Where the Hell is Matt?

I have a thing for projects that embrace a community, or the world. I feel like art can do so much for different countries by bringing them together to make people realize how all of us truly are the same. We all seek happiness, we all seek truth, and we all seek a purpose in this life. Why we don’t get along seems so simple to be honest. We are scared of change and we are terrified of what we dont understand.

Matt Harding is an 35 year old from Connecticut  who travelled the world vido taping himself dancing (it started when his friend suggested he do his “bad” dance when he was touring Asia). The video went viral and Stride gum asked him if he was interested in taking another trip around the world and recording it again. This all happened in 2006. In 2007, Matt went back to Stride gum suggesting letting people around the world dance (people had sent him videos of themselves dancing), and thus this video was produced.

Where The Hell is Matt stirs so many emotions in me that seem unexplainable. It is such a happy video, but makes me feel sad, and happy at the same time. Here we see people from all paths of life dancing for the joy of it. Here we see everyone come together for the joy of dance and it makes me wonder why we don’t see more of these projects traveling the world. Why isn’t there funding and support from people to try to bring different cultures together? We need more projects like this that have so many different layers to it. We need more people like Matt.

Are there other projects out there that do this kind of thing? I know of a few, but not many. I really do hope my project, Traveling Thoughts, can create such a stir in people and bring them all together.

Autism Video

I came across this video of a girl named Carly, who is autistic with incredible intelligence. Watching this video gave me mixed emotions. I was happy and hopeful to see what I believed to be true since teaching and working with a few autistic children. They are all like any other kid, their brains just seem to put more energy into one particular section in their brains then another. For example, I taught a kid who could draw you in a few seconds and notice the details in your skin, the folds in your shirt, the few hairs sticking straight up in your bangs. He was incredible, yet he couldnt get the confidence to be in a group, or to try new things. As though all the blood was flowing to the artistic side of his brain and not into the social side. Don’t get me wrong, I have not studied nor really looked into the science behind it, all my opinions come from working with a few sweet children.

Watching this video also scared me, and upset me because if this little girl could speak out about the pain, hurt, and the suffering she deals with every day, while having such loving and supportive parents, I can only imagine what other children who dont have that love and support are going through. I wanted to share this because I want to show others how every act of kindness, and every mean act does have consequences, and does affect someones life, even those who you seem to think can’t comprehend, or understand it. I want to show this video because people need to understand that every life is important, human, or animal. That everyone deserves a chance and that “normal” is different for each person and more of an opinion then an actual fact.

What do you guys think?

Changing the World with Art

I’ve always said art can change the world, and I believe it to be true, 100%. I saw this video today and it really got to me. I know a lot of people believe they can’t change the world, but I don’t believe that to be true. Educating the world is the most important way of changing anything from negative to positive. It doesn’t have to be where you stand out side screaming with signs, or trying to get people to sign petitions. I’m not saying those things aren’t good and effective ways, they are, but some people get so discouraged when they believe thats all they can do.

Art can create a conversation. It can start a dialog and it can bring peoples attention to the cause. There are people in the world who are visual. Its the way they learn, and its the way you grasp their attention. If we are trying to change the world for the better, why not use every form of communication we can? Why aren’t we using the arts, music and even videos? Below is the video I watched. If you don’t believe in visual communication, this should prove you wrong.

You may not believe that you, one in a billion, can change the world, but you are wrong. One person seeing your work, seeing your videos, listening to your music, can create an audience, that can create a movement, that can change the world. If you can’t afford to help with money, try with your artistic ability. Create something. Share it. Involve others.

I hope this moves you as much as it moved me.

The Mako Project

 

I talked to an inspiring man about a project his friends and himself are involved in. Its called the Mako Project. Taking this from their Facebook Fan Page, it states ” The Mako Project is a group consisting of Founder Matthew Tuppen, and Co-Founder, Niko Monjarez. Their philosophy on life has lead them down a path to create a group that follows them and their endeavors throughout their lives. They pledge to make a lifetime commitment to motivating others. Hopefully in a way that will enable others to follow a path that will lead them towards true happiness, while remembering the importance of respect, hard work, and human kindness.
The Mako Project is something they hope will continue to grow forever, gaining publicity with every project and hopefully turning a major profit over time that can be used for charitable projects worldwide.”

“There is no way this will be easy, or happen over night, but that’s part of the point. Nothing in life that is truly worth having will come easy. Doing this I may never become some wealthy businessman, but if our story and our cause helps even just one kid who feels different or out casted to take the reigns in his life and follow his dreams and be happy. Then I know I made my time on Earth worthwhile…”
–Matthew Tuppen-
Founder, The Mako Project.

” Inspiring those to follow their dreams, one city at a time” is Mako Project’s motto. What an incredible and brilliant idea. I tend to like things that are sort of unconventional in thinking but that leads to great and inspiring results and I truly have to say that this project seems like an amazing way of getting in touch with people around the world and showing small acts of kindness that will hopefully have a domino effect. Below is a video they created on their journey. Subscribe and follow their incredible journey.

Please check their Facebook Fan page, https://www.facebook.com/themakoproject, like it, and support them through this incredible, life long adventure in finding happiness for themselves, and for others.

Good luck guys, where ever in the world you are!

 

 

Its on its way!

Traveling Thoughts sketchbook is on its way! I handed it to one of my good friends, a brilliant artist and such an inspiring person tonight! Please check out his blog at: http://ahmadqatato.com/

Its on its way people and I couldn’t be more excited (trust me, people are telling me to calm down!), nervous, and terrified! So much is racing through my mind and there is so much to do! I truly believe people will take this as a personal way of expressing themselves and understand that a lot of people around the world are depending on them and trusting them with this sketchbook. I know how it feels to poor your heart and soul into something and being extremely proud of what you create, so I am hoping everyone will take care of this sketchbook and of each others work. With so many people excited about this project and interested in being a part of it, im positive it will turn into such a huge inspiration for others.

All my life I have felt the need to inspire others through my art and this seemed like a perfect way to get others to inspire the world as well. When I used to teach art, I insisted on my students understanding that inside each and every one of us is an artist and is a creative person. We simply need to dig deep and let that person out. This project was started in the hopes that people can contribute to something they never thought they had in them and in the process begin to understand themselves a little more and believe in themselves as creative people.

Its simple. You get one page (just the front of the page), and you create. Create what you ask? Thats up to you. Simply show me how you are feeling and  or, what you are thinking the days you have the sketchbook. I want to emphasize you do NOT need to be an artist, or able to draw, paint, and whatnot. This is a project for everyone. You can write  a story, write a poem that means something to you, use pictures to express your feelings, truly anything goes. The only thing I ask is for you to take care of the sketchbook and to not vandalize anybody’s work. Do not take offense by their pieces, and lets be accepting of everyone’s masterpieces.

Then you package it up and send it to the next person! Make sure to track the package and send it back to me so we all are guaranteed that our work is getting to the right place. If the person lives near you and you would rather meet them the pay to ship it, then let me know and I will ask the person if they feel comfortable with that. If not then you must ship it.

In the next few days I will post a contract that must be signed and returned stating you understand the rules and agree to them. They are simple rules already posted on the information page of the Facebook Fan Page: http://www.travelingthoughts.org

Below are pictures taken of when I handed the sketchbook to Ahmad! Enjoy!

Again, thank you all for such wonderful support! Please continue to talk about this, share it, tweet it, subscribe and like the page! Tell others about it so we can keep this going and send out more sketchbooks!

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