Clouds for Computers - What Two Very Different California Communities Have in Common

For students living in East Palo Alto, CA, life is challenging. In 1992 East Palo Alto had the highest per capita murder rate in the country, at 42 people murdered with a population of 24,322 people. Poverty seemed to be imminent for its residents and the community struggled with low academic performance. East Palo Alto was relatively untouched when the Dot.com boom surged the economy for the rest of the Bay Area in the early 2000's. During this past recession the town suffered a much higher unemployment rate than the rest of the country.

Sounds daunting, right?

It has been. However, projects headed by concerned community members are striving to improve the life of the residents of East Palo Alto, particularly that of the children. I was clued into one in particular, Clouds for Computers, which aims to connect the neighboring wealthier community of Palo Alto with East Palo Alto through art and technology.

Clouds for Computers is the brainchild of local San Francisco artist Peter Shaw. Shaw works with children at Costaño School, among others in the area, creating cloud paintings. The paintings are based on Peter's own series "100 Blue" which consists of a progression of perfect blue squares that graduate from barely perceptible to nearly black. Their precision indicates the accuracy that technology offers. In an effort to emulate "100 Blue" each student receives a 16"x16" canvas, acrylic paint and a brush and creates his or her own interpretation of the California clouds. The art materials were donated anonymously. Children from neighbor community Palo Alto are also creating their own cloud paintings. The paintings from both communities will be hung side by side - bridging the gap, in many more ways than what is seen. Dozens of tiles are hung, creating one large mural masterpiece and emulating the expansive sky that exists above all of us and across every community. The goal is to create 1000 California Clouds paintings, and already the count is 700.

The story doesn't end here. Peter has plans to scan all of the paintings along side the children so they can learn the process of digital art and reproduction. The process is an important one and links the two communities through digital means. Amazing for the kids!

I had the opportunity to see the paintings and to speak with Shaw and some of the students who are taking part in the project. Peter is extremely passionate about teaching the children the process of art to technology as well as social means of communication. The end goal is to sell the reproductions of the paintings to raise money for laptops for the children at East Palo Alto schools.

Come Draft with Us - Sustainable Bicycle Gifts

Along with pleasant spring skies and sunny days perfect for biking season comes a plethora of Bike-Inspired Design – everything from bicycle gear clocks to rehabbed furniture made from bikes, this has got me rearing to get my own butt in gear!

Make space instantly! I found these very practical and minimally designed ceiling hoists for your bike – perfect for small spaces that require the edgy charm of a bicycle. Simply mount to the ceiling, hook on both ends of bike and with each pull it clicks to lock. Best part: they’re supremely affordable and sell for around $15. Some homes boast fancy light fixtures, why not exhibit your Trek? Available at Amazon.com.

Waking up to the tick tock of a bicycle clock may just help you get out of bed to hit the trails! Made from recycled gear parts and chains, this sets up a playful yet functional conversation piece. Besides being made from sustainable recycled materials, even the non-biker would appreciate its cool design. Available at BrightandBold.com.

Hip vintage bicycle art is a fantastic way to brighten any space. This wall art is available in several different sizes, on a green or white background. Features both canvas and framed art, printed with eco-friendly inks and mounted on sustainable wood. Framed art starts at just $55. Available at ModernMural.com.

Designer Andy Gregg produces bar stools, chairs and more are made from recycled bicycle parts; side tables use glass from auto windows all to create modern furniture. Gregg was influenced from his years biking and does nothing less than impress. All host beautiful arcs from bicycle wheels, some bent gently to create fluid design. Donated materials from old bikes will warrant a discount on a purchase. If you like the look of aluminum, steel and rubber here’s the place to go for something truly one of a kind. Available at BikeFurniture.com.

Modern Mural's Genesis

I am asked this question quite frequently, and I just wanted to tell our story.

My husband and I lived in an old loft in downtown Chicago - the kind of loft that had the big red fire doors and a hand operated freight elevator. The real loft with charm, and lots of it. We loved the place and knew that we wanted to decorate it with some ridiculous edgy art. And LARGE. Being a few years out of college we were looking for art that was affordable but hot. Original art was too pricey and we didn't want to hang up a poster. We looked everywhere, with out success, and finally decided to do something unique.

Loft = large walls. We had something massive in mind, bought some huge acrylic sheets on eBay, drilled holes in the cement ceiling and purchased some stainless steel cable from Home Depot. The planning was done on weekends and after work, and involved more sweat than we thought.

Not knowing anything about the printing industry, we trekked over to a well known print/office supplies shop to get our photo printed. We were looking at blowing up our high res photo to 4 ft x 5 ft, black and white. For the price of a nice meal at Avec for 2 (with wine) we got a print that looked like it was xeroxed. We were crushed. We knew we could do better. For a few weeks, the acrylic sheets and tools lay by the wayside.

While waiting for our flight back to Chicago at the Phoenix airport a few weeks later, we pondered the situation more thoroughly. We wanted art that was cool, oversized, unique, bold and affordable. We couldn't find it. It was there in the airport bar in Phoenix where we scratched out our first business plan on a cocktail napkin. Modern Mural was born.

Customizing Your Wall Décor

Whether you’re partial to contemporary abstract art or your own personal pictures, Modern Mural can help you create stunning wall murals that fit your needs and your décor.

How does this work?

It’s easy! Check out the new “Design Your Own!” tool on the Modern Mural web site and follow the steps below to create your personalized or abstract wall art.

1. Once on the “Design Your Own!” page, choose a layout for your art. After selection, the layout may be changed at any time by clicking the browse button located above the picture preview. There is no risk for low resolution, as the site will not allow you to continue if the resolution of the photo is too low to print on the chosen layout.
2. Choose a design. There are three options: a) You can choose one of the many Modern Mural designs. All of the Modern Mural Art Collections are located on the left-hand side of the screen for you to browse through. b) You can upload your own high-resolution photo. To upload your own photo, click on the “My Art” tab and choose “Upload My Art!” You will then have the opportunity to browse your computer for the photo you wish to use. Keep in mind that high-resolution photos, for example, photos from an 8-megapixel camera, work best for this option. c) You can purchase images from other sites that may be uploaded and used to create a modern mural. Size requirements for these images are XL, XXL, or vector. Some examples of these web sites include: stockxpert.com, istockphoto.com, and fotolia.com
3. Click on the thumbnail picture of your choice.
4. Adjust the design. Your picture will appear in the large preview box in the center of the screen. At this point, you can use your mouse to drag the picture into the position you desire or use the Zoom Art and Visibility slider bars, located beneath the preview, to change the look. “Reset Art Layout” will return the picture to its original position.
5. When you are satisfied with the design, click “Add to Cart” and you will be able to see a final preview of your art. Click “Add to Cart” again to place the order into your shopping cart, then “My Cart” at the top of the page to check out.

Congratulations! You have created your own customized wall décor. Your personalization, along with the superior quality of these wall prints, makes the artwork the ideal fusion for your stylish and smart lifestyle.

By guest writer, Sandy Randazzo, owner of www.youhavemywords.com