Okay so as many of you may or may not know I have become a parent in the last year. I have taken custody of my now 16 year old cousin. He has come with his more than his fair share of struggles. So as I attempt to parent, love and encourage him in new directions. I have found the silver lining to be the eye opening opportunities he provides. These come when I am seldom looking for them. Most often at the point of teenage rearing exasperation, somewhere between I love him and want to beat him. He in incredibly introspective which I have in common. As he has become more and more comfortable in our life together as a family & a household he has begun to share these insights with me.
So needless to say the tough weeks come & go for him, us maybe just life..
A few weeks ago he was especially down. I worry about depression, drug use, suicide when he gets this way. We had a long talk that night out back on the patio. As this is the spot where I sit. So maybe it safe feeling for him. I dont know.. He was saying how much his life sucked! How it was never going to get better and how much he hated EVERYTHING!!!!!! Well for me internally I was very scared. I know those feelings how devastating they can be an be all encompassing So, I told him to pick some goals & dreams. That I would support him whatever he chose as long as no drugs, period!
So the next few days around my house brought silence and sulking. I took a step back & just observed, sought counsel of other parents and waited. For what I don’t rightly know. Then it happened. He awoke with a plan. Some dreams some goals.
He proudly announced the things he had chosen, chest puffed out, slightly apprehensive here there are:
1. To be able to drive defensively to the basket at basketball.
2. To be able to dunk, slam it home.
3. To be the best world renown street artist.
The last one well it threw me. He got a D in art. Yes a f’ing D last year. So imagine my surprise.
So then we proceed to watch “Exit Through the Gift shop” if you haven’t seen this it is a movie about street art. But, after watching it has a completely other story attached to it. It’s a great movie.
So off we went to the paint/art store the next day. After blowing his budget on expensive spray paint & special tips. We drove home. His first question was ” how come Santa Barbara has no alleys?” I replied “Cause boys like you have spray paint!”
Well this started a whole new chapter in our lives a new dimension in our relationship and Street Art Revolution of America was born. Go to Facebook and
Ike the page.
So when I was in San Francisco the next week here is what I saw.
It’s a Banksy. He is world famous. His art has a great message. Usually political in nature. He isn’t actively on the web but you can find his work here if you look. I would call him a purist. Does not like the for profit part which has become senonomis with any art form that is Gaining popularity. Here is another Banksy the is now my iPad2 screen saver.
Well this is my first post from my ipad2 Word Press app! Let’s hope I learn how to add links then it would be a whole lot more fun.
This piece is a representation of the journey I am on this year. Butterflies always have symbolized freedom to me. I do not know if it is the gracefulness. The fact that they fly or just the beauty and fragile state in which I view them.
