Between the Folds
I was awe-stricken and amazed by the documentary "between the folds". As I first began watching it I sarcastically thought to myself, "oh great, an hour long film about origami!" And then I became engulfed in it's awesomeness- At least by the works shown in the film. The greatest realization that I received by viewing it was that a person can create something amazing and truly magnificent out of any type of object or material imagined. It made me think about the artist Dalton Ghetti and his pencils and I realized that mastery in anything is a reflection of the evidence for the long debate of truth and perfection. One of the artist's mentioned that in this art form, there is no addition or subtraction in it but rather a change in it's properties. This made me think about our spiritual selves. We all have the potential to be something great and perfect. Perhaps the idea of repentance is not a subtraction of sins or an addition of blessings but folds and unfolds in the decisions that we make. Of course this process is only possible through Christ, and we need to be taught by him how to make these folds. With these thoughts in mind it is interesting to think about the title of the film, "between the folds." Perhaps one could say that the answer to this question is Christ himself, seeing that he was bent, folded and pressed. Just my thoughts...
Art Publication Review
The art publication that I am reviewing is called Arts and Activities. Looking through this publication I was, just like many other magazines, frustrated that there are so many advertisements. Out of 50 pages 20 of them are advertisements. Promoted here are books, supplies, projects, kilns, presses, and crafty crafts. I tend to think it is all just a bunch of junk for marketing but perhaps not... Of course I realize that the magazine needs to make profits, but am I as an educator interested in all of these advertisements? That is the question I asked myself as I skimmed through the magazine. After thoroughly critiquing it, I have realized that some of them may be useful, but as a whole the magazine would be better without. On the other hand it is very important to me to be aware of new technology advancements and new ideas to better the education environment. But this of course could be an entirely different magazine with that one purpose in mind. In context to our evolving technological age, I realize that a magazine such as this would prove a nuisance, to me and to our environment. I believe it is important to broaden the minorities efforts who's pursuits are to create a more "paperless" environmental system. Because nearly everyone is on the internet almost every day, advertisements may prove successful on non-profited educational websites. This would make it possible for educators throughout the United States and even the world to have access to free and appropriate educational material, while both the website host and the advertisers would be financially benefited. It would also reduce costs spent by the federal government. Just some of my thoughts..One article contained in this publication which caught my attention was that about the history of Negro League Baseball. As I first began reading it was was puzzled by what it had to do with Art Education. Finally at the end it became apparent. Kadir Nelson, an author and illustrator wrote a book called "We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. Contained in it, is several illustrations depicting important events of the Negro Baseball League. His painted illustrations are based on years of research, visual evidence and interpretations drawn from historical documents. Through these images he has captured a visual history that will inform us all of important aspects of American Life. Among other things, these artworks help us understand racial discrimination and international sportsmanship more fully.
Here are some of his illustrations:
10 Production Ideas
Production Ideas-
- Beans
- Bottle's and bottle caps.
- Milk cartons
- Cereal boxes
- Aluminum cans
- Straws
- Plastic silverware
- Egg Cartons and egg shells
- Grocery bags
- Aluminum foil
LOSE YOURSELF
Because of the previous Idea about binding ones self, I thought of this theme. I would like to further pursue it in writing. Who knows if I will ever get to it?
BIND YOURSELF
"Let no more be said of confidence in man, but bind him down from the mischief by the chains of the constitution"~ Thomas Jefferson
"and ye shall bind yourselves to act in all holiness before me"~D&C 43:9
Deny Yourself
Sometimes,aswecommencetakingupthecross,weignoreorneglectthefirstpartofJesus’instruction.Hesaid,“Deny[yourselves],andtakeup[your]crossdaily,andfollowme”(Luke9:23).Thisself-denialisespeciallychallenginginaworldfilledwithsomanysensualandsecularstimuli.Inourtime,greedandlust,thoughtheyhavealwaysbeenfriends,haveneverformedquitethecarteltheyhaveformednow.Itisglobal;itissoprofitable.
Denyingoneselfhasneverbeenpopularasalifestyle,anditisclearlynottoday.Self-denialisportrayedbymanyastoopuritanicalandtooascetic.Scoffershaveacquiredpowerfulpulpitsfromwhichtheybraytheirmessage,whichconstantlyputsdowndiscipleshipandencouragesthenaturalmantothinkhighlyofhimselfandtopleasehimself.
Whatisitthatwearetodenyourselves?Theascendancyofanyappetitesoractionswhichproducenotonlythesevendeadlysinsbutalltheothers.Happily,self-denial,whenwepracticeit,bringsgreatrelief.Itrepresentsemancipationfromallthe“morningafter”feelings,whethercausedbyadulteryorgluttony.Beingconcernedwithtomorrow,truedisciplesareverycarefulabouttoday!Selfdenialalsoincludesnotlettingourheartsbecometoosetonanytrivialorworldlything.Thenwecanlearnthegreatlessonsabouttherelationshipofrighteousnesstothepowersandthejoysofheaven.
Thefundamentalfactisthatifwedonotdenyourselves,wearediverted.Evenifnotwhollyconsumedwiththethingsoftheworld,wearestilldivertedsufficientlytomakeseriousdiscipleshipimpossible.Asaconsequence,allthegiftsandtalentsGodhasgivenusarenotputmeeklyonthealtartoserveothersandtopleaseGod.Instead,wewithholdtopleaseourselves.Diversion,therefore,isnotnecessarilygrosstransgression,butitisagenuinedeprivation,especiallyifweconsiderwhatwemighthavebecomeandwhatmorewemighthavedonetoblessandtohelpothers.
Ironically,thenaturalman,whoissoveryselfishinsomanyordinaryways,isstrangelyunselfishinthathereachesfortoofewofthethingsthatbringrealjoy.Hesettlesforamessofpottageinsteadofeternaljoy.
Bydenyingthedesiresofthenaturalmantothedegreethattheyexistineachofus,weavoidthisdiversion,makingiteasierforustotakeupthecrossofdiscipleship.Ofcourse,whenitoccursinourlives,emancipationfromvariousformsofbondagebringsnocelebratingparades,nordoesitmaketheeveningnews.Butitisbignewsbecausewe“comeoffconqueror”(D&C10:5).
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