazing” astronauts and philosophers as well as beautiful space imagery. Watch and be inspired by the “unity and oneness of all life on Earth”.

 

Earthrise: Remembering Apollo 8.  Launched on December 21, 1968, Apollo 8 became the first manned spacecraft to reach the Moon, orbit it and return, and its crew became the first humans to see and photograph the Earth emerging from behind the lunar horizon.  Watch as the Griffith Lab All Space Considered team recalls the lead up, events and discoveries of this historic mission in celebration of its 50th anniversary.

 

*”To see the earth as it truly is, small and blue and beautiful in that eternal silence where it floats, is to see ourselves as riders on the earth together, brothers on that bright loveliness in the eternal cold — brothers who know now they are truly brothers.” Archibald MacLeish (1892 – 1982) American poet

A beautiful view of planet Earth captured by NASA satelliteTake a virtual ride on a satellite for awesome views of Earth 

 

 

 

Apollo 17 photo taken December 13, 1972 on the lunar surface
Moonwalk (December 13, 1972) NASA

Want to see more of what’s out there in space?  The short video documentary, “The Last Steps” will take you to a ‘back to the future’ moment in time with original film footage, photographs and audio recordings from Apollo 17, NASA’s final Apollo program mission, and the last time a human walked on the moon. Watch more “out of this world” videos via the “Cosmos Channel“, free to watch, on-demand.

 

 

Since its launch 20 years ago and 2004 Saturn orbit insertion, the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft has provided images that have led to significant discoveries.A retrospective look at discoveries and images of Saturn
captured during the 20 year Cassini Mission, plus some
info on when and how you can see Saturn in 2017

 

 

 

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“The Overview Effect” is an edited version of an article originally published on the “Zblog” by Zeester Media LLC.

Earthrise photo credit:  NASA

Sacred Shadows

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Intersections (2013), is a sculptural installation created by Anila Quayyum Agha, a Pakistani-American artist.  Simple in its materials and artistic method, the effect is a powerfully elegant, original work of art that wondrously transforms a room into an ethereal space filled with intricate shadowy geometric patterns enwrapping gallery visitors who then become a reflecting element of the artwork.  Agha said her art is influenced by personal experiences as well as the complex social and political issues of our time, and the intent with the Intersections installation was “to give substance to mutualism” while exploring the disparate views of “public and private, light and shadow, and static and dynamic”.  It was awarded grand prizes in the 2014 international ArtPrize competition, and later exhibited at the Rice Gallery in Houston, Texas as well as the Peabody Essex Museum and Indiana State Museum.

The video documentary, “Intersections”, produced by Walley Films, is an exceptional opportunity to view this transcending work of art as Anila Quayyum Agha recounts her inspiration, discoveries, and creative process.

Agha’s installation pieces focus on transforming public spaces using Islamic architectural motifs, light and shadow, casting viewers of all cultural backgrounds under shadows that allow all to contemplate and reflect.

 

Resources/Information:

Anila Quayyum Agha website anilaagha.com
Past Installation, Rice Gallery
ArtPrize, Grand Rapids Michigan (Intersections).  ArtPrize is an annual public art event and international competition.

Watch:  CREATIVE PERSPECTIVESPoetry reading for On2In2™ inspiration is live  A diverse group of artists reveal thoughts and feelings about their work and living a creative life in this On2In2™ collection of short video documentaries.  It’s an interesting and inspiring bunch.

 

 

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It's easy and fun to join On2In2 social networkWe’d love to hear from you!  If you’d like to comment on this post, join the conversation, or share your inspiration, and you have not yet registered as an On2In2™ playmaker, please sign up via the ‘Engage page’.  Don’t worry, it’s pretty quick and easy.

 

Feature photo:  Still shot from video documentary, “Intersections” © Mark & Angela Walley

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