The Creation of a True Art Movement with TAD/CA- Sketchbook & Aid Drive - MUST READ

[Nakhon]

I happen to read the article/post last night, couldn't help but get teary eyed a little bit. Makes me feel PROUD to also be apart of this community.

I know I have a few things that I would like to get rid of and maybe some stuff in the attic too, stuff that hasn't been used or the like but is still in prime condition.

Also, as for spreading the news...I sent Bobby Chiu word of this to see if he and the Imaginism Studios gang would be interested in helping. Since, those of us who know Bobby Chiu, knows he likes to help pepople.

Was also wondering...what about sending some food? I know fresh fruits and the like are probably not allowed (as those are the general rules for overseas) but, like package food or stuff like that?

[M-Studios]

I just searched for some prices for international shipping costs.
For me the prices vary from € 153.40 to € 235.40 this is for a package of 25kg.
In that way shipping is much more expensive than the products itself.

What do you guys think about that? And does anyone know a cheaper way of shipping from The Netherlands to the US?

[Fantasio]

While its a great idea and good cause, I think for those outside the US, sending stuff is very expensive and can maybe not delivered in time (in most cases the transport/shipping is more expensive than the materials).

With that said, It would be good to make also up for some paypal donation, at least for those who´d have expensive shipping costs.

some smaller packets (and not so heavy) can be send for less...

[escapeS0307]

i'm actually in kenya. where exactly is he? it would be awesome if i could go help.

[chris_wilhelm]

This is an awesome thing to do. My girlfriend and I are often talking about how so many large companies and organizations do so little to help the communities and societies around them, let alone communities around the world. We had been considering volunteering for the Peace Corps for awhile.

In any case, I have little to offer, with work being slim and with getting things together to relocate to the SF POD for TAD. But, I would bet I have a few spare sketchbooks and such lying around. I would be willing to send old digital art equipment, if I had any. Unfortunately what I am using is all I have. I wish I could offer more.

I will be sending what I can, shortly. Maybe in the near future, a student from this center in Kenya will show up at TAD or here on CA, remembering when he got his first sketchbook from one of us. And maybe, just maybe, that kid will knock our socks off with his talent, yeah? Now that's a great thought.

Awesome looking out Jason. We'll get these kids some good stuff!

[Cerasela]

This is really a wonderful way to help and i´m glad that we can do something.
Like Serpian mentioned before..
It would be really great if people from Europe can directly send it to the address. I think the transport costs would be less on both sides for us and MB , so that the money is more invested for the stuff they need than for the transport...

[CLinAK]

Here's a link for some inexpensive blankets, but I can't afford the price of the minimum order. It's a logo promotional company, if we put concept art logo or some other logo on (one time fee of $60), and got min. order of 24 blankets (on sale now for $8.99), it works out to $275.76, or about $10.50 apiece for a 50" x 60" 13 oz fleece blanket (cool colors). Anyone want to try to pull that together, have a logo or design to put on it?

http://www.allstarlogo.com/fleece-bl...ce-blanket.asp

Also, just sent some shoes, youth sizes 3,4, and 5. Hope they don't have really big feet for kids, I got the largest I could for the price.

I am up for a donation to a mail order wish list.

[Nibras]

Damn I really really want to help, shipping is costly but I'll see if I can send over some sketchbooks, toothpaste and anything else.

I was wondering if we could hold some sort of competition to create artwork which can be put together and presented to these kids. I know if I was in that suitation and someone did that it would mean a lot, so I think it's worth a try and it would be totally free to contribute in. No need for prizes because you'd know that you were making a difference.

Not even a competition maybe just something where everyone does a sketch/painting/drawing and all those drawing get put together in a huge sheet, printed out and given to them. Just another thought

To be honest things like THIS are what makes me wants to work for massive black. Proud guys

[Nibras]

Damn I really really want to help, shipping is costly but I'll see if I can send over some sketchbooks, toothpaste and anything else.

I was wondering if we could hold some sort of competition to create artwork which can be put together and presented to these kids. I know if I was in that suitation and someone did that it would mean a lot, so I think it's worth a try and it would be totally free to contribute in. No need for prizes because you'd know that you were making a difference.

Not even a competition maybe just something where everyone does a sketch/painting/drawing and all those drawing get put together in a huge sheet, printed out and given to them. Just another thought

To be honest things like THIS are what makes me wants to work for massive black. Proud guys

[Costau]

This is awesome...

I don't have absolutely any money to spend for getting supplies. But, I do have a ton of art supplies, unused sketchbooks, and comic books I want to donate. I'll see what I can do about including necessities as well such as vitamins, maybe some friends and family can help me out. I'll find a way.

Edit: Will it be okay if some of the art supplies are a bit used, but not too much?

[GunTrouver]

This is really great!
Maybe it's possible to start an art auction on ebay or somewhere where artists from CA can sell their artwork and the money could go directly to Kenya. Especially for those who can't afford high shipping costs this would be a possibility to help.

[Craz]

Do you think it would be a good idea to send prints of some of the works of the masters as well as sketchbooks?

[Jason Manley]

First, thank you.

Ok..excellent points. The shipping is easily resolved. Rather than ordering locally, you can order art supplies here in Austin and we can pick it up. I had thought folks would send unused stuff but there are a lot of people who want to place orders. Here is a link.

http://www.aselart.com/ is a local art store here. If you want to order directly so we can pick it up, you can email the manager from Asel, Lisa Wright, at [email protected] . She is expecting orders to her email and NOT on the website, as I have let her know, and she will hold the stuff for us to come down and pick up and ship from here, which I will cover that shipping cost from Austin to Kenya myself. Please let her know what you would like to pick up for John to pass out to the kids.

If you are a student you can get a discount at Asel by faxing a copy of your student ID to: 5124773218 and put attn: Lisa and the words KENYA-The Art Department on it.

Regarding other things like shoes or the like you can use ebay here in the US and the Austin shipping address of

Scott Richeson
C/O Jason Manley
The Art Department
4419 Ramsey Ave
Austin TX 78756


Thanks for the input too. That really helps to cut shipping costs and until it was asked, I had not considered it. Really. Thanks. Great work!


Jason

[ccsears]

Here's a link to US Army disaster blankets. probably the best value, probably not all that lightweight though. $7.95 for a really big 66x84" blanket and it's definitely going to be warm so little kids could probably share them if necessary.
http://store.colemans.com/cart/disas...l?currency=USD

links to other relatively cheap blanket options:
http://www.wallmart.com/ip/Mainstays...#ProductDetail
http://www.target.com/s/ref=sr_ln_2?...&searchSize=30
http://www.amazon.com/NEW-STEVENS-FL...1786215&sr=1-3


Jason Manley / CA.org--if you know what their water situation is, that would be good info to put online here too. there are some new options for water purification coming out on the market these days. stuff like ultraviolet LED's that kill parasites and bacteria in relatively clear (meaning sediment-free) water. lots of camping stores sell stuff like that. but if they have electricity and a faucet, it might be possible to install something a bit more long-term. not sure about prices--might be something people could pitch in for.

[Jason Manley]

Chris, that is awesome. I will ask John. What a great idea.


Jason

[Jason Manley]

A huge thanks to the artists of EA Maxis (Sims) for sending 30 sketchbooks with one sketch inside each from someone on the team!!!

[Myszt]

This is amazing, I'm so excited for this and I too am so happy to be part of such a great online community..
I'm going to go raid my closet and the entire house to find anything useful to send over. Someone asked if we can donate other things from the list, which I'm curious about too. If I find miscellaneous stuff I'd like to donate, I'll set it aside just in case, but I'll try to focus on the given list and art supplies for now.



edit: Just gathered (unused) 11 sketchbooks and 3 lined paper notebooks to donate just from one shelf alone in my closet (I have a problem, I tend to buy a new sketchbook whenever I see them)
Woohoo! Can't wait to draw a little sketch in all of them

[M-Studios]

Perhaps it is a good idea to create a list which shows what is already bought etc.
So they won't end up with 150 sketchbooks and 2 pencils.

It's pretty hard to keep track on what everyone is sending.

[Jska]

This is awesome! Just wanted to let you guys know - if you're a part of any local art groups, you should give them a heads up. I've written a few group administrators on facebook here in Vegas and they seem pretty receptive to posting the drive. We're setting up a few local drop offs and getting people to send in some extra supplies.

I just raided my studio and pulled out anything I thought could be of some help - a few sketchbooks, some cool single sheet decorative paper, waterbased paints, watercolor paper, pencils, colored pencils, ink pencils, pens... not sure if you'll have printer capabilities, but I threw in extra packs of that too.

[JuNbUg]

Since Printers was mentioned, I actually have an HP Scanner/Printer/Copier that is practically new and I have never used it? I was planning on selling it on Ebay, but thought it wouldn't be worth the trouble anyway, it's from 2006. But like I said, never used and not such a huge bulky printer. It's not in it's original box, but I will of course package it in a suitable box. I think I would feel better knowing I had donated it to a good cause. I would rather do that?
I don't know if you could accept that or if it would be useful over there? If it is great! Just let me know? I am all for helping out any kids or people needing supplies.

[Jason Manley]

This is awesome.

Hold off on sending anything as big as a printer...wow. John will let us know if he could even see that being useful. There may not be a safe place for something as large as that.

Regarding all the sketchbooks gathering..well done...well done.

Please post in here if you picked up something or are sending something. Loved seeing the pic Jska. Really awesome.

The spirit in here is really inspiring.

[jeremygordon89]

This is such a great opportunity! I'll be sending a sketchbook, art supplies, and socks over within a week or two to that address. I'd love to see the art that is created in the sketchbook also; that would be fantastic.

[Andantonius]

There's nothing better than seeing a community rise up to help someone in need, I thought all the people here were amazing artists, turns out you're all amazing people as well.

At the moment all my funds have been drained by a laptop for TAD, but as soon as I get my next payment I'm going to see about buying some of the more practical things like the shoes and socks and vitamins. I've also got a graphire4 tablet in fine condition that I can send over, and I could probably rummage up some sketchbooks and pencils as well.

Man, this is such an amazing and noble cause, well done folks.

[Myszt]

Just a random picture of what I've gathered thus far :o Dunno if the lined paper notebooks are necessary, but I figured why not. They could be used for journals or school supplies or something? The tape is kind of random, but I figured it could have a use with crafts. Also marker paper in case anyone sends markers, many sizes of sketchbooks, a couple balls I found, and some random textured paper perhaps for crafts Also found guache paints.. dunno if those are oil or water based or even possible to send?
I'll probably try to make a run to a Marshall's or something sometime soon to find modestly priced stuff like blankets and socks.

I can take out anything unnecessary/impossible to send obviously o.o This is just the beginning, I've got a whole house to go through



+

An art supply box with rulers, some charcoal, pencil sharpeners, a color wheel, paint brushes, and pastel pencils.

[inherentdarkness]

I read the post yesterday and decided to comb through my stored supplies for goodies to share. I also mentioned it to my sister who wanted to help out with some of the other requested items. As it turns out someone else overheard her talking about it and decided to help as well. This woman made a stop at one of the churches in town and voila - 14 pairs of shoes of various sizes and types are boxed up and waiting to ship. Way to go good samaritan!!

In terms of supplies, would beads and other more craft oriented items be well received to? or is this limited to more fine art materials?

Also, for anyone interested I just got an email today that Hobby Lobby has free shipping on orders over $25 until 4/24/2010.

[Cacodaemonia]

I'm going to pick up a sketchbook and some toothpaste this week and will mail it out.

[M-Studios]

Good to see that people are gathering stuff!
Another thing that popped in my mind, is it a good idea to send some instruction books so they have something to learn from in their free time?

[Sepulverture]

Hey Jason,

It is obvious you're passionate about doing the right thing here and helping these kids out however you're able, it's very commendable, but what about those of us outside the states? Especially in Asia.

Those of us in East Asia could forward items to your office in Shanghai, as stated in my previous post, but you must supply us with the delivery address.

[Markane]

Hey guys. This is John checking in from a cyber cafe about a 10 minute walk from the rescue center.

I can't say "thank you" enough. I just caught up with these replies and although I haven't been too active in this online community in the past, your eagerness to help is inspiring and that's an understatement. I'm glad to be part of this with you all.

They do have electricity at the center but it is unreliable or at least unpredictable most of the time. Being boys (and we have near 80 now), they are pretty rough with their belongings and are just as happy to have used items as new.

American plugs don't work here but an English volunteer told me they use the same kind here as in England.

I'll check back on this forum when I can and will coordinate with Jason to get this going.

Thanks a million, Jason.

Thanks again, everyone!

[Jason Manley]

OK we have plenty of sketchbooks now. Awesome work!!!! Awesome.

Let's see what John says about food and things. Maybe we can send breakfast bars and non perishables. Will see. Now that there are a bunch of art supplies we should look at some of the other items that would be cool.

harmonica
drumsticks
shakers or other cheap portable percussion tools
comic books

Any other ideas?