#donnabackues

[donnalikestodraw]

SEAMAAC Elders Shibori Dyeing

Several of SEAMAAC’s elders from our Roots of Happiness Elders Program participated in a workshop to learn Shibori dying techniques.  It was interesting that many of our Laotian elders knew about indigo because as children they helped their mothers grow, harvest and boil indigo to make dye for clothing.

[donnalikestodraw]

Roots of Happiness Elders Batik Painting class

Some of our SEAMAAC Roots of Happiness Elders gathered to learn how to do the Indonesian technique of wax resist painting called batik.  It was a big challenge but very rewarding.

[donnalikestodraw]

Roots of Happiness - Elders SEAMAAC

The Elders at their weekly gathering worked on creating one or two mini acrylic paintings that were then pieced together to create a “quilt” pattern on boards.  I am the Coordinator of Community and Family Wellness at SEAMAAC in South Philly and I’m lucky to still be able to do fun collaborative art projects.

[donnalikestodraw]

Isabella Miller Recreation Center Mural for Swimming Pool Steps.  Camden, NJ

I had a wonderful summer residency with Rutgers- Camden Center for the Arts working with children from Camden, New Jersey.  Each child made a fantasy fish.

[ammph]

View this post on Instagram

#DYNAMIC #LOVELY @MANATAWNYSTILLWORKS #GOODKARMA #DonnaBackues www. DonnaBackues.com @CoResNetwork #INDONESIAFORESTHABITAT @DanceDELPHIa #HEREINEARTH

[donnalikestodraw]

Art Camp in West Java

In July, I spent a week in Tasikmalaya, West Java running an art camp through the non-profit that I worked with for my last 10 years living in there before returning to the USA.  It was a great success and I miss the children already.  I got interviewed by 2 newspapers and 2 TV stations.  

[ammph]

View this post on Instagram

#DonnaBackues #EnvisionING #Community #includING #Children in PhiLly & Indonesia @DrBirute @CoResNetwork @LandCooperative @EasternForagers @HabitatSTAT #HereOnEarth

[cultourvators]

The winners of the competition are: Donna Backues, a studio artist and illustrator from Philadelphia, PA with her design "Ring of Fire Lighting the Flame of Liberty"; Anica Buckson, a fashion design student from Brighton, MA with "North Native America"; and Christiane Grauert, an associate professor at Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design in Milwaukee, WI with "Many Faces Many Voices.