Tsunami Blessings

We send our heart and creative spirit felt blessings to the 

people, land, and ancestors of Japan and to all those who have been affected.

Courage, Strength, Surrender, Wisdom, Honor

501(c)3 - It's official!

We did it, we are officially exempt from Federal income tax. 

And we are hoping to have a soft launch of our new web site by the end of the month.

www.drawingonearth.org

www.facebook.com/pages/Drawing-on-Earth

Let's See if We Can Get into the Big Museums

Tracy Stum is spearheading a push to see if we can get street painting & chalk drawing into the LA Museum of Modern Art show coming up on Street Art, which features mostly graffiti. Many of us street painters believe this old (began in the 1500's) and recent emerging art form is and should be acknowledged by the art world.


Here is the letter I wrote to the coordinator to the show.

Pure and simple, chalk drawing festivals are the rock and roll of the art world. Very different than strolling through a gallery with paintings on the wall and sculptures tucked into corners, at a chalk festival the creative process unfolds right in front of you. The artists are not alone in their studios, they are down on their hands and knees, covered in sweat and colored chalk, kneeling, squatting on the streets for hours and days, creating breathtaking pieces of art right before your very eyes. And you can crouch down with them. They'll talk to you and tell you what they're doing. Chalk drawing is the medium of the people, generating audiences of over 60,000 people of all ages in a weekend. It’s pure energy. And the next day, it’s washed away, impermanent like Tibetan and Navajo sand paintings.

Of course, street art is an age-old tradition, (since the 1500's) which we artists pay homage to, not just by doing the work, but by emulating it. There a tradition of copying old master works, which is a great art history lesson in a culture that doesn’t have much of this in the schools. And many artists are stepping out and bringing  new skills, like 3D work, to the pavement, as well as fascinating anamorphic perspective to their work. Some street artist are taking the opportunity to communicate in ways that address current needs of the local and global community. One artist created an homage to another artist, a local hero who passed away from cancer. His work of art became an invitation for the community to write, draw, and creatively mourn her passing together. Another artist created a Patron Saint of Hoof & Mouth disease as millions of farm animals were being burned and buried in Europe. Another piece was created to bless with tears a near-by forest fire that had the locals concerned. Art work by the people, for the people.

My personal work in the street painting world started in 1994 when I was invited by master artist Phil Roberts, to help him with an 8 x 20 ft, 6 days copy of the Last Day of Judgment by Michelangelo. I was hooked. I loved the raw, real time, in your face, on your hands, live, connection to the community. There was something about doing art in the midst of a crowd that really fed me. I loved being alone in my studio, but I loved the live action of on the spot creativity. 

In 2003 chalk drawing took a turn for me. My kids had just entered public school in Northern California and I realized to my horror that there were no art teachers in any of the elementary schools. I began to create annual chalk drawing events on the kid’s playground where the kids could work on one large image together. I had a vision; give the kids a big, creative experience they will remember for the rest of their lives. In 2008 we set a Guinness World Record for the largest chalk drawing. 6,000 people (over 4,000 elementary school kids) covered 90,000 sq. ft. in two weeks and a satellite photographed our artwork. We are now the nonprofit, Drawing on Earth; we inspire art and creativity in youth and communities around the world. Our current project is a 5-year Global Illustrated Storybook.

Street painting is alive and growing. It's an art form that is catching the public’s attention and appreciation. Look what's written on the back of a t-shirt from one of the big festivals. It says ARTIST in big, bold letters. And whether you wear it or see it, it sends a message that the creative spirit is alive and well!

Mark Wagner

Founder of Drawing on Earth

www.drawingonearth.org

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Testimonial

Occasionally, you come across those venerable individuals who have the impressive combination of talent and how they choose to use it.  Mark Wagner is one of those characters.  His artistic ability is uncommon and impressive; just look at his art!  But, he also works to spark the artistic streak in others.  In fact, he set our entire school artistically ablaze when every student and staff member helped create our school mascot in larger-than-life-size and beauty.  How cool is that?  


Absorbed and engaged, my fifth graders enthusiastically participated, stepped back, and took in their part in the school-wide project.  Thank you, Mark!  It is rare when one person affects an entire school in such a positive, lasting way.  I only wish others can have this same opportunity, and get to savor the experience!

Tao Bernardi
Fifth Grade Teacher
Hearst Elementary
Pleasanton, California

www.drawingonearth.org

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Caracas, Venezuela - Still Breathless

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Day Two: it's a little beyond words...the entire trip so far. Meeting the right people all along the journey, being so taken care of from the moment I got off the plane. The mountains, the poor, the city, the art and artists! Only poetry and images can suggest a world unto itself that I have the great honor in experiencing... there are tears in my eyes.
~Mark

Thousand of images flashing past the moments, a whirlwind of time-less-ness, a stranger becoming not so strange in a strange world, the heart of the people opening to me as I open to them, honest, across borders of language to land of color, form, community, children, big dreams, of a mountain range that this the ceiling of South America, where hermits write erotic poem and spend their years balancing rocks and sharing both. Where security guards are with me even when I pee at the park, taking care to care for me in this different world. And ad-mist the turmoil, the poverty, the bizarre streets, are beautiful mysterious graffiti paintings, beautiful women to ugly men and everyone in between. Young artists and older artist come up to me saying they have heard about me, they have seen some of my work. I show them more and they show me more and together we become a tribe of creative being, animals creating, striving to be free in all moments of doubt, in the confrontation of the unknown in time as warriors unto the gods, a delicate balance, and the grace of understanding the lay of the land, of seeing the park and knowing it can be done... easily, the belly relaxes. The vultures roost not to just eat the dead but to marvel at the humans weaving stories out of the dust from mountains, the chalk/silica, the most abundant element on the earth's surface, and the telling of the birth of a story that will be told around the world from a continent that still has the a spirit intact, living, alive, creating the universe over and over. Still Breathless!

the chalk has arrived - 8,000 pieces, hope I sent enough!

My amazing support team!

My amazing art student production team

And the Gift at the end of the day, at the tip of the growing plant drawing, a real plant that fell exactly here. The creative growth has already begun!

www.reenchantingtheworldthrough art.org
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Can You Believe It? Freak-Out....

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Yes, my video card on my laptop died, can you believe it. And it can't be fixed in time before I go. Yes, I freaked out for a few minutes, then realized if I was really nice I could barrow my wife's. And yes, she said yes...whew. And now I'm now transferring files, software programs, and packing! I leave in 33 hours.

Here are beginning sketches for Sunday's drawing in front of the Museum of Fine Art, Cararas, Venezuela.

www.re enchanting the world through art. org
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They were somewhere scattered on the dark freeway!

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The chalk has arrived in Venezuela, that's a big load off my shoulders.

Here's silly one that just happened. Tues. night I finished teaching my last class of the semester at Menlo College (painting and collage). I arrived early to school and was going to work on my sketches for the 2 drawing that I will be doing next week. I placed the drawing pad on top of my truck.

I ended up getting into a painting that I was doing in class for the students and totally forgot about the drawings until I arrived at home at 9pm (45 minutes from school) WITHOUT the drawings. They were somewhere scattered on the dark freeway.

Luckily it's not a big deal, the ideas and visuals are in my head and heart and I am already working them in a way I would of if I had the drawings - tracing paper with more versions. I just want to get them done by Sat. night.

I'm still on schedule and don't need to stress. I plan well and can stay cool even though part of me (my inner little boy) is freaking about going to another country by myself and pulling off 2 big chalk drawings!!!!!

www.reenchantingtheworldthroughart.org
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8,000 Pieces of Chalk to Venezuela

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Friday I FedXed five boxes of chalk to Venezuela. 8,000 pieces of chalk and 10 bags of powered chalk. I had 2 cases of chalk that I unpacked and repacked into ziplock bags with air enclosed. This saved me so much space and weight, it was such a good idea.

The powered chalk is to cover larger areas with lines and shadows so that the children can then draw "inside the lines" (I know, who would of ever said that I would have kids do this). A line drawing really helps when making larger work that's hard or imposible to really see from the ground. It's the larger structure and story for holding in all the individuals creative energy that is hard or impossible to see from an airplane or satellite!

We do have Geoeye Satellite Imagery on board to photograph this work (weather pending) and future work for our Global Storybook Project that this Venezuela birthing the first chapter.


I am now completing my sketches for two drawings. One will be with 1,300 children over two days and the other with 100 art students in front of the Museum of Fine Art both in Caracas.

I leave next Monday morning, Nov. 30 and return on Dec. 7th. Here are two places I will be drawing.

www.reenchantingtheworldthroughart.org
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The World's Largest Illustrated Story

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Dear Everyone,

Our month-long fund raising goal was $2,000. I am proud to say that we raised $3,346 with 57 donations!

Thank you!! Popovich, Corich, Marks, Thiel, Moore, McAleer, Alfresco, Ebnom, Childs, Wagner, Wagner, Martin, Afjei/Gudebski, Graves, Brautovich, Safier, Jacobs, Ortiz, Jarrett, Carlomagno, Jenssen, Watson, Rossiter, Layefsky, Carey, Hyde, Todd, Buelteman, Gilbert, Wang, Davis, Greenwald, Valente, Wengell, Stollman, Linayao, Morrison, Artz, Rentmeesters, Phoenix, Arts, Johnson, Garrett, Burnbaum, Burns, Wasmann, Tryon, Jensen, Lovejoy, Von Herrmann, Louchheim, Teall, McClain, Orr.

Over the month our project has begun to gain some attention. We are now working on connections in Argentina, Morocco, India, and the Netherlands. This is the beginning of a 1-3 year project to create the world's largest illustrated story.

We are going to be chalk drawing on different continents, weaving one story together, giving diverse children and communities a way of being create together. GeoEye Satellite Imagery will be donating satellite photography when able. We are seeking several larger sponsors so if you know anyone, please help us connect.

Thanks again for your support and inspiration. If you wanted to donate to the project, you still can, and please do.

Please make checks out to: REWA
Mail to:
c/o Mark Wagner
27 Powers Court
Alameda, CA 94501

or us PayPal @
http://www.reenchantingtheworldthroughart.org/donatekidsart.html


Creatively Yours,
~Mark Wagner

www.reenchantingtheworldthroughart.org
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Chalk Drawing / Street Painting Tips

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Chalk Drawing Tips

by Mark Wagner

What you will need: artwork previously prepared, clean street surface that is not too smooth or too rough, chalk (artists chalk like Koss has great colors and covers the street better), tape measure & chalk line, ipod, hand wipes, some people use plastic gloves, some people use cardboard or pads to sit on, sunscreen, hat, and a camera.

1) Selecting an image. Start off with something that you can handle. Each time you create a chalk drawing you will get better and be able to pull off larger and more complicated images. It’s better to win with a doable piece than have a disappointing first experience.

2) Old master’s artwork are great to copy. You get a direct lesson, you learn how they worked, how they used line, color, composition, and form. They are called the masters and in the art history books for a reason.

3) Street painting / chalk drawing festivals connect to an old tradition of artists drawing pictures of Saints on the street for the public to enjoy and learn from. The artwork connected the viewer through the art to spirit. As you continue to chalk drawing, think about what people need to see.

4) I use the computer and photoshop. Try using a filter called “cutout” that separates the image into individual shapes. This is very helpful as it allows you too see the shapes more clearly and helps with drawing on the street.

5) Use the grid system to size the drawing from the art you are using to the size of the street. First know the size of the street piece, example 4 x 4 ft. Make your artwork also in a square format. Draw squares on a Xerox or on the computer, print out several sheets, close-ups for the details, place is plastic sleeves.

6) Sweep the street from any pebbles and dirt.

7) Use a tape measure to measure out your piece using a 12 in. grid. Then use a chalk line, ask for help, and snap down the lines.

8) Name the squares on your print outs, down with letter or numbers, and across with the other creating 1A, 1B, etc… Name them the same way on the street.

9) Begin to outline your piece using a medium dark piece of chalk. Umber or burnt sienna works the best. Move through one square at a time looking at your drawing and drawing in the same square on the street. This way you are only working on one square at a time, which helps you stay focused and not get lost.

10) Stay away from white chalk until later, use it sparingly.

11) Try using a long stick with a piece of chalk taped to the end so you can stand and draw your outlines. This phase is simple out line, it’s only to get your entire drawing down so that when you get to the squares to fill in they are already drawn in the correctly. It’s also helpful if you have other people that will be helping you, they can just jump in on a square or section.

12) Chalk is a medium where you build on top of what’s underneath. Chalk will only adhere to the street in a certain way. Once you cover the area, there will be a point where the street won’t take anymore chalk. If you add more it will just lay on the top and eventually get blown away which makes a mess for you and for whoever is working beside you.

13) Ever see the movie, Karate Kid? Wax on wax off? It’s a circular motion that goes both ways. After you put down the first pass of chalk, use this technique to push the chalk down into the street. The goal is to totally cover the street with chalk. This also works well with blending colors together. If you want a color that is not in the box, use two different colors of chalk at the same time and smear them into the street to make a new color.

14) Step back from your drawing to give your perspective from how it looks up close, walk around, climb on something, take your camera.

15) Add line work, dark lines work the best. Lightly blend them it into the drawing. Add highlights, don’t smear these in, leave them just sitting on the top of the pavement.

16) It’s helpful to work on a difficult area of the drawing first, like a face and eyes. If you can pull off good eyes, you’ll instantly have people’s attention! By handling a difficult area first, you will feel better about the drawing and the process, you’ll feel better about yourself and can relax. It also shows the audience/viewers that you can draw, so as you continue to work on other parts of the drawing that still looked messed up, you’ll know that you have already done something good and people can see this too. Basically impress them and yourself early!

17) At larger events there are lots people around. It’s fun to stop and talk to people. They are there to see artists work (we usually work alone in our studios) and it’s a great way to share the creative spirit and to network. Make sure you bring business cards or a way that people can get in touch with you, they may want to hire you later. If you have any copies or prints of your other work, bring that along and have it available for others to see.

18) And then there is time to not be social and just work, stay focused, concentrate – time for the ipod!

19) Use your camera often, take pictures of your drawing throughout the creation. It’s a wonderful thing to have, show, and use on your web site and blog. It also records the process, helps you remember all the steps it takes, and then can be used later in teaching. Street painting is a temporary art form, many street paintings are washed away in a day or two so the photographs are the only record of the art.

20) Stretch often, your lower back will take a beating. Take good breaks, sometimes the sun on the street is really hot, drink lots of water, take a hot bath later. Advil or Tylenol are helpful during the drawing process to keep the body stress lower. You will be sore the next day, keep stretching.

21) Have fun, make a mess, keep the chalk out of your eyes, let the chalk and the drawing teach you, draw as if you are guided, trust the process. Even if you really make a mess or you don’t like your drawing, relax into knowing that everything is good, that it’s each piece of art that you create makes you a better artist and builds confidence. Be careful not to judge or make yourself wrong. Draw from your belly, breath, see if you can loose yourself in your work. You will amaze yourself before you are half way through, and when you are done it will feel like you just climbed a mountain. You will be your own hero!

www.reenchantingtheworldthroughart.org
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Guinness Book of World Records 2010

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Guinness Book of World Records 2010

Pages 193 & 195
We are in it!

"The largest chalk pavement art measured 90,000 ft2 and was created by 5.678 children from schools in Alameda CA, USA for the Kids' Chalk Art Project between May 27 and June 7 2008."

www.reenchantingtheworldthroughart.org
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Raising $ for Chalk, Please Help! Venezuela in Dec. 2009

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Hello Everyone!

Fundraising Chalk Goal by Nov. 15, 2009 : $2000

Last year we set a world record for the largest chalk drawing. We also started the 501(c)3 nonprofit Re-Enchanting the World Through Art (REWA), which supports and inspires the creative spirit in youth and community.

Mark Wagner, the founder and original artist behind the Kids' Chalk Art Project has a bigger vision, to create several large chalk drawing around the world, unified by a narrative creating the world largest illustrated story and setting another new world record.

The vision is happening sooner than anyone thought and even before we could go out and make any connections, the connections have found us. Our first storytelling gig is in Caracas, Venezuela, Dec. 2 - 7. Chalk will cost approx. $1200 to buy and ship (expensive to ship).


We are actually doing a combo fundraiser for chalk. We have continued to chalk draw over the last year, both locally and around the state (Alameda, San Leandro Juvenile Hall, Walnut Creek, Fresno). With the school budgets desperately tight we are suppling the chalk for these events, allowing kids and the community to draw and be creative.

Our simple short term goal over the next month is: $2000 by Nov. 15

This is:
10 people @ $200
20 people @ $100
40 people @ $50
or 100 people @ $20

Please help us out by donating now. Be part of setting another world record, be part of investing wisely and creatively into our youth and our global community. Send your check or donate online and receive a tax deductible donation letter.

Please make checks out to: REWA (Re-Enchanting the World Through Art)

Mail to:
c/o Mark Wagner
27 Powers Court
Alameda, CA 94501

or us PayPal @
www.reenchantingtheworldthroughart.org/donatekidsart.html

Creatively Yours,
~Mark

Kids' Chalk Art Project - Guinness World Record
Mark Wagner: Creative Director
www.reenchantingtheworldthroughart.org
reenchantingtheworldthroughart.blogspot.com

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New Film Trailer: Small Town ~ Big Vision

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SMALL TOWN ~ BIG VISION

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Proposal: School Assembly, Chalk Drawing, Weekend Fundraiser

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Yesterday chalk drawing at Walnut Creek Middle School.

Chalk Drawing with Artist Mark Wagner

Proposal: School Assembly, Chalk Drawing, Weekend Fundraiser

Elementary through High School

1) Mark Wagner will come to your school and present an assembly to share with students and teachers how he co-created the world’s largest chalk drawing, (a Guinness World Record), with the children of Alameda, CA, and which was completed on June 7, 2008.

2) Wagner will create a large professional chalk drawing on site with the help of a selected group of students.

3) Wagner will support your school in setting up a “draw-a-thon,” fundraiser to generate funding for each school's art program. These fundraisers will take place on a designated Saturday morning on the school playground with students and parents.

Cost: $200 - $500. Chalk donated through REWA

Dear PTA and School Principals,

In collaboration with the City of Alameda, AUSD, the Alameda PTA Council, and AEF, artist Mark Wagner visited each elementary school last spring inviting the students to help him with a dream. The dream was to create the world’s largest chalk drawing, to raise awareness for the arts, to publicize that there were no art teachers in the elementary schools of Alameda, and to give the kids a creative experience that they would remember for the rest of their lives.

Over two weeks AC transit bussed out entire elementary schools to the Alameda Naval Air Station to participate in the Kids’ Chalk Art Project. In the end 6,000 people were involved, over 4,000 elementary school kids, who covered 90,000 sq. ft. of pavement (the size of almost two football fields), and set a new world record which was photographed by a satellite.

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Out of this project a nonprofit was created, Re-Enchanting the World Through Art (REWA), which supports and inspires the creative spirit in youth and community. Today there is a book and 30 minute documentary film about the project, Small Town ~ Big Vision. The Making of a World Record Chalk Drawing.

The assembly proposal involves Mark Wagner visiting your school and presenting through laptop and projector images, the world of chalk drawing and street painting festivals around the country, and photographs from the year of chalk drawing here in Alameda that climaxed in the Guinness World Record (photos to be published in their next book.)

Included is a Saturday morning chalk drawing event at your school (fall or spring weather pending) where the students are able to be creative with their parents. A “draw-a-thon” can take place where children get sponsored by friends and family to draw for ½ hour generating funding for your school’s visual art program.

Your school can then easily reproduce this event over the years to come creating a simple long-term sustainable funding and excitement for an integral visual arts program at your school.

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About Mark Wagner: Mark Wagner, MA is the visionary behind the Kids' Chalk Art Project. Wagner's first artistic adventures were in rural Pennsylvania where as a second grader when he began to draw monsters and spaceships. Wagner credits his brother for sparking a desire to draw and his mother for her encouragement.

Wagner's artistic endeavors span 40 years. He holds a MA from John F. Kennedy University, and a BFA from Pratt Institute. Wagner is involved in the film industry as a professional concept artist recently working for Pixar “drawing monsters and spaceship,” in addition to his work as graphic designer, illustrator, author, musician, and fine artist. His professional work can be seen @ www.heartsandbones.com

Wagner created a year-long pilot artist-in-residency program at Franklin Elementary School and has taught art and creativity in a variety of venues from digital art colleges to graduate school and prison, inspiring people of all ages to gain access to their own creative spirit. Wagner is also the author of "The Art of Being A Dad.” Wagner lives in Alameda with his wife, writer Laurie Wagner and their two children.

Mark Wagner

Hearts & Bones Studio

mw@heartsandbones.com

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Chalk 4 Peace - John Aaron

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John Aaron is a friend and fellow chalk artist with a big dream. His Facebook bio says" Artist, Organizer, Educator and Humorist for Peace... What's so funny about peace, love and understanding...? It's nice chalking with you...."

John organizes large chalk drawing, street painting events where at over 400 sites across the planet unite in Sept. and chalk draw for peace, uniting kids, community, and the world. Check it out, an artist with a big dream doing something about it!

CHALK4PEACE - blog

CHALK4PEACE.org
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Street Painting - Juvenile Hall / Camp Sweeney

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On Weds. the mens group (Ebnom.org) I am part of visited the Alameda County Juvenile Hall Camp Sweeney and did a chalk drawing with the young men who are locked up. Juvenile Hall the prison for teenagers.

Ebnom guys or Juveniles??? The young men at Camp Sweeney can not be photographed.

We had about 30 young men drawing with us for a few hours in the morning after I showed them my artwork and talked to them about chalk drawing and how we set a world record.

I have taught art and creativity in prison for many years, I like it. I remember once feeling safer in prison that outside in this sometimes crazy world. Camp Sweeney is an adjacent complex to the Juvenile Hall, it's where the young men go before they are being left out.

I was excited the night before going, not nervous, which I realized is a similar feeling in the body but definitely different. At the camp hanging out with the young men I was surprised how comfortable I was being close to them.

I didn't hear stories of why they were there, I didn't ask, and I know none of their stories are good. One of the councilors said they are lucky to catch 1 out of 10 young men who go through program.... that's sad. I wanted everyone of them to win in living and understanding and knowing what it takes, and then having the support and inspiration to do it, to live into their dreams.

I picked a snake with wings for the image we were going to draw. I have always thought of this type of artwork, chalk drawing / street painting as medicine for the people. So what do these young men need? Transformation, healing, shedding old skin?

The snake is the most widely used symbol in all of humanity, across the globe in all cultures. Symbolizing evil and temptation in one culture, spiritual protection in another. Deceitfulness, guardianship, poison and medicine, renewal, rebirth, regeneration. I once wrote a small book titled, "The Universe Creating Itself. My Life as a Snake."

This is a Caduceus. I just learned while writing this blog that the caduceus is sometimes erroneously used as a symbol for medicine, especially in North America, due to confusion with the traditional medical symbol, the rod of Asclepius, which has only a single snake and no wings.

Also from the web: A snake with wings is the mythological symbol for the human ego. It is in the form of a dragon. It represents the inner dragon of a person, which the person must slay before he or she gets to his or her desire.

Film maker and musician Kevin Footer with the Kids' Chalk Art Project t-shirt on.

In the end the young men did some of their tricks, they drew gang signs that needed to be drawn over. It turned into quite the scene, not bad, just interesting, a little crazy, but I.... was more interested in drawing and didn't pay that much attention to it. Leading by example.

Bless those young men!

Mark Wagner on site.

Street Painting - Juvenile Hall / Camp Sweeney YouTube Video

~Mark Wagner
Creative Director: Re-Enchanting the World Through Art
Supporting and Inspiring the Creative Spirit in Youth and Community
a 501(c)3 nonprofit
Buy a chalk book, support the creative future by investing in it now!
Small Town ~ Big Vision

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