Dan Eldon: The Movie

Dan Eldon

His name and his story bring so many feelings to the surface for me. But I think number one is inspiration - a word we all sometimes overuse but is perfectly apt in this case. Have you heard of him? Dan was many things: activist, journalist, photographer, adventurer, artist, journaler. As a young man, in the early 1990s, he covered the ongoing unrest in Africa as a photographer for Reuters and, along with several other journalists, was stoned to death by an angry mob. Dan was 22 years old.

Dan documented his life in a series of journals. He probably didn't know it, but he was creating work that presaged the journaling movement in our mixed media community.

I first saw Dan's work in person at a traveling exhibition that stopped in NYC in 2008. 

In 2013 I included a tribute to Dan in my second book, The Mixed-Media Artist.

In 2014 I had the good fortune to meet Dan's mother Kathy and give her a copy of the book. 

Kathy, along with Dan's sister Amy, have kept Dan's legacy alive through the Creative Visions Foundation and through a website and a series of very popular books. Have a look at the video below as Kathy and I speak about my book and about Dan.

I am excited to say that Dan's story has now been documented in a powerful movie. Until recently, the film has only been seen in limited showings. It is now available to rent/buy on both Amazon and on iTunes. It is a must-see - and somehow seems particular relevant in the current world climate. 

Amazon

iTunes

Thank you Dan for continuing to inspire.

The Journey is the Inspiration

I have been working with the crew at daneldon.org on an online project called The Journey is the Inspiration. People who have been touched by the story of Dan Eldon are sharing their thoughts and/or artwork as a way to honor and celebrate his legacy. Not familiar with Dan? Do yourself a favor and read about his life here.

We are two months into this project. If you haven't yet visited the postings or have missed a few along the way, follow these links to hear personal stories that exemplify the continuing influence of Dan the artist, the activist, and the adventurer.

Week 1: Seth Apter
Week 2: Mary Beth Shaw
Week 3: William J. Charlebois
Week 4: J. Dean

Week 5: Shazdeh Omari
Week 6: Patrick Ahern

Week 7: Chelsea Nicole
Week 8: Emily Cline

Postings will continue weekly every Thursday. Please stay tuned. If you have your own story that you want to share and be a part of this project, please click here for more information.

The Power of Art

I create art for so many reasons, as I am sure all the other artists out there do as well. Sometimes those reasons simply relate to creative expression and fun. But at other times, art can be a powerful tool to shine a light on a social issue, challenge the way we see the world, and contribute to change. Today's blog post highlights two art events that accomplish the latter and, ironically, they both take us to Africa.

The Journey is the Inspiration

Dan Eldon was an artist, and activist and an adventurer. He filled his 22 years of life with passion, dedication, and a quest to both record and change the atrocities that he was witness to in Africa. If you do not know the story of his life -- and the ongoing impact that he continues to have on the world nearly 21 years following his death -- take a moment to read more about him here. 

Some of the very many people who have been impacted by Dan are sharing their stories and the artwork he inspired on daneldon.org. This online collaborative journal begins today and continues weekly every Thursday with a new entry. Please head to the blog to be inspired and to see how much change a single person can bring about. And if you have been touched by Dan's story, please click here to see how you can join this collaboration.

------------------------------

Artists Bring Back

In April, hundreds of Nigerian girls were abducted from their school by a terrorist group who believe that women should not be allowed access to education and who have threatened to sell them into slavery and used them to barter for the release of prisoners. The world has reacted to this atrocity with horror and many people have taken to the Internet (#BringBackOurGirls on Facebook and Twitter) to express their feelings and to do what they feel they can to make their voices heard. 

The art world has also begun to rally to the cause. Jessica Sporn has organized an auction to raise money to benefit girlrising.com, a global campaign for girl's education. I have donated the following work of art which, along with many other pieces, is available to bid on from May 15 to May 17.

Have a look and consider making a bid. Prove that a single person can make a difference.

The F Word

Take 13 minutes and 44 seconds out of your day to watch this video. You will be moved. You will be inspired. You might even be changed.

If Kathy and/or her son Dan has touched your life, consider being part of "The Journey is the Inspiration" - a collaborative, online journal project beginning this month on the blog at daneldon.org. We are now accepting submission at any time.

---------------------------

THE CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

People who know of Dan Eldon always describe being deeply impacted by his life. That is the basis for this call for creative contributions. We want to hear how you have been inspired by Dan's story and your story will be shared on the blog at daneldon.org. In this way, a new visual journal can be created and Dan's legacy can be brought to more and more people.

In words and/or images, please tell us what Dan and his experiences have meant to you. Share your own personal memory of reading the books that document his life, of seeing his journals in print for the first time, and/or realizing how much this remarkable man accomplished in his short life. Perhaps you are a journaler and have created pages, directly or indirectly influenced by his approach. Or perhaps you will now as part of this call. Either way, we want to see what Dan's legacy has created in you and what you have created as a result. And much like with visual journaling itself, there are no rules here about what to include or not to include. We want real, raw and very personal.

THE FINE PRINT

You do not have to be a journaler, an artist or a writer to participate. You just have to be willing to share. Please send your submissions and any inquiries to Seth Apter at shap97@gmail.com. For entries, please include your text as an email attachment and your images in the form of jpegs as attachments as well. Also please include a link to your own online site if you have one. Submissions are being accepted at anytime. More detailed information about the postings will be sent to those who submit and will be posted online for those of you interested in viewing the entries.

Nuts and Bolts

This says it all...

-------------------------------

Today is the last day to enter the giveaway for a set of my new stencils just released by StencilGirl Products. Head to this post for details. If you are having a stencil emergency and need to buy them immediately, you can get them from StencilGirl or directly from my website shop.

-------------------------------

In honor of Earth Day, my artwork Whispers was featured along with pieces from Deborah Pierro, Mary Katherine Hopkins,  and Art Gal in this post on the Cloth Paper Scissors blog.

-------------------------------

I am collaborating with the crew at daneldon.org on an online project called The Journey is the Inspiration. We are asking people to share, in words and/or images, the impact that the life of Dan Eldon and his visual journals has had. Beginning May 15 and continuing every Thursday thereafter, your stories will be shared on the blog at daneldon.org. Contributions are now being accepted at any time and all details can be found here.

-------------------------------

Jodi Ohl, Gina Lee Kim, and I share our thoughts about the tools we use for mark making in this post on the Cloth Paper Scissors blog. Grab your markers and check it out!

-------------------------------

The 6th Annual Buried Treasure Collaboration is coming soon. Stay tuned...

The Journey is the Inspiration: Call for Contributors

THE STORY

Some stories need to be told and retold. Such is the case with Dan Eldon. Born in London in 1970, he moved to Kenya with his family at age seven, where he remained through high school. He embraced his new life fully and quickly became an explorer of the world. Dan began taking photographs of his adventures while accompanying his mother on her travels as a journalist. These pictures became the basis of his visual journals, in which he documented his life, beginning at age 15. Extremely charitable and concerned about the world around him, Dan traveled extensively and returned to Africa repeatedly. In 1993, having become the youngest photojournalist employed by Reuters, he and three other journalists were stoned to death as they covered the famine and escalating violence in Somalia. He was 22 years old.

His life has had a profound impact on a countless number of people and though nearly 21 years have passed since his death, his legacy of inspiration continues to gain momentum. His mother Kathy and sister Amy have since co-founded Creative Visions Foundation. CVF fosters positive change through its support of creative activists - people who use the arts to raise awareness of social, environmental, and humanitarian issues. His family has also shared his journals and their message through the publication of a series of book, beginning in 1997 with The Journey is the Destination.

Dan was a pioneer and a visionary in so many ways: as an activist, an adventurer and an artist. His journals were created long before the current trend in visual journaling began. And yet his approach - raw, real and very personal - presaged the style of many journalers today.

THE CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

People who know of Dan Eldon always describe being deeply impacted by his life. That is the basis for this call for creative contributions. We want to hear how you have been inspired by Dan's story and your story will be shared on the blog at DanEldon.org. In this way, a new visual journal can be created and Dan's legacy can be brought to more and more people.

In words and/or images, please tell us what Dan and his experiences have meant to you. Share your own personal memory of reading the books that document his life, of seeing his journals in print for the first time, and/or realizing how much this remarkable man accomplished in his short life. Perhaps you are a journaler and have created pages, directly or indirectly influenced by his approach. Or perhaps you will now as part of this call. Either way, we want to see what Dan's legacy has created in you and what you have created as a result. And much like with visual journaling itself, there are no rules here about what to include or not to include. We want real, raw and very personal.

THE FINE PRINT

You do not have to be a journaler, an artist or a writer to participate. You just have to be willing to share. Please send your submissions and any inquiries to Seth Apter at shap97@gmail.com. For entries, please include your text as an email attachment and your images in the form of jpegs as attachments as well. Submissions are being accepted at anytime. More detailed information about the postings will be sent to those who submit and will be posted online for those of you interested in viewing the entries.

Caught in the Act

When I was recently out in California, I had the pleasure to meet Kathy Eldon at Creative Visions Foundation (CVF) in Malibu, California.

Kathy is a remarkable women and an inspiration to me...and so many other people. She has recently published her auto-biography In the Heart of Life: A Memoir and I can guarantee that you will be captivated by her story and moved and inspired by her life.

Creative Visions Foundation was founded by Kathy and her daughter Amy in 1998.

The organization was inspired by the life of Dan Eldon, who at age 22 was killed in Somolia while reporting on the conflict there as a photojournalist for Reuters. He was an artist, an activist and an adventurer and is well known for his art journals -- created long before the current art journaling movement. You can read more of Dan's story here and see a post on my blog from 2008 that highlights my visit to a traveling exhibition of his journals.

I included a tribute to Dan in my newest book The Mixed-Media Artist and was thrilled to be able to give a copy to Kathy in person. I was bowled over by her energy, enthusiasm, and sincerity. And you will be too...

Caught in the Act: Kathy Eldon and Seth Apter

I will be collaborating with Kathy and CVF on a new project and look forward to sharing the details with you soon. Stay tuned for more information on how you can be a part of this too!