Dan Eldon Traveling Exhibit
This March, Joey Borgogna, Director of Special Projects for the Creative Visions Foundation, drove from Los Angeles to Texas to bring the Dan Eldon traveling art exhibition to the Ft. Worth Community Arts Center. Imagination Celebration hosted the exhibit while Joey acted as a docent to the aspiring students that came to the gallery the week before it was open to the public. Imagination Celebration develops arts awareness in school children and arts alliances between educators, their arts counterparts, and the community cultural network. They were thrilled to have the influence of Dan’s life and art as part of their “meet the explorer” series of 2007.
Joey recaps his thoughts experiences in Ft. Worth:
After 3 days driving in a rented minivan through the deserts of the American Southwest, about 20 Taco Bell double deckers, 5 overpriced tanks of gas, and one blow-out, I arrived at the Ft. Worth Community Arts Center with the Dan Eldon traveling art exhibition! I was greeted with sweet southern hospitality and excitement by Ginger Head, executive and creative director and founder of Imagination Celebration, whose enthusiasm for Dan Eldon’s journal pages brought them to life for young, passionate artists and student groups in the area.
Students of all ages and races filtered into the gallery’s lobby. Some of junior highers dragged their feet, some talked on their cell phones and others didn’t know where they were, they were just glad to be out of their classroom. But however each student had entered the doors of the gallery- they left different. After watching the documentary, Art of Life, the students grasped the rawness and abundance of Dan’s life. The short movie evoked strong emotion in them that carried over into the exhibit. After the tour they dove into their own journal-making workshop. Middle school, high school and college students alike marveled at their own creations and I watched as they felt empowered and realized their own potential as artists and activists. No doubt and new crew of creative activists were born that week.
This is the essence of the Creative Visions Foundation: to see young people courageously following their passion to be more aware of the world and help make it a better place.
Howard Thurman writes, "don't ask what the world needs, ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." I watched first-hand how Dan's legacy leaves a spark that ignites a passionate fire in others. The Dan Eldon art exhibit inspired the Texas community throughout the month of March...and the safari goes on..."
FOR MORE INFO: http://www.icfw.org/dan_eldon.htm
IMAGINATION CELEBRATION
Saturday, March 10, 2007
