The Whimsical side of Orwick Arts

The Whimsical images and Illustrations Slideshow.

All the best,

Michael Orwick Orwick Arts http://michaelorwick.blogspot.com/

http://www.michaelorwick.com/

Talent

Talent by Keith Bond http://www.keithbond.com Today's guest author is artist, Keith Bond. I first saw this great article on Clint Watson's Fine Art Views. This article has been edited and published with the author's permission. Dear Subscriber, The most recent Southwest Art Magazine (December '08) honors 20 legendary western artists. Each of these artists is 70 years old or older, and each has been at the top of the western art scene for decades. They are gifted, successful, and influential artists. (Among the list are several that I have admired for years: James Reynolds, Richard Schmid, David Leffel, Kenneth Riley, and Howard Terpning.) As I read the interviews, I was intrigued by the similarity of the answers to many of the questions. One particular theme caught my attention. Each artist interviewed expressed this same idea in his or her own words. To summarize: 'Art is not easy. It is extremely difficult. It takes a lot of time, effort, practice, etc. Many people think it comes easily or naturally.' This sparked several ideas and thoughts in my mind. I will share only a few of my thoughts. I agree with each of the artists' assertion that creating art is extremely difficult and requires a tremendous amount of work, practice, determination, etc. However, included in the list of attributes an artist has is also talent. Some shy away from using that word, because it implies success without work. On the contrary, work is essential to the development of talents. Clark Hulings stated it well, "Most of us artists have a gift. But a gift is an inclination and some small ability to do something along with a great deal of application and hard work." Interestingly, I often hear people talk about someone who plays an instrument well or who excels at sports. There is usually a comment made about how much practice and time was devoted to achieve such a high level of skill. Yet those same people making those comments see an artist's work and say something to the effect of, "What talent you have!" In reality, there is no difference between the musician, the athlete, or the visual artist. Each has a great gift or 'talent'. However, each must also perspire. Each must practice long and hard. Each is never satisfied with mediocrity. To attain greatness each must push the limits, train, learn, practice, fail often, but get back up and learn from the failures. There are frequent successes, but there is also the realization that there is still much more to learn. A huge component is the unrelenting desire to become the best. It is a passion, almost an obsession. Being an artist (or musician, athlete, etc.) comes with a price, but it is gratifying. I do not pretend to know the magical recipe of how many parts talent, how much determination, nor how many dashes of luck is required for an artist to succeed. As for me, I intend to work as hard as I can to ensure that I reach my fullest potential. I want to find out how much talent is still in its infancy, waiting to be nurtured. I also hope that luck favors me along the way. Thanks again to Keith Bond All the best, Michael Orwick Orwick Arts http://michaelorwick.blogspot.com/ http://www.michaelorwick.com/

Hope, 52 Plus 48 equals 100

This is from my good friends at Duirwaigh Gallery.

The same great folks that brought the wonderful knock At The Door film and book to the world to help raise money for the make a wish foundation ( a project I was fortunate enough to have my art a part of).

http://www.duirwaighgallery.com/inspiration_duirwaighfilms_entry.php?section=84

Dear friends, a new film is on the horizon. a little project about saving our country, our planet, our selves through hope, tolerance and inclusion: www.duirwaigh.com/hope.mov if it blesses you, please forward to anyone and everyone you feel could use a blessing. a note: it's image-laden, so please give it a few moments to load!

brightly woven, angi

Real Men Paint En Plein Air. Plus a few new paintings for Cole Gallery

From American Artist Magazine by Allison Malafronte Nothing proves a plein air painter’s prowess like surviving a hard-core painting session battling the elements of nature. The young, talented California artists Jeremy Lipking and Tony Pro learned this the hard and—as you will see from the video below—hilarious way when they set out to record an instructional plein air-painting session that instead turned into a showdown with a seriously perturbed Mother Nature.

for all of this article and to see a great video of Jeremy and Tony in the Sierras.

http://forums.myamericanartist.com/blogs/pleinair/archive/2008/11/13/real-men-paint-en-plein-air.aspx

to see more of Jeremy's videos http://blip.tv/file/1431968

4 of the new paintings for Cole gallerie's small works show

Sun's Breath (turqouis sky and field with treees) 11x14 unframed size

Cole Gallery

info@colegallery.net http://www.colegallery.net 107 5th Ave S Edmonds, WA 98020 Phone: (425) 697-2787 Fax: (425) 672-4986

4. Snow's Shawl (sunset cool blue snow) 8x10 unframed size

Shrouded (Purple fog) 8x10 unframed size

Breaking through (Aspen Trees in foggy landscape) 11x14 unframed size

New Orwick Arts Slide Show

View Album

Get your own

Thank you so much for all of the wonderful support I have gotten from everyone all year long. I look forward to continuing to share my artistic endeavors, continued education and painter’s journey with you. Michael Orwick www.MichaelOrwick.­com http://­michaelorwick.­blogspot.com/

The most inspiring thing you see this week, Charter for Compassion

From one of my most favorite websites on the world wide web TED Ideas Worth Spreading http://www.ted.com/

I urge you to take a moment to watch a short video that went live on the web today. Beautifully filmed and edited by Jesse Dylan and his team at Form TV, it might just be the most inspiring thing you see this week. Please feel free to pass this information on.

That video, and this website mark the launch of an inspiring global endeavor to celebrate compassion and to promote a new collaboration between the world's religions. What we're doing, starting today, is to begin writing the Charter for Compassion that Karen Armstrong called for earlier this year when she made her TED Prize wish. And the exhilarating twist here is that the writing won't be done behind closed doors. It will be done by you... and perhaps millions of others around the world. Because we're using special collaborative web tools created by the geniuses at Kluster to enable this be truly a charter "created by the world for the world".

Later this week millions of Muslims, Christians, and Jews will be sent an email inviting them to come to the site and offer their choice of words, in their own language, to help create a charter capable of inspiring the world to focus on what the great religions share, as opposed to what divides them. Already people are responding to this amazing idea with passion and excitement. The goal is to obtain all input from global participants within the next four weeks, select the best contributions with the help of a council of religious "sages", and conduct a major launch of the finished document in 2009.

We'd love you, the TED community, who saw the birth of this idea in March, to be among the first to contribute.The two things you can do to help now:

1. Help us write the Charter! The first writing phase begins now with the Preamble, a concise explanation of why the Charter is necessary and urgent.

2. Send out the ask to everyone in your network. We want this to be a truly global and diverse document that represents all of our voices.

A very exciting day for the TED Prize. We are honored to have you on this journey with us.

Thank you to all of you who have helped get us this far! And a special thank you to Kluster who have put so much into building this site.

Very best wishes,

Chris Anderson

TED CuratorAmy Novogratz

TED Prize DirectorBackground:

At TED2008 in March of this year, TED Prize winner Karen Armstrong was granted a wish to change the world. This is what she asked for:

"I wish that you would help with the creation, launch and propagation of a Charter for Compassion, crafted by a group of leading inspirational thinkers from the three Abrahamic traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam and based on the fundamental principles of universal justice and respect."

Since then support for idea has built among numerous religious groups, spiritual leaders such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan, and Britain's first female Rabbi Julia Neuberger have joined a special Council to oversee the Charter, and Kluster, a collaborative decision making platform, has built a groundbreaking site that will allow anyone to contribute to the Charter.http://tr.subscribermail.com/cc.cfm?sendto=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2ECharterforCompassion%2Eorg&tempid=ca94722d33f1413eaf50e5ce4695fe78&mailid=3061a4f10a26429ea43587e96237120b http://dotsub.com/view/767c68bb-db0f-4bf3-87bb-dfce18217f68

All the best,Michael Orwick Orwick Arts http://michaelorwick.blogspot.com/http://www.MichaelOrwick.com My art hints at a story and then invites you to finish the narrative. My style has been called Inspired Expressionism, which combines impressionistic brush strokes and a touch of realism to create the atmosphere and lighting woven into my work. The easiest way to see my work is at www.michaelorwick.com

“A Gift of Art” with a drawing for an original painting as well as two $200 gift certificates!

An exquisite presentation of delightfully collectible works! November 15, 2008 – December 12, 2008 www.ColeGallery.net 107 5TH AVE SOUTH • EDMONDS, WASHINGTON 98020 • 425.697.2787 Open Tues ~ Sunday “A Gift of Art” with a drawing for an original painting as well as two $200 gift certificates! You must be present to win at 7:20pm on Thursday, November 20th. Over 16 outstanding painters bring their favorite offerings featuring exquisite works at very affordable prices. A variety of subjects, styles and mediums will be represented by top Impressionists and Realists in Cole Gallery's annual show. Perfectly priced for gifts or to add to your own collection, enjoy this show on-line or make a visit to the beautiful waterfront ferry town of Edmonds. Some of Michael Orwick's paintings that well be available. http://www.colegallery.net/searchresults.php?exhibitionId=49&start= (8x10) by Michael Orwick Taking the Shortcut (11x14),by Cheryl King The Dressing Room (10x10),by Jill Ingram Autumn Branches in Full Light(8x10) by Michael Orwick The Quietest Day in China(14x11), by Joshua Flint Creamy Roses (6x6),by Jennifer Diehl Fly Fishing (8x10),by Mark Boyle Painting and Gift Certificate Give Away! Once again, CIM Financial Group will be sponsoring“A Gift of Art” with a drawing for an original paintingas well as two $200 gift certificates!You must be present to win at7:20pm on Thursday, November 20th! Click here to see our complete schedule of upcomingexhibitions, as well as art classes. Click here to view the Small Works Show All the Best, Michael Orwick http://www.michaelorwick.com/

Obama's cultural program - Eyes over the border

Eyes over the border November 7, 2008

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek." (Barack Obama)

Now that it's finally over we can talk about it.

Believe me, Canadians were paying attention, and now that it's a done deal there's a bit of street dancing up here. But, goodness knows, Barack Obama's got a lot on his plate.

Of interest is Obama's cultural program. He's apparently been working on it for a couple of years, since long before his nomination. For a guy who writes poetry and consults with Bruce Springsteen and Jay-Z, it probably came naturally to form that panel of active professional artists to advise him.

Obama wants to increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and change the Federal Tax Code for artists. He has ideas like sending out "Artists Corps" to underprivileged schools and communities, expansion of public-private partnerships to increase cultural education programs, cultural diplomacy and the inclusion of foreign talent, less inward-looking xenophobia all 'round, as well as health care for artists.Obama also backs Senator Patrick Leahy's "Artist-Museum Partnership Act," allowing artists to deduct the fair market value of work given to charitable institutions. We might hope that this enlightenment may shine on fundraisers too. Here in Canada, if you want to donate your painting to raise cash for a favorite charity, you can get a "tax receipt" all right, but the government wants you to pretend you sold the work, take the amount into income, and then deduct it. The result is a wash--extra paper-shuffling for accountants, misery and dismay for both artists and charities. We don't get no respect, eh? Positive change in this last area would do wonders for charities. Fundraisers would attract better and more valuable art, raise standards, and would give relief to perpetually beleaguered artists. Think of the value to educational institutions alone. Canada--that great nation somewhere north of Detroit known for its regular, south-sweeping cold fronts, is watching carefully. So are our American cousins. "It is unprecedented," says Robert L. Lynch, CEO of "Americans for the Arts," a Washington-based arts advocacy group. "No presidential candidate in recent times has addressed cultural issues in such detail." Best regards, Robert PS: Esoterica: Government involvement in the arts is like the porridge in the Goldilocks-Three Bears story. It has to be "just right." Obama is brainy enough to get the support going toward education so that young people begin to know and appreciate the arts once more. Then, perhaps sometime later, free enterprise can truly kick in--yep, it works in the arts too. Lest we forget. Oh, and by the way--Congratulations, Barack Obama. Yes, please go ahead and forward this letter to a friend. This does not mean that they will automatically be subscribed to the Twice-Weekly Letter. They have to do it voluntarily and can find out about it by going to The Painter's Keys website. Subscribe Free!Your name and emailaddress will be kept safe.

www.michaelorwick.com

The Cover of Coast Weekend, and feature article interview

Painter Michael Orwick and his daughter, Elena Grace, enjoy a stormy moment at Haystack Rock. Orwick is the featured artist at DragonFire Studio & Gallery during Cannon Beach's Stormy Weather Arts Festival this weekend. Photo by Gabriela Orwick.

Stormy Weather shines again

The annual festival of the arts makes Cannon Beach the bright spot on the Oregon Coast Nov. 7-9. BY KERRI BUCKLEY To see the full article please click

http://www.coastweekend.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&ArticleID=41761&TM=46697.88

The 21st annual Stormy Weather Arts Festival coaxes artists, families and art lovers to Cannon Beach to discuss art and to delight the senses during the weekend of Nov. 7 through 9. Calendars and businesses are brimming with exhibits, lectures, readings, food and music at area shops, restaurants and galleries.Weekend festivities kick off Friday with the annual Quick Draw event. Artists use raw materials, creating masterpieces in one hour starting at 7 p.m. at the Tolovana Inn, 3400 S. Hemlock St. After works are completed, they'll be auctioned. Tickets to this event are limited; food will be available. One artist profiled in the Quick Draw is Michael Orwick. His impressionistic paintings are both shocking and thrilling through his use of light, color and movement. His works are exhibited at DragonFire Studio & Gallery; his love of the Oregon Coast is evident. In an interview, he said he "hoped to portray the fog and haze with the light and beauty that contrasts those elements on the coast of Oregon." Read his blog about light, sound and color at michaelorwick.blogspot.com/2008/09/oregon-coast-gallery-gets-stormy-in.html.

'New Splendour,' oil painting by Michael Orwick. Orwick will be taking part in the Quick Draw event, which he calls 'one of my most favorite art events of the year.'

'Cannon Beach Oregon,' oil painting by Michael Orwick.

'Part of the Mighty,' oil painting by Michael Orwick, featured artist at DragonFire Studio & Gallery.

All the best,

Michael Orwick Orwick Arts http://michaelorwick.blogspot.com/

http://www.MichaelOrwick.

Join Artist Michael Orwick as Beautiful Cannon Beach celebrates the early days of winter

Hello, and Happy Halloween to all my friends and collectors and collector friends.

A sneak peak of some of the oil paintings that I have been working on for the upcoming Stormy Weather festival in Cannon Beach at Dragon Fire Gallery. http://michaelorwick.blogspot.com/2008/09/oregon-coast-gallery-gets-stormy-in.html

On November 7 to 9, the north Oregon coast town of Cannon Beach celebrates the early days of winter with the enormous Stormy Weather Arts Festival. DragonFire Gallery's portion of that citywide event is three days of color, light, music, food and conversation. An enormously talented trio of oil painters makes up our featured artists this year. Michael Orwick, Tracy McEwen and Christopher Bibby will eat, drink and sleep their medium over the weekend, appearing at the quick draw on Friday night http://michaelorwick.blogspot.com/2008/08/one-of-my-most-favorite-art-events-of.html and then spending Saturday and Sunday in the gallery, demonstrating and chatting about their techniques.

Dragonfire Studio Gallery

http://www.dragonfirestudio.com/

123 S Hemlock St # 106

Cannon Beach, OR 97110

(503) 436-1533

"Experience that “certain slant of light” Michael Orwick brings to his work. Michael fuses a fierce impressionistic talent with modern sensibility to paint Oregon landscapes that shimmer with light. He celebrates the natural beauty around us as only a native-born son can."

-DragonFire Gallery

Paintings listed from the top down

Shyly Bow 14x11 oils on canvas panel (Top Orange) Our Storm Is Past 10x8 oils on canvas panel (Sunset on beach)

New Splendour 20x16 oils on canvas panel (Soft light on Creek )

In Green Shadows 8x10 oils on canvas panel (Pink sky)

Part of the Mighty 14x11 oils on canvas panel (big wave)

Be Still 11x14 oils on canvas panel (purple sky)

Gaze Back 14x18 oils on canvas panel (Birch Trees)

The Day's Amens 10x8 oils on canvas panel (trees at sunset)

All the best, Michael Orwick Orwick Arts http://www.michaelorwick.com/

http://michaelorwick.blogspot.com/

My art hints at a story and then invites you to finish the narrative. My style has been called Inspired Expressionism, which combines impressionistic brush strokes and a touch of realism to create the atmosphere and lighting woven into my work. The easiest way to see my work is at http://www.michaelorwick.com/ Use your voice to make a change...Get out and vote!

please join us!

http://lrf-finearts.com/index.htm

The Kingstad Gallery is celebrating its 1-Year Anniversary with a PAINT-OUT ...

FALL-IN / FALL-OUT

 

Portland Plein Air & Studio Painters will bring easels, palettes, and brushes to Beaverton Creek Wetlands 

(1/2 block north of The Kingstad Gallery)

 

Last Tuesday 10/28/08, 3:00 - 6:00 pm

 

If weather does not permit a PAINT-OUT ...  There will be a PAINT-IN in the Kingstad Gallery lobby.

 

Reception Follows  6:00 - 8:00 pm

 

Watch the artists work.

 

Participate in post-Paint-Out discussion and critique.

 

View gorgeous works of art.

 

Enjoy gourmet hors d'oeuvres, deserts & fine wines or local brews.

 

Congratulate Portland Plein Air & Studio Painter's Exhibit 2008 Award Winners.

 

Portland Plein Air & Studio Painters’ Annual Exhibit 2008 

Expressions Of Nature Expressions of Self 

through 12/06/08

Award Recipients ...

Best Of Show: Celeste Bergin   

Thoughts Of Malcolm 30 x 40, oil 

Kitty Wallis  Hot Tub II, 24 x 36, pastel  First 

Michael Orwick  Sunset At Vista House, 20 x 18, oil  Second 

Amanda Houston  May Clover, 20 x 20, pastel   Third           

Honorable Mention:

Brenda Boylan  View From Center, 8 x 13, pastel  

Maeona Urban  End Of The Tile Factory, 11 x 14, oil  

Barbara Szkutznik  Passage, 31 x 36, pastel 

Juried by George Broderick, Eric Kingstad & Lora R Fisher

Exhibiting with these award-winning Portland Plein Air & Studio Painters are internationally recognized guest artists:

Mitch Baird • Eric Bowman • George Broderick

Scott Gellatly • Eric Jacobsen • Cathleen Rehfeld

and Portland Plein Air & Studio Painters members:

Vicki Zimmerman, Jack VanNess, Katherine vanSchoonhoven, Quin Sweetman, Carolyn Rondthaler, 

Cris Merrill, Mary Luzinski,  Bev Drew Kindley, Kimberly Kent, Carrie Holst, Kathy Fisher, 

Jonathan Farley, and Kathy Delumpa Allegri

Joining this esteemed group of artists are:

stone sculptor Joni Mitchell and metalsmith Bill Dawson

Information:

Lora R Fisher

Director, The Kingstad Gallery

Lora@Kingstad.com

Lora@LRF-FineArts.com 

503.626.6338 • 971.344.5848

15450 SW Millikan Way, Beaverton, Oregon 97006 • 503.626.6338

Presenting original works of art by regional and national artists from all visual disciplines, 

in the largest privately-owned exhibition space in the Portland Metro region.

Gallery hours: 

Monday – Thursday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Friday, 9:00 am – midnight

Saturday, 5:30 – midnight

Sunday, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

or by appointment: 503.626.6338 

All the best,

Michael Orwick

 

Orwick Arts

 

http://michaelorwick.blogspot.com/

http://www.MichaelOrwick.com

Poverty 2008 - Blog Action Day - One Person Can Make a Difference

This post is part of Blog Action Day 08 - Poverty

Just wanted to remind everyone who is participating in Blog Action Day that today for anyone in my part of the globe. Don’t forget to write your Blog Action Day post! For those who are unaware, Blog Action Day is one day a year (Oct. 15) when thousands of bloggers talk about one topic. Last year it was the environment, and this year it’s poverty. One day a year when bloggers unite to change the conversation. It’s a project started by a few great people. If you haven’t signed up yet, it’s not too late — join in the action and make a difference! Also see: 88 Ways to DO Something About Poverty Right Now

Special Thanks to Guest Blogger Barney Davey

http://www.artprintissues.com/

The timing for this annual event is either the best or worst of times depending on your perspective. I think it comes at the best of times to remind those of us who have the means and time to read blogs how fortunate we are. Many, in not all of us, are rightfully concerned about the financial gyrations val rocking the globe with ghastly news and predictions a meltdown not seen in the lives of any of us under the age of 80 or so. Perhaps not such good timing to ask people to dig into their dwindling assets and help others, I realize this and that is why I chose to republish the list below. One Person Can Make a Difference. "There is no limit on the amount of good one turned on person can do." - Stepen Covey Blog Action Day is an annual nonprofit event that aims to unite the world’s bloggers, podcasters and videocasters, to post about the same issue on the same day. Our aim is to raise awareness and trigger a global discussion. One Issue, Thousands of Voices Global issues like poverty are extremely complex. There is no simple, clear answer. By asking thousands of different people to give their viewpoints and opinions, Blog Action Day creates an extraordinary lens through which to view these issues. Each blogger brings their own perspective and ideas. Each blogger posts relating to their own blog topic. And each blogger engages their audience differently And use it. It’s called Blog ACTION Day for a reason. Thank you to all who contributed ideas. Thank you to our huge list of over 80 supporting organisations (here, here and here). May Blog Action Day 2008 be absolutely unforgettable. Got poverty relief idea to add to this list? Know how we could improve and/or spread this list? Leave your ideas in a comment below or email us at central@blogactionday.org. 88 Ways to Take Action Against Poverty Right Now Eat meatless meals 2x a week. Donate that grocery money to a local food bank. - TarotByArwen Be homeless for a day/night. - Lex Stop putting off adopting a child through an organization like Compassion International (or adopt another one). - Lex Make a loan on Kiva, or buy a couple gift certificates and give them away to friends. - Lex Get a group together to go door-to-door collecting canned foods for your local soup kitchen/shelter. - Lex Take a homeless person to dinner and actually sit/talk with him. - Lex Stop being lazy. Find a way to do your job better so that you can save an hour a day, or be that much more productive. - Alex Shalman Stop buying junk to make yourself look pretty and donate it to homeless people and hungry people. - Craigsnede Make flyers to stick in the local library. - Craigsnede If you have a musical instrument you no longer use, donate to the still-struggling musicians and students in New Orleans, who are still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. A few great organizations that will accepts musical instruments are Tipitina’s Foundation (www.tipitinasfoundation.org) and The New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund (www.nomrf.org/donations.html). I’m interviewing a Capuchin monk vowed to Poverty about his work with Detroit’s poor for my blog, and I’m trying to arrange a fund raiser with my author and PIVTR radio station friends. Find a gripping picture or video having to do with poverty and publish it on the Web. Stop drinking Coke and bottled water for a day and save on plastic. Will save a lot of plastic if each of us does it for only one day. Share your skill or knowledge, so they can improve their knowledge to increase their life/prosperity. Visit an orphanage. Stop being lazy. Give comfort to the poor. Donate. Check your closet and make sure that anything you have not used last winter is taken to a charitable organization. Ask your friends and neighbors and volunteer to pick up the clothes, launder them and deliver them to those organizations. They will do no good in your closet and a world of good to someone in need. On one day only eat food that you have asked someone for directly or for the money you need to buy it. Pay attention to the feelings. Have a “sponsor me” day. Donate money to a poverty relief cause for everyone who leaves a comment on your blog that day. Designers for Blog Action Day group on Flickr. Submit your designs: http://www.flickr.com/groups/bad2008design/ Organize a Hunger 101 Program for a local youth group. Our Girl Scout community learned about what they could do to help the working poor in our community. http://spedr.com/da5f This inspired them to organize several Take Action events: http://spedr.com/krfw Add the “Women Rock” badge to your website or Facebook page. if any of us knew or aware about any organisation which can help educate them, like, skills centre, entrepeneurship centre..u know, stuffs they do to help these pople actually do something to improve their life, we might try to collect name carsd from these organisations (NGOs or ministries), and walk around and passed these cards to them, with of couse, maybe some donations of any supplies. Skip a weekly trip to the grocery store and donate the money saved to a food bank. I do this once a year for my family of 5. For that week we only eat what is left in the pantry or fridge. By the end of the week, pickings are slim and we get a sense of what it feels like to not have the luxury of tasty, well balanced meals every night. Make a personal fundraising page in 5 minutes on Firstgiving.com. Raise money securely online for any US-based nonprofit committed to ending poverty in the US or around the world. Here’s an example page: http://www.firstgiving.com/bapbwm. Have dinner on the floor and make it a very small meal (like chicken broth, watered down milk, and maybe a small piece of bread?) Talk about the blessings you have and that the meal represents those who don’t get to eat “big” on a daily basis. Volunteer at a soup kitchen! Play freerice.com! If you have take out coffee, skip it for an entire week, donate the savings! Give 5 bucks to a homeless person who looks hungry! Talk with your children about poverty and who it affects. Save your old stuff and sold it for charity Support charity organization in your country. Reducing poverty may start in your nearest region. Do something to touch 3 people or to reach out to 3 people and get them to pay it forward. Give a gallon of water to each of 3 people who need it? Give a $10 gift certificate to each of 3 homeless, single mothers so that she and her children can have one hot meal at a fast food restaurant? Ask 3 entrepreneurs to each make a donation to 3 people or causes? Holding perhaps daily or weekly community classes for imparting knowledge from our side and educating the local masses is something we all can do by coming together at grass root level. Avoiding overconsumption. Contributing to relief funds which can assist this cause. Host a 1 day famine and collect donations. With the donations, pass it to a Welfare/Poverty Organisation. Plan a pot luck/BBQ or a get together inviting close friends and neighbours, to bring awareness and also to raise funds for a shelter home. Funds can be used to purchase the necessary groceries for the home. Pray for the comfort and safety of the world’s poor. Pray for the strength, wisdom and courage to help each of them find prosperity. Combat corruption! Don’t just talk to your kids about poverty - get them involved by having them go through their toys and clothes to find concrete things to pass along. The next time they want you to buy something for them - talk about what that money could buy for someone who had no food… then follow through and donate the money you didn’t spend. Donate your time and expertise to teach a class to those trying to find a new way to earn a living. To add to the previous suggestions, rather than just donate money to homeless people, why not use the money you would use on yourself for a coffee to buy one for someone else. If you get coupons for free beverages or meals, keep them with you and give them to someone in need. As you find organizations to which you like to donate food, clothing, etc., spend some time volunteering for that organization. Contribute to the organizations you are already supporting in other ways. Educate others. If you are a teacher, talk to your students about poverty. Get their opinions. Inspire them. If you work in other areas, strike up a conversation with your colleagues in the lunchroom or lounge. Get educated so you can answer questions and provide information that might spur others into action. Visit The Hunger Site every day and click the link to feed the hungry. It’s fast and it’s free and there’s absolutely NO excuse not to do it every day you’re online! Be compassionate. Invite friends to watch documentaries how poverty destroyed ones life,family and their future. Do not waste water on that day. Express your love and compassion for one street child by having an enrollment conversation with her. Ask your child to share her food with the child of your maid on that day. Make a list of five items you haven’t used for long and have no plans to use them in future either. And distribute them among local poors with all humility. Compose a poem on the theme ‘Making Poverty A History’ and get it published in a local magazine or paper. Also, ask your baby to recite the poem in her school. Talk to your five relatives about the poverty issue and invite them to come up with their suggestions to eradicate poverty. Organize a drawing competition for kids on the poverty theme and exhibit their works in a local school or community centre. Do not overeat on that day. Save electricity on that day and contribute the equivalent savings to a local charity. Contribute your one day salary to a child rehabilitation centre. Get a few friends, gather all your unused items, sell it and buy something a meal for the poor in your neighborhood. Travel to a poor country or area. Look for ways to make a difference on the ground there. On your next off day from work, go to a homeless shealter and help serve food to those who are there, talk with them, listen to their stories, you will find that they were at one time, alot like yourself. Let’s learn to love and respect one another, and to give to those who have less. Pictures. It’s one thing to say that the milk my son spilled at lunch this afternoon was more than some kids get. But some people don’t see how real that is unless they’re looking at a picture.So, I’m looking for them. Talk about poverty. To most Americans, it’s not real unless we see it. I’m going to be revamping my blog so that poverty is prominent, and I’m talking about it more often. Don’t stop at the generalities. War, famine, corruption, etc. all happen, and should be resisted. However, let’s dig deeper and go into the specifics. Not just talking about thousands of people dying of thirst … let’s talk about a real person. Pull out the hearts of the readers, and make them confront what they know is right and wrong. Instead of video games and other toys, give your neighbors and friends gift certificates for classical music lessons. For every $1 spent on music education, by my calculations, you get a $4.57 return on your investment from age 4-22 and that investment can never be taken away from you. Throughout one’s lifetime it pays much, much more. Take the money you save and give it in music lessons to the next person. Go to your school board meetings and demand better music education. The arts are part of the core curriculum of “No Child Left Behind” and as I’ve been telling people for a few months now, the less we have to pay for health care and crime, the more we have to spend on food and shelter and doing good for our neighbors. The more intelligent we are and the more productive we are, the more fruitfully we can spend our time, and the more we can produce to give away. The reason why poverty still exist in Indonesia is because people is giving cash money to the poor at the streets and those money usually being used for things that usually destructive/not good (buying drugs, etc.) In order to stop poverty, the government already got their program to fight it but it didn’t go successfully for people still think that they are better off at the streets and there’s this what-so-called ‘mafia’ that organize these poor people at the streets. In order to fight this, the people started to give food/meal/clothes to the poor instead of cash money so it would stop the process. I think in order to stop poverty is to give what the people really need, not just giving it away for the sake of ‘being kind’ Fund educational programs for women. Ensure that women have legal protections. Educate people about the plight of women around the world. Educate yourself on one aspect of poverty that affects women, whether it’s educating yourself on what’s going on with rape or abortion legislation in your own local area, or finding out what you can do to help women in other countries attain the basic human rights they deserve, by doing research on organisations that help women and contributing to those organisations in some way. Do a campaign of creative advertisements for public awareness and a call to action. Do a poster, do an ambient campaign, write a radio or TV spot. Breadline Africa is launching a Blogger Bake Off to help raise awareness and funds. If you want to do something on Blog Action Day, you should turn your talking (which is very worthwhile) into action: donate to a charity. Organisations that use funds directly in poor communities will be using your money where it can do the most good: at the grass roots level. Educate yourself. Prepare a space in your home for the poor to stay as needed. Well, what are you waiting for? Pick something from this list. Go NOW. Do it. Do it. And the world will be richer in mind and body. photos by uncultured, babasteve, Aaron Dieppa