Proud Al

Proud Al

Al is holding our big papier mache bowl filled with papier mache fruit/rattles--most of which he had a big part of making from start to finish.

Al is one of the most faithful participants in our Creative Workshop--and we can always count on him to be appreciative of all our efforts. His only criticism is usually "It's BEAUTIFUL!"--and that is a criticism every artist is happy to hear!

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Frog and Friend

Frog and Friend (Brian Wilson)
(Tomasito photo, 2009)

Papier mache is a lot of fun--and mask making with papier mache is fun for the artist and fun for the person wearing the creation.

A mask I made a while ago seems to be everyone's favorite. It seems that almost all of us want to be a frog at least part of the time and putting on this mask brings out the amphibian in everybody.

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Ambulance

Fire Truck and Ambulance with VIEW (Tomasito photo 2009)

There is another more shadowy side of a care center, of course, which is always a present possibility for those of us working, visiting or living there.

Dial 911 and those "Nice Young Men with their Clean White Coats" --or emergency uniforms in this case-- are right there to aid and assist some faltering senior citizen.

This photo was taken recently from our apartment balcony one very nice day here in Escondido, CA, USA--it it you get a glimpse of the fire truck and the ambulance parked in front of the care center along with the splendid view of the distant hills.

Sometimes those who have come to end of their days "running and playing in this beautiful world" will be taken on one last voyage and then will be "grass in the field" as the poet says.

In the mean time, doesn't it put a bit of creative edge on life--a modest sense of urgency perhaps--to make one more good, creative statement--even if it is in evanescent papier mache and watercolor?

We lived, friends--we LIVED!

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Paper Mache Thoughts

Tomasito and Papier Mache Masked Friends.

A few days ago I had the good fun of demonstrating the art and science of papier mache at a Grape Day Park Community Festival here in Escondido.

Everyone remembers having fun with papier mache when they were kids in school and for most of them that was their only experience with this very nice, recycled paper art form.

I mentioned to the people that stopped by our booth that one of my first arty memories was when I was one of a kids team making a papier mache diorama representing the Grand Canyon in the second grade. It was ART! And I was hooked!

Years later I took a good course in "Teaching Art to Elementary Children" and I had a very good teacher who mentioned in passing that "You can make anything with papier mache." which is almost true--though I havn't made much money with it.

I have made some cool things for theatrical productions though like Macbeth's head (to show that the tyrant was indeed dead!) and a big mammoth's head for an actor to wear in a "Skin of our Teeth" production.

And now with my old friends at the Palomar Care Center I can help make all kinds of stuff and it is good creative fun for all of us.

You can probably BUY most of the things we make for a couple of dollars at Wal Mart, but why should we let the Chinese have all the fun of making them?

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Party Time

Al and a Friend at a Birthday Party (Tomasito photo 2009)

The photo above shows a party in progress at the Palomar Heights Care Center.

I plan to have a party there myself pretty soon, but not a birthday party!

Peace Pilgrim suggested that instead of celebrating birthdays we should celebrate "Getting Better" Days--and only WE would know when to celebrate--and I feel a celebration coming on!

I'll let you know the date when I decide on it!

Tomasito, 2009


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Bea's Dream Tent

Bea's Dream Tent
(Click empty space above for surprise tent!)

Bea (now 91 years old) told me--as she drew this picture--that when she was young she always wanted a tent to play in but never had one--so this is a picture of her "Dream Tent", fulfilling in imagination an early remembered desire.

Tomasito 2009


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Recycled Art

First Exhibition

We made our first exhibition on a table at Palomar Care facility, showing the above finished projects.

The masks were built on plastic "kitty litter" jugs--the tray and the jars were built on plastic forms from the grocery store--the forms were recycled and the 12-25 layer papier mache sturdy objects can now be used around the house.

The most expensive part of the projects is the acrylic paint which adds gloss and a little bit of waterproofing to the articles.

Tomasito, 2009


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