Love Your Neighbor House

lights, camera, action...

2011-07-08T16:06:00.000-04:00

Here's our crew! Got some good practice in today and we will have one more run through before the performance on Monday night! We're looking forward to it!

This coming Monday July 11th you have two chances to see our fairy tale. At 6:00pm and 7:00pm the kids will be performing at First Free Methodist Church, and in between those times, you can join us across the street at the LYN House for the photography and art shows as well as cookies and refreshments prepared by our kid's cooking class. See ya Monday!

One Day More...

2011-07-07T16:04:00.000-04:00

Question: Where would a monster, a clown, and a wiener dog hang out together?
Answer: The LYN House. In our fairy tale play. Come check out one of our two performances on Monday night at 6 and 7!

Here's some pictures from today:

Everybody loves snack time

Building a monster

Helping advertise

Lovely mustache :)

The rest of the set and costumes came together quite nicely today. Rehearsal tomorrow!!

Set Design

2011-07-07T10:38:00.000-04:00

This group of kids looks pretty calm and collected in this picture here. But don't let them fool you. We got messy yesterday. Some people drew backdrops and some cut cardboard and glued and painted to create our life size puppets.

These girls hard hard at work painting. It's incredible that these kids can put an entire production together in a week, but it's happening!

Helping with the sketching stages. Next time you need a set put together, you should hire our little set design professionals.

Tall Tales

2011-07-05T17:51:00.000-04:00

Today marked the beginning of our final Express Yourself camp for the summer. We had seven kids show up for the first day of Performing Arts Camp.

A couple of Know No Stranger members are helping teach our kids the techniques of performing arts. Today we learned the elements of putting together a story and who all is involved in a production. And the kids got to try their hand at script writing as we put together our fairy tale of the neighborhood. Before that we practiced by together telling a rather ridiculous tall tale of Sammy with long ears and squirrels and flamingos and security guards after him. Tomorrow we will see what its like to make some props.

Performing Arts Camp

2011-06-28T09:55:00.000-04:00

July 5^th – 9^th 1 – 4:30

Using music and story students will learn to imagine a positive future and reality for his or her neighborhood.

Performing arts group Know No Stranger will work with students to create a story, write a song and use puppets to perform a fairy tale of the Near Eastside. Students will be encouraged to imagine a postivie future for our neighborhood, and to examine the ways in which God has already been at work.

Spaghetti!

2011-06-27T18:00:00.001-04:00

Today the kids learned about Kenya and tried samosas [which they preferred to call Mufasas {they think they're funny}]. All of them seemed to enjoy those a lot more than the seaweed last week.

This afternoon we made homemade ranch for our salad from the garden and homemade sauce for the spaghetti. With our blind taste-testing contest we learned that sometimes it actually tastes better to use canned whole tomatoes rather than peeling your own.

They thought something was really funny....

Another camp has come and gone

2011-06-24T17:31:00.000-04:00

Step One: Paint your tiles

Step Two: Take a hammer to 'em

Step Three: Glue

Step Four: Grout [if you have ever done grout work, you will know to be glad that you aren't a part of this step]

Step Five: Beautiful Mosaic. [this is the example, you'll have to join us on July 11th to see the beautiful masterpieces the kids put together today {and they really are incredible} :]

See you then!

2011-06-24T09:48:00.004-04:00

Its hard to believe we only have one more day of Mosaic Art Camp! It's been a little chaotic at times with fifteen kids, but with this bigger group, we have had a lot of fun. This afternoon it will be awesome to see what the kids come up with together in their groups to make a mosaic of the future of the community...

Journey to the Past...

2011-06-23T10:32:00.000-04:00

After learning a little bit about paintings from different time periods in art history, these kids painted ceramic tiles of some event in their past. These are the first of those tiles that will make up our mosaic artwork together. More painting this afternoon and tomorrow we will work together in our groups piecing together something beautiful. Join us at the LYN House on the 11th of July to see their finished product!

a blank canvas...

2011-06-22T16:10:00.000-04:00

There's nothing like giving a kid a blank canvas and seeing what they do with it. This first day of camp we learned the color wheel and how to mix our primary colors to make the rest. We painted on some cardboard sheets to experiment, and then set them loose on their canvases. And we got some interesting and colorful masterpieces.

The kids seemed to enjoy themselves getting to be creative and mix and paint...

Pretty Pizzas

2011-06-20T16:38:00.000-04:00

This cooking class today got a little competitive. As you can tell, we have four beautiful pizzas which came about as a result of four teams of two working hard to make the most creatively presented and delicious pizza. The great thing was, to vote we got to try all of them, and everyone's pizza tasted pretty great.

These are the kids' pizzas, it may be a little hard to tell from this angle, but they made some funny faces with the toppings.

We also learned about Japan and tried nori [dried seaweed], which none of the kids seemed to appreciate very much, but at least they tried it!

Mosaic Art Camp

2011-06-14T11:03:00.000-04:00

June 21^st – 24^th 1 – 4:00

Objective: Using art to remember the past well, looking at the reality of the present and seeing the hope of the future together.

Employing the art of painting and breaking tiles, students will have a chance to express their beliefs, explore the value of the past, present and future, and examine the roles they play in their community. Students will have the opportunity to beautify our neighborhood, as the stepping stones they create will become permanent fixtures in the community garden across the street.

Vegetarian Chili

2011-06-14T10:49:00.000-04:00

In our second Monday cooking class we learned how to make some hearty and delicious vegetarian chili. And we're learning to have an open mind about trying new and possibly unusual foods. One student said "I thought I wouldn't like the chili, but I was wrong. I really liked the chili...it had a spicy kick that I liked." And another thought the platanos we tried when we learned about the Dominican Republic were "very very good." The students have all been great about being willing to try everything and sharing their opinions with respect.

The End

2011-06-11T14:02:00.001-04:00

Friday was the end of the View Finder Project camp. Not this coming week, but the next, we will start up again with the Mosaic Art camp.

Everyone's projects turned out really well and the kids worked hard. Come join us at the LYN House a month from today on July 11th and see their finished photo stories!

Rollin Right Along

2011-06-09T17:30:00.001-04:00

Courtney continued her work with library photos today, telling some of the story behind her photos. She thought this photo was cool because she is holding the book as if it is sacred.

Lauren continued the story of Pogue's Run today and highlighted the healthy options it offers. This colorful photo is one of hers.

Mayson started a new story today at Lazy Daze Coffee Shop. She liked this mural because it gives the customer a taste of what's in store for them.

Tatiana brought back some great pictures from 10th Street. This one fits well with the shapes and patterns theme she practiced the day before.

VFP Day Two

2011-06-09T11:33:00.000-04:00

Alisha started off our storytelling of the local grocer with a set of some great photos. She and Lauren will be telling the story of what Pogue's Run offers to the community through photos.

Courtney and Mayson are working together to demonstrate the importance of the Spades Park Library to the people in this community through their artistic photo storytelling.

Remembering the rules of photography they learned yesterday, Nick and Tatiana went on another photo walk on day two in search of beauty. Even as beginners, they are getting to be pretty talented photographers.

VFP Day One

2011-06-08T12:22:00.000-04:00

Courtney likes this sideways shot that starts unfocused in the front and then gets clearer.

To Lauren, this picture shows that you can get through any obstacle, just like climbing through the playground.

Mayson liked this lily by itself and that you can see bud that haven't bloomed yet.

These three girls who have already completed the first class of the View Finder Project, starting learning about storytelling through photos.

Two students just starting the View Finder Project learned about what is ugly, and through photographing, they found what is interesting in what might usually be perceived as ugly.

Nick liked the artistic angle of this photo and that it made it look like it goes on forever.

Tatiana liked that you can just barely see the barn in the back because it is surrounded by greenness of nature.

Let's start at the very beginning...

2011-06-07T16:52:00.001-04:00

Helping out in the garden

The ladies preparing hummus and tzatziki

The guys making white bean dip and salsa fresca

Taste-testing together

We even got willing helpers with the dishes

Yesterday we kicked off our Kid's Kitchen classes and they went extremely well! The kids made some delicious dips for fresh veggies and even tried some falafel to experience a little bit of Middle Eastern culture. Planting in the garden and sitting down at the table to eat together made it a pretty well rounded day. Look for more from the Kid's Kitchen next Monday!!

The View Finder Project

2011-06-01T16:08:00.000-04:00

June 7th – June 10th 1 - 4:30

Objective: To see life differently and find beauty in everyone and everything; regardless of circumstances.

Students will take photos using The View Finder Project curriculum, which teaches the art of photography and provides a biblical challenge to deeply examine one's life. By asking questions valuable for good photography -- "What is Beautiful?," Whati is Ugly?," and "Where are the Shapes and Patterns?," students new to the program will being to view their surroundings through new lenses. Returning students will be given the task of creating a story using photos.

Kid's Kitchen

2011-06-01T15:59:00.000-04:00

Starting June 6th: Mondays 1-4 for 6 weeks no 4th of July
Objective: To explore the world through taste and through fellowship.

Youth will have a chance to taste foods from around the world, learn to prepare various dishes, grow their own garden, and explore the art of shared meals. Biblical lessons will abound as students journal about their discoveries. Discussions will include the practice of Christian hospitality, the goodness of God to provide, the benefits of hard work, and the beauty of creation.

A New View

2010-10-25T18:08:00.000-04:00

New and old students have joined together for another photography class. Exploring the View Finder Project lessons together, former students are guiding newer students in the process. Please stay tuned as we post photos from this class.

Incredible Evening at the Photography Show

2010-08-23T10:56:00.003-04:00

Mayson sharing her work

Ryan sharing his work

A great turn out!

Ashley's mom and daughter

On Friday, August 20th we had our first Photography show and fundraiser. With a crowd of over 150 people coming to the LYN House, the students impressed each individual with what they learned over the course of the class. Thanks to Canvas on Demand (http://canvasondemand.com/) for donating canvases to each child. The canvases added to the quality of the show. We also would like to thank Roberts Imaging for helping us with the cost of the prints. Each child sold multiple prints and we are still taking orders! As Director I could not be more proud of the students and volunteers. The success of the evening was because of many dedicated loving individuals who have put in countless hours of their time. Please continue to follow us as we plan to have more classes and expand this exciting ministry. If you are interested in ordering prints contact Heidi Lyda at heidilynnlyda@gmail.com

Photography Show

2010-08-09T11:41:00.000-04:00

Click on the photo album and see ALL the photos that will be at our photography show and fundraiser. I hope that you will join us on Friday, August 20th from 6-8 pm, here at the LYN House!

Buildings

2010-08-09T11:34:00.000-04:00

We took some of the students from both classes downtown to take pictures of all our buildings in our great city of Indianapolis. Just two miles from our own neighborhood, the students had the chance to explore downtown with a camera and all the knowledge they have learned about picture taking these past months.

Mayson: Buildings

2010-08-09T11:30:00.000-04:00

I think this picture looks cool, it has the rule of three and I like all the cars, shapes, and patterns.

Amir: Buildings

2010-08-09T11:29:00.000-04:00

I liked this picture because of the water and flowers. I also like the brick pattern and all the lines, also the symmetry.

Ryan: Buildings

2010-08-09T11:14:00.000-04:00

I like this picture because it has another building in it and it is on the circle.

Shapes and Patterns: Take Two

2010-08-09T10:51:00.000-04:00

This group of students set off to the same neighborhood as the last to take pictures of Shapes and Patterns. Woodruff Place a neighborhood close to ours with a unique and beautiful history provided students with many different shapes and patterns to take. Unlike last time, this day was hot and dry and made for very different pictures. The reactions to this topic were as mixed as the time before. For some this was their favorite topic for others they found this topic too be too challenging.

Courtney: Shapes and Patterns

2010-08-09T10:47:00.000-04:00

I did not like this topic because it was hard, ugly, weird, and I was to short to take pictures of the tall signs. (Director Heidi choose this photo)

Mayson: Shapes and Patterns

2010-08-09T10:45:00.000-04:00

I like this because they are cats and you can see a lot of shapes. Their ears are triangles and those whiskers are cylinders.

Ryan: Shapes and Patterns

2010-08-09T10:42:00.000-04:00

I like this picture because it has shapes and patterns and it is a nice fence.

Alisha: Shapes and Patterns

2010-08-09T10:40:00.000-04:00

I like the colors, the randomness and how it filled the frame. I also liked that it looked faded.

Canvas on Demand

2010-08-02T16:13:00.000-04:00

What is Beautiful? Part Two

2010-07-13T16:19:00.003-04:00

Our second set of photography students went out in the same neighborhood to look for subjects they found to be beautiful. Some students found this subject to be more difficult as shown by less pictures being taken than when they took pictures of What is Ugly?. One student shared that she did not find it to be difficult because she would rather focus on the good things in life than the bad. Some students shared that they wish they could focus on the good things more easily. Our hope is that this class will empower the teens to make changes in their own neighborhood. Some of our teens have helped plant a community garden and landscape the LYN House in an effort to make our neighborhood more beautiful.

Ryan: What is Beautiful?

2010-07-13T16:18:00.001-04:00

I like it because the dark clouds frames the photo.

Mayson: What is Beautiful?

2010-07-13T16:17:00.003-04:00

I like this picture because I picked a green bean and held it up to take the picture. (Green bean grown from Mayson's own garden).

Alisha: What is Beautiful

2010-07-13T16:15:00.003-04:00

I like all the green in the picture. I also like how I got mostly leaves then one little fruit thing. I also like the sun on some of the leaves and then there's some with shade.

Courtney: What is Beautiful?

2010-07-13T16:14:00.002-04:00

The focus is the intersecting grass blade and it was meant to blend out of focus.

Victoria: What is Beautiful?

2010-07-13T16:05:00.003-04:00

I like this picture because the way the light shines on it and the shadows in the leaves/flowers makes the picture look more interesting and unique.

What is Ugly? Part Two

2010-07-01T17:42:00.002-04:00

This month we started our second View Finder Project class. New students, new eyes, same lessons and neighborhood. Some of the students took pictures of the same subjects as the past students. Many students found other subjects they found ugly that were uniquely different from each other. In a neighborhood where ugly is sometimes too easy to find, these students were able to take the ugly and make it interesting to the eye.

Mayson: What is Ugly?

2010-07-01T17:39:00.003-04:00

I like this picture because I do not know what it is. Also it goes from dark to light. I also think that it is pretty because how the light hits the thing.

Courtney: What is Ugly?

2010-07-01T17:36:00.003-04:00

I like this photo because the flower is ugly to me (not to some) and the grass is all choppy and messed up and the bricks are a good background. The whole picture is a dirty picture which I like.

Alisha: What is Ugly?

2010-07-01T17:33:00.002-04:00

I like it because of the background I got. It's still focusing on the van and the grafitti, but the background is cool. I get little parts of the van and then the grafitti.

Victoria: What is Ugly?

2010-07-01T17:30:00.004-04:00

It was a spider web that had rain bubbles on it and the angle that I took the picture made it look unique and interesting. I like it, and the shadows and shades made it "pop" more.

Ryan: What is Ugly?

2010-07-01T17:27:00.002-04:00

I liked this one because I got the rule of thirds in this piece.

Shapes and Patterns

2010-07-01T17:18:00.003-04:00

On a rainy Monday we sent the students to the Woodruff Place Neighborhood to shoot shapes and patterns. A neighborhood near our own, but uniquely different. Looking for just shapes and/or patterns was challenging for some and others enjoyed the challenge it brought. With each session they are showing remarkable improvement.

The purpose of the shapes lesson is to "identify and photograph a variety of shapes that exist in our surroundings to better understand what shapes us as individuals." The purpose of the patterns lesson is to "train the eye to see specific aspects of the world in which we live, slowing down enough to notice these details."

Jeremiah: Shapes and Patterns

2010-07-01T17:15:00.003-04:00

The reason I chose this picture for one it is perfect for this topic. Not only that it is very appealing to the eye, it does not matter what you are doing, your eyes are naturally going to look at it. The color contrast is very good.

Amir: Shapes and Patterns

2010-05-25T12:52:00.003-04:00

I like how everything lines up in this picture. Also I like the white polie in front of everything breaking it up.

Ashley: Shapes and Patterns

2010-05-25T12:47:00.003-04:00

What I love about this photo is the reflection in the window. There are so many patterns around. But to me this picture says, "nature and man combined make a beautiful place."

What is Beautiful?

2010-05-10T18:02:00.005-04:00

Students went into the same neighborhood and this time took pictures of things they found to be beautiful. Some of them found that this was harder to do than find pictures of things that were ugly, others found it was easier. Each student took risks taking photos from different angles and perspectives. One student shared that he found when taking pictures of the same object from different perspectives, eventually he found something he liked in the picture.

The purpose of this lesson is: "To help students identify what they do like in their immediate surroundings and ultimately in their lives. To help students understand that there is beauty in everyone and everything if we look hard enough and with new eyes. To help students understand that both the ugly and the beautiful coexist all around us and that it requires a conscience CHOICE to focus on the beauty instead of the ugly."

http://theviewfinderproject.org

Ashley: What is Beautiful?

2010-05-10T17:58:00.003-04:00

I love the image capturing and shadow of this picture. It makes me think of some sort of board game. It says to me, "Hey! There is beauty in even the simpiliest of things. Just take time to look, notice, and capture it."

Emily: What is Beautiful?

2010-05-10T17:56:00.003-04:00

I chose the picture of the stop sign because I like stop signs, and because
I think without the stop signs, no one would stop. They'd probably just
keep driving and then there would be more wrecks.

Amir: What is Beautiful?

2010-05-10T17:55:00.002-04:00

I liked this picture because I like the plants surrounding the "Windsor Park" sign.

Danielle: What is Beautiful?

2010-05-10T17:53:00.002-04:00

This is my favorite because I get into the flower and it keeps you
guessing what is around it and what type of flower it is. It puts you in the position of a bee or another insect that may cross this flower.

Emilee: What is Beautiful?

2010-05-10T17:50:00.002-04:00

In this photo, I was unable to focus on the 'said' main object. The flower in the landscape has amazing visuals. The color contrasts, size, and shape clash well with what is actually in focus. The strands of grass in front of the flower. I also enjoyed the sunlight's effects on this image. It was a pleasure to take.

Jeremiah: What is Beautiful?

2010-05-10T17:49:00.002-04:00

In this photo there is a plant. The view of this plant is at ground level and you see an animal's view. The picture has a lot of leading lines. It's bright and beautiful to the eye.

What is Ugly?

2010-05-10T17:37:00.005-04:00

The first lesson of the View Finder Project is: What is Ugly?
We enouraged the students to go out in their community
to take pictures of items they found to be ugly. The purpose
of this assingment is "To help students identify what they do not
like in their immediate surroundings and ultimately in their lives; to
help them understand that they have the power to transform the
ugly into beautiful."
http://www.theviewfinderproject.org

Emilee: What is Ugly?

2010-05-10T17:14:00.004-04:00

In this photo I'm focused on the graffitti. The angle of this picture is interesting to me. You're able to be led on by the bridge, yet, you're still focusing on the graffiti. There is also very nice coloring and lighting.

Emily: What is Ugly?

2010-04-26T19:48:00.003-04:00

I chose this picture because it shows more of the paint chipping off at the swing set pole. Then there's the one blue pole that makes the picture stick out.

Amir: What is Ugly?

2010-04-26T19:44:00.001-04:00

I didn't like this because someone threw a bottle of juice in the creek, and didn't even finish it.

Danielle: What is Ugly?

2010-04-26T19:42:00.002-04:00

I took this picture because I found how the tire was sitting on the

hill by the creek ugly. I also find this picture pretty because of the nature and then it moves to civilization as you look further into the background.

Jeremiah: What is Ugly?

2010-04-26T18:29:00.003-04:00

My favorite one of "What is Ugly?" is this picture. It's a picture of a house. The front porch makes you feel uncomfortable. There is bricks and broken boards on the porch. I personally wouldn't want to go on that porch. It's not a good site.

Ashley: What is Ugly?

2010-04-26T17:52:00.001-04:00

Being in this photography class has made me realize how much this community needs our help. Seeing pictures like these makes us want to help our neighborhood.