USA Projects

More Recess is a charitable visual art project between Levine Children's Hospital and myself where the kids in residence create a type of artwork made by blowing bubbles. The idea for this goes back to my time at the McColl Center for Visual Art. One evening I was scrubbing a days worth of paint off my hands when a large soap bubble formed around my thumb, as I moved it around I noticed the pigments floating through the bubbles iridescent pattern. And that's when I walked over to a near by sheet of paper and touch the bubble on it to see what would happen. The result left some of the iridescence, but the process definitely needed improvement. After some time of experimenting I figured out what the best kind of paper and soap solution to use and produced my first bubble art portfolio. At the same time, I was also contemplating whether or not to grow my hair out again for Locks of Love, and right at that moment sparked the idea in using this new bubble art towards charity. 

There was one thing that stuck out when making the first portfolio, not only was it really fun and very easy to do, it also enabled me to confront a major issue I have when working with color—I'm red/green colorblind. How the color seem to balance out, I don't really know it just just does, but there was a bigger lesson I took away. A rather cool way to embrace the Modern Art criticism, “a kid could that”. But that very critique in this case, stands as a way to provide flexibility in the medium when approached by the variety of conditions kids face during their recovery at the hospital. An equalizing art form such as this permits all kids, regardless of their physical or mental capacity, a way to be a part of More Recess. 

Not only will the kids make artwork for themselves they are also taking part in creating a professional exhibition. What I am imagining is transforming an area with oversized bubble art using imagery that moves the viewer in eliciting fun carefree memories from childhood. When it comes to exhibitions I want to focus on having the works shown in contemporary art museums but I am open to showing in other venues. Afterwards, the artworks will be sold off to raise money for pediatric medical research. 

The proceeds will support studio/wood shop rental, carrier fees, insurance, materials for large scale works, and materials covering the bubble art for over 100 kids. If we raise more than our $25,000 goal it will be used to expand More Recess at Levine Children's Hospital but also begin in what is needed to take it national. 

More Recess's goal is to bring out the fun in life for everyone, whether it's by morphing the world's surroundings into a cartoonish bubbly canvas or just helping kids cut loose at a time when things are looking down. With your support, the Levine Children Hospital and I will be able to finance the first steps in making More Recess a reality.