Look Who's on Board

We have news to share about Reckonings progress…we have our board chairman, Derek Webster. We met him earlier this year at a conference where he truly encouraged the Reckoning team. He fully believes and backs what reckoning is seeking to create.

After he decided to join our merry band presented us with an eloquent treatise on why he joined Reckoning. It really resonated with who we are and in some ways added clarification. Here is an example of its goodness…

“Reckoning is an excuse. It is an excuse to bring others together in a way that both blesses them, and helps them engage in a dialogue with Christians. Reckoning seizes the opportunity to influence, while positioning itself relationally for impact.”

I do not think I could have said it better myself. We are really excited to have him on our team. Derek is an international consultant, writer and all around great guy with many achievements and letters behind his name. We are so happy that he has decided to be an integral part of shaping and influencing Reckoning.

David Crowder is ridiculous!

I mean just look at the guy! He looks like a reject from a rehab leading a rag-tag group of ragamuffins. If you have ever heard him speak or try to articulate something outside of verse and music you may have walked way thinking you just had a bad acid trip. But I have to admit that I cannot help but feel happy every time I look on his face. I lock on to his face and I become giddy and expectant.

I am usually one to run away from worship concerts as they are so not my scene and listening to people sing the same verse ad nausea truly unsettles me. I prefer solitude and intimacy, but last night as I looked upon the man completely unfettered by the jumping, screaming crowd of youngsters in front of him. I could see it in his eyes…he was just having a good time we just happened to be there. That is rare quality to find in many artists these days…someone who is fighting to push himself while having the time of their lives regardless of who is watching.

So again I say…the man IS ridiculous but he is also outstanding. He encourages me to do the same in my life.

Besides, he makes me smile and giggle to that makes me appreciate him.

4 Days

This weekend Embellish, one of Reckoning’s companies, participated in the Atelier Celebration in Amsterdam. Atelier is the Open Studios Tour in Amsterdam's Jordaan Area which started in 1988 as a small-scale initiative of fifteen artists working in this picturesque old neighborhood, it has, over the years, grown into a phenomenon that draws many visitors and has become internationally known.

The Open Studios attract thousands of visitors to the Jordaan’s artist community. This year there is art in abundance - to see, to buy, and to discuss with the artist. It is an ideal way for galleries to scout for new talent. Ali was able to make some major contacts for Embellish and Reckoning and it gave us a chance to meet new neighbors in the Jordaan.

Yesterday we participated in the Serve the City Amsterdam’s kid’s party in Bos en Lommer. Bos en Lommer is a section of Amsterdam with over 30,000 residents living in 2.71 km area (about 1.6 miles) representing over 178 cultural backgrounds. Many of the recent residents are new immigrants who are separate from much of Dutch culture. They are often marginalized socially, culturally and economically in their adopted country and the children are trying to cope within this reality without the necessary skills to navigate through such obstacles.I had fun playing with the kids, serving water to parents and making pannenkoeken, a tasty dessert, for the children.

There was one 18-month-old girl in particular I noticed when I first arrived. She was of Middle Eastern descent and at the park with her grand parents and she never smiled, not once, while she was walking around the playground. Her distraught grandparents tried to get her to play on the swings, slides and seesaw, but she wandered around resisting everyone and everything. Then the face-painting area set up and she was one of the first children to participate. She sat in complete stoicism as the girls touched her face and began to paint. What broke the dam was when she looked in the mirror and saw her little face a smile finally erupted and she giggled and clapped her hands! It was like watching a new child emerge from with in her. For the rest of the afternoon she was running and playing and engaging with others. It warmed my heart to see how something so simple and creative could have such a profound change in a child.

By using art as a platform to facilitate transformation, Reckoning hopes to address some of the essential issues, which shape a child’s personal identity and their place in the world.

Today we are headed to Bos en Lommer for meetings with Podium Mozaïek to discuss a proposal to hold a Reckoning Event and offer workshops in the Bos en Lommer area. We have such a desire to connect and become part of this community and we believe that there are incredible opportunities that lie ahead for everyone involved, but most especially the children of Bos en Lommer.

Green ATC

Today I did something that could easily become a new addiction. It is exchanged, small, unique, expressive and artistic. It is a way for an individual to express their creative voice against those of others in a way that grows community and mutual adoration. What am I talking about? Artist Trading Cards!

ATC’s are works of art crafted on 2.5 X 3.5 inch card stock (size of a playing card – which are often used as a canvas) on which one can dream and do anything they dream. Once you have made your masterpieces you trade them with other artists. It is pretty simple – and all trading is free. This opportunity was dreamt up by M.Vänçi Stirnemann in 1996 and launched in an original project in Zurich in 1997. Armed with 1200 miniature pieces of art and a few partners he began trading original pieces of art with all those who gathered at the first show at INK.

What I love most about this principle is that it is free – one should not be charged for admission to the trading sessions. All works must be self-produced and you are encouraged to make the trades face to face and share your stories with each other. Many places in the world have monthly trading gatherings and people are encouraged to start their own. If you want to go international there are trading websites and mail groups. I think it is brilliant!

How is this green? Well when I was at VOXSac (www.voxsac.com) this weekend the theme for the participating artists was to go green in anticipation of earth day. A seminar was hosted on ATC’s where we worked with old magazines, playing cards, recycled paper, found material, anything can be used on these little gems. It is just that easy people.

I had so much fun making my first two cards and trading them that evening with some veteran ATCers. I have continued to make additional pieces since I have returned home. I hope to incorporate this into my lifestyle in Amsterdam, who knows where it may lead.

The top two are trades, the bottom items are works in progress