by Sarah Lynn “No Boundaries” is exploding with color, something I particularly love in artworks. The blues, purples, and greens of the piece are relaxing and seem to flow in and around the image, while the peaches, yellows, and reds of the picture break up the scene in a way that only enhances its beauty. This beauty itself does not take one form—the piece is abstract. It can visually represent any number of things. I, for example, see a garden or a village celebrating some special event. Another person may see a lake or an underwater scene. What makes this piece unique is that the interpretation of the piece is different for each viewer. I also love that this piece has no rhyme or reason in the direction the paint travels. It needs no explanation for its being. The artist, Christian Goh, calls his work “messy art.” Goh, who is on the Autism Spectrum with dysgraphia and dyspraxia, says he likes this type of art “because there is no right or wrong, no confusing rules to follow, and I do not need words to express Me.” His art is a form of escape from the rules that society imposes on everyday life. This, I think, is the reason art was created. When creating art allows the artist a moment to breathe away from the pressures of normative society, it has achieved its purpose. Just by looking at the image, you can tell the artist was letting his paintbrush move, not dictating where it went, but instead letting it tell him where to go. I personally relate to this method of producing art. When I have too many things on my plate and just need a mental reset, I draw. Knowing I can take time to produce something created only for me to see and engage with is comforting. Drawing allows me to mentally step back, go on autopilot, and just zone out until the things cluttering my brain have left and I am able to refocus. Just like Goh, when I create art, I feel free to ignore the binary of right and wrong, ignore the rules society poses, and create without words. “No Boundaries” speaks to this need to distance yourself from societal standards. The painting is also a visual reflection of empowerment for Goh. Self-empowerment in today’s society is so important. You can’t let anyone else tell you what to do, who to be, or how to act, or else your life is being dictated by another person. One of the boldest things you can do in life is stand your ground and insist on doing things your own way, as Goh has done in his “No Boundaries.” He combined colors and shapes in ways that he saw fit, to reflect his decisions as an artist without needing permission from society. While Goh’s art appears similar to other historical types of painting, like impressionism or abstract impressionism, the fundamental beliefs behind his “messy art” are different from artists belonging to those movements. Both art forms were borne from artists’ dissatisfaction with society at the time of the art’s creation as well as dissatisfaction with past art forms. However, Goh’s “messy art” is borne from a much more personal need: to express himself in a way in which he feels comfortable. It is a prime example of self-empowerment: Goh is able to make his own decisions and create something which he enjoys and takes pride in. I encourage you to learn from Goh’s work. Today, go create a piece of art that frees you up inside. Create something just for you that you think is a reflection of yourself. It should be up to you to decide what object, icon, or shape(s) represent you. Discover what drives your art like Goh has in “No Boundaries.” About the Author: Sarah Lynn is a student at UC Santa Cruz studying art and art history. She has made art all her life and encourages Stone Soup readers to always follow their creative passions in life.
Stone Soup Magazine for young readers, writers, and artists
The Veldt, Reviewed by Lin, 13
“The Veldt” is a dystopian story by Ray Bradbury. Even though the story is only a few pages long and appears relatively simple, it contains many concepts that should be thought about, as well as consequences of total reliance on technologies. In this story, people got houses that did everything for them, such as bathing them, feeding them, rocking them to sleep, etc. This was one of the problems that led to the demise of Mr. and Mrs. Hadley. What surprised me was that it wasn’t the artificial technology itself that directly spelled doom — it was the lasting effect of the artificial technology. All those machines had eliminated any essence of love from child to parent. The children, Peter and Wendy, had no scruples about locking their mom and dad in an African savanna. Their love was not for their parents-it was for the house and the machinery. Since the house was doing everything that a parent should do, the kids developed love toward the house. Their parents were just the people that owned the house. The second problem that led to the resolution was actually Mr. and Mrs. Hadley’s fault. Many parents today make the same mistake: they spoil their children rotten. Peter and Wendy had gotten so used to their way of living, so it was terrible for them to lose any of it. When Mr. Hadley rejected their idea of going to New York, it was a huge blow for the kids. If Mr. and Mrs. Hadley hadn’t gotten the kids everything they wanted in the past, especially the nursery, they might not have ended up the way they did in the end. I was really shocked by the ending. I never thought that children such as Peter and Wendy could just leave their parents in an African savanna. From the way the author described the resolution, it seemed that Mr. and Mrs. Hadley were eaten by the lions. I’m not sure how that would actually work, since the lions were merely in the walls of the nursery. The couple also heard their own screams coming from the nursery before, so I guess the children were expressing anger at their parents in a very, very despicable way. To them, it was little different to kill a virtual being or a real human being, although there is a HUGE difference. I think the author is addressing very valid problems here, in the case that technology does end up doing all of this for us. Kids would not possess the capability to love their parents anymore, since they don’t see their parents doing anything for them, and vice versa. Furthermore, they get spoiled rotten, with no hardships at all. I really hope our world does not end up like this. I like the time and experience being with my parents, than just being with cold- faced technologies, no matter how advanced. The Veldt by Ray Bradbury. Groundwood Books, 1982. Buy the book here and support Stone Soup in the process! Have you read this story? Or do you plan on reading it? Let us know in the comments below!
Four Halloween Costumes You Can Make Yourself
Halloween—one of the most popular holidays in the U.S.—is coming up! Many kids wait eagerly for October 31st to dress up in costume and walk from door to door, saying “trick or treat” and receiving candy. But a dilemma that many of us experience is not finding a good costume to wear on Halloween. Many costumes you can buy are expensive and not worth it. Here are four creative costumes that you can make yourself with minimal cost to show off something unique this Halloween: 1: Jellyfish I was a jellyfish last year for Halloween and got so many compliments on this costume! Here are the materials needed: Clear umbrella LED string lights with batteries attached White decorative ribbon Strong tape First, take the ribbon and cut it into multiple long strips. Attach these to the inner rim of the clear umbrella with tape so they hang down. Wrap and tape a long piece of ribbon horizontally around the outside rim of the umbrella. Secure the battery box of the LED lights to the inner top of the umbrella with tape, and wrap and tape the string lights around the inside pillars of the umbrella. Your jellyfish costume is now ready to go! 2: Popcorn (image from cutegirlshairstyles.com) This costume is very affordable and quite easy to make! All you need is: White paper Yellow acrylic or spray paint Red and white striped skirt or red skirt and white duct tape White shirt Hot glue Start off by tearing the paper in half and crumbling it into little balls. Paint or spray paint these pieces of “popcorn” slightly yellow (to represent butter), then hot glue them onto a white shirt. You can use a red and white striped skirt for the “box”, or make one by sticking strips of white duct tape onto a red skirt. And now you’re finished with your simple popcorn costume! 3: Ghost (image from scratchandstitch.com) When you think of a ghost costume, you probably imagine a boring white sheet. But this costume is so realistic and spooky! You’ll need: Cheesecloth Colored markers First, add streaks of yellow, red or brown marker onto the cheesecloth. You can even dip the cheesecloth in tea to give it an old look! Then, rip holes in the cheesecloth for your neck and arms, and make random tears everywhere else to give it a mystical effect. Wear it over all black clothing, and you’ll look just like a scary ghost! 4: Emoji (image from Pinterest) This costume is very versatile and you probably don’t need to buy anything to make it! This is all you need: A plain, bright yellow shirt Permanent markers in the colors of your emoji All you have to do is use the markers to draw your emoji’s features onto the shirt and you’re done! This is a great last-minute costume if you have to create something quickly. Another variation to this costume is to cut a piece of yellow cardstock into a large circle and draw your emoji onto it. Hole punch and tie the sides with string, and then hang it around your neck over black clothing. Whether scaring your friends with the ghost costume or brightening up the day with the emoji costume, these four costumes are easy to make at home with barely any supplies and in a short period of time. Have a fantastic Halloween this year and make sure to add a comment on what you are dressing up as!
