“this is LINES & SHAPES
we create small books

we are an independent art and design collective.
we are a rotating group of artists whose visions converge.
we are always thinking of new ideas.
and lines & shapes connect us.

artists lena corwin and maria vettese curate LINES & SHAPES.”

“LINES & SHAPES started as an idea to get artists together in a collaborative effort toward something… and we certainly did have many ideas of what that “something” might be. after mulling it all over extensively, we landed our fingers, literally, on books. our book collections seem to be growing and growing; books excite us! so we are now humbly and modestly, setting out to create our own books which we hope will be picked up over and over again as inspirational pieces.

each of the L&S books, starting with six volumes this first year, will have a different visual theme and a different group of artists featured. our books will be made out of simple ideas and effort, and we hope to grow in lots of different ways as the year goes on.”

Mav.el.ous. you have done it again!

ReFocus “is the UK network of early childhood educators, arists and others influenced in their practice by the preschools of Reggio Emilia.” Below is a book review I wrote for the Winter 2008 Issue of the Refocus Journal (available in their Bookshop).

There are two people I would like to cross paths with in my journey as an early childhood educator; Vea Vecchi (of Reggio Children) who I have had the pleasure of hearing speak on two occasion and Ursula Kolbe, whom I have just become acquainted with through her latest book, “Rapunzel’s Supermarket: All about young children and their art”.

Ursula Koble is a Sydney-based artist with 30 years of experience in early childhood education as a teacher, university lecturer, writer, and filmmaker. She has a special interest in promoting the Reggio Emilia concept of ‘teachers as researchers’ particularly with respect to the documentation of the social context of children’s drawings. In her writing, she veers away from a “textbook speak” and delivers her thoughts and ideas, research and observations in a practical, inspiring and down-to-earth way. Each chapter in Rapunzel’s Supermarket offers suggestions for ways you can support, challenge and guide children to realize their potential as image makers whilst subtly reminding you to celebrate with them along the way.

‘Learning to See’ is the underlying theme in Rapunzel’s Supermarket. “Being attentive to things, seeing familiar things anew, seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary are aspects of this theme which recur throughout. Why? Because ‘learning to see’ – with all the senses – is the starting point for learning about the world, the starting point for making images.” As adults we have an abundance of experience and knowledge that we have acquired over the years. As teachers and parents sharing time and space with young children, it is important that we apply our experiences and knowledge to the everyday, but it is dually important that we actively continue ‘learning to see’.

Rapunzel’s Supermarket is organized in sections to make it easy for readers to pick this book up, whether they have five minutes or one hour, whether they are looking for inspiration or seeking insight. I have to admit, I read this book from cover to cover in just one sitting, with ease and much enjoyment. If I had you in my living room I would go over each page with you, admiring the photos, poems and art pieces but since I don’t, I have highlighted each chapter below.

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Turtlewings is “a unique creative studio focusing on design for and with children through collaborative partnerships with home, school and community. Whether it be a studio workshop, professional development opportunity or a museum visit, Turtlewings facilitates children and adults as they learn valuable creative thinking, problem solving skills and multiple opportunities for self expression.”

I am always delighted to discover that collaborative partnerships between home, school and community exist – especially when art, design and creative thinking are involved. Check out there Professional Development programs and opportunities. Inspiring!

I would like to introduce you to REcircle Creative REuse Center. A progressive recycling program in Brussels, Belgium.

“We have established relationships with several manufactures throughout Belgium to rescue beautiful waste from being discarded as useless and unnecessary. We then bring them to our center and sort them by type, color, size or other commonalities. They then become AMAZINGLY cool objects and materials that children and artist alike can use for a variety of creative projects, thus closing the recycling circle.”

Excellent diagram!

“We are not alone in our journey of giving objects a new life. We have been and continue to be inspired by many others who have been making these beautiful things available to other communities throughout the world. Check out our LINKS page.”

beautiful + oh-so-cool photo card by Alison

February 7th, 2008 – The Year of the Rat.

“The start of Chinese New Year changes every year since it is dictated by the lunar calendar. The Chinese Lunar New Year is the longest chronological record in history, dating from 2600BC, when the Emperor Huang Ti introduced the first cycle of the zodiac. Like the Western calendar, The Chinese Lunar Calendar is a yearly one, with the start of the lunar year being based on the cycles of the moon. Therefore, because of this cyclical dating, the beginning of the year can fall anywhere between late January and the middle of February. This year it falls on February 12th. A complete cycle takes 60 years and is made up of five cycles of 12 years each.

The Chinese Lunar Calendar names each of the twelve years after an animal. Legend has it that the Lord Buddha summoned all the animals to come to him before he departed from earth. Only twelve came to bid him farewell and as a reward he named a year after each one in the order they arrived. The Chinese believe the animal ruling the year in which a person is born has a profound influence on personality, saying: “This is the animal that hides in your heart.” – More…

“New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving. The celebration was traditionally highlighted with a religious ceremony given in honor of Heaven and Earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors.

The sacrifice to the ancestors, the most vital of all the rituals, united the living members with those who had passed away. Departed relatives are remembered with great respect because they were responsible for laying the foundations for the fortune and glory of the family.

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