Public Service Announcement #23
4 more days to support "libraries are havens" + inspiring art of late + rules for creativity
PSA: 4 days left in the “Libraries are Havens” campaign!
Yes, just 4 days left in this campaign! We need your help to get aid (food, water, tents, hygiene essentials) to library communities in Gaza—our goal is US $10,000 by this Sunday, June 1st. Any amount or share is greatly appreciated for the children, librarians, and families of the two IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) libraries that they and the Story Sunbirds created this campaign for.
Because libraries are indeed havens! They were havens for these children and now they’ve lost their homes and their library, are suffering immeasurably, and two librarians continue to help them.
Quotes in support of “Libraries are Havens” from four well-known children’s book authors, Naomi Shihab Nye (The Turtle of Oman), Katherine Paterson (Bridge to Terabithia), and Kyo Maclear (It Began with a Page).
"I spend as much time as possible with [the children], which may sometimes be interrupted by the sound of shelling, explosions, and fear. But our ability to absorb things and breathe properly has kept us psychologically safe, even if it is simple. The children release their emotions through drawing, dialogue, and talking about their psyches and their struggles...Our children love love, but they are deprived of it."
12-year-old Sajed speaking from the heart:
“I wonder every day why children’s rights organizations and human rights organizations do not have a role for us…children are being exterminated…what is the role of the whole world?”
Please share or give if you are able. All the details, information, and donation portal are at IBBY.
The artwork for this campaign was created by Yasuko Toda.
Art lately as inspiration and compass
Jeffrey Gibson at The Broad Museum here in LA: “The Space in which to Place Me”
One word for this exhibit and for Gibson’s work: wow. It combines human rights, Indigeneity, history, words and text, patterns-beads-ribbons, garments, movement, vibrating color, queerness, and absolutely stunning artistry.
From the LA Times: “Gibson’s art is all about making a place in the world where fear — the feeling of being overwhelmed by the speed and volume of modern life, the seemingly intractable political divide, the malignant racism that plagues the nation — has no toehold, much less a leg to stand on.”
From Gibson: “It all starts at a much smaller scale. It starts in childhood. It starts with socialization. It starts with people having examples of equity and fairness to mimic. If you have those examples, you really lessen the degree of violence that we see in society today.”
“Powerful because we’re different” and “Every Body is Sacred.”
Animator Haneen stop motion animation with children
“Puzzle Child Dreams” created by displaced children 9-14 years-old in Al-Shati Camp.
“I have dreams…I’m a child from Gaza and I have many ambitions…I wish I could return to my school, drink clean water, and play football…I want to laugh from my heart, read my books again, swing on the playground, and eat bread. I hope flour reaches Gaza, the war stops, and the bombing stops forever…I want to live in safety.”
Displaced children are making stop motion videos—taught and empowered by incredible women animators with acclaimed and altruistic director Haneen Koraz at the helm. Join the Patreon to be part of the community. Support these animation workshops. Follow Haneen and @ac4pal for animators who help this team.
Moshir’s calligraphy from The People’s Marketplace
“Why do I need you in the light if I do not find you in the dark” Khalil Gibran (translated to English).
Picked up an amazing piece of art-calligraphy by Moshir at The People’s Marketplace.
5 rules for creativity
It’s hard to focus on one’s creative life these days. Or on anything. And yet, I am attempting to do that in pockets in order to stay afloat Perhaps you are too.
Carolyn Yoo collected and created the “Rules to Live By” zine from a bunch of different makers. I purchased the digital copy, which also has an activity: to write your own 5 rules! These are mine. And I invite you to write yours too!
5 Rules for Creativity/Writing
1. Connect with yourself and others
2. Create! Make space and prioritize creating.
3. Believe—in your voice and that there’s a path for it.
4. Art is life, life is art.
5. Follow the energy.
(I stole #4 from my partner with his permission.)
Please share one of your creative “rules” in the comments!
If you’re looking for support for your creativity—if it’s around writing children’s books—I hope you’ll reach out by replying to this email. Currently booking picture book practitioning for July/August and critiques any time!
Thank you for spending this time with me and for reading! I hope it served you as moments well spent. And please do tell a friend, leave a comment, or stay tuned for the next PSA from Danielle Davis.
I saw Jeffrey Gibson’s “The Body Electric” exhibit at SITE Santa Fe a few years ago and loved it! He’s amazing.