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The Reasons Behind

You already know why we're doing this but there are some things that haven't been shared yet.

To further inspire you, here are the mini-stories behind START HERE.

ONE : BEHIND THE PROJECT
The project came to be because I was feeling like I wasn't doing a very good job at helping out with the survivors of Typhoon Ondoy. I was mostly helping online by informing and updating, creating awareness through Facebook status messages and blog posting albeit some time donating and volunteering for the Ateneo Task Force Ondoy and Ondoy Relief Collection Aid.

I knew I could do something more and it was going to be through doing what I love doing. I voiced this out to Elbert Or and he said that he was thinking the same thing so we came up with this project. We both love art and believe that it's a powerful tool to communicate, educate and initiate. Brainstorming and planning were done over a 10-minute walk and a 20-minute drive and thus, START HERE was born.

TWO : THE NAME
I'll have to thank Elbert's brilliant brain for this one. It's pretty obvious that we wanted to incorporate "art" in there because that's our avenue of fundraising.

THREE : THE SIZE
8" x 8" makes a square because we believe that in this project, all sides are equal. Everyone is equally capable of sharing something and everything we do is equally important as actually donating or volunteering or being with the survivors themselves.

Plus, 8 symbolizes infinity and we want this project to have a lasting impact on our society and our country's future.

FOUR : THE LOGO


During the brainstorming session, we both agreed that we wanted to incorporate the circle in the logo because we wanted it to symbolize our starting point but you, as the artist, can choose where to go from there. That is also why our circle is hollow because we need your visions to fill it up.

We won't push you towards any direction because art is self-expression, is created because we have something to say. All we ask is that may our artworks inspire hope, creation and rebuilding.

FIVE : THE COLOR
Green, they say, symbolizes fertility and life, self-respect and well-being. Green is also the color of balance. Green conveys learning, growth and harmony and has an ability to sustain changes which is necessary for growth.

Put some green into your life when you want a new state of balance, when there's a need for change or growth and to promote the freedom to pursue new ideas. (SOURCE)
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Inspiration to Action

Dear artists,

If you've got the talent but don't know what to create for START HERE, read on.

Don't think of the tragedy that happened on September 26 2009 in the Philippines because of Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana). Instead, think of what we can do to help rebuild the communities that were severely affected by the heavy rainfall and flooding.

Think of all the people who have come together to bring hope to the survivors. Let this be our inspiration. Let's also inspire hope and initiative in others by doing what we do best, through art!

If you have any questions, please feel free to comment on this entry or send an e-mail to starthere.rebuild@gmail.com. And don't forget to tell everyone you know!

Thank you,
Lorra
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START HERE, artists can help the survivors of Typhoon Ondoy in the Philippines

On September 26 2009, Typhoon Ondoy (international codename Ketsana) hit the Philippines, causing a multi-city flood reaching up to two storeys high or around eight meters in the entire Metro Manila area and 25 provinces nearby. Areas most devastated by the 24-hour rainfall brought by the storm are Marikina City, Pasig City and the municipality of Cainta in the province of Rizal.

Four days later, Ondoy is gone from the Philippines’ territory of responsibility but has left 246 people dead, 38 people missing, countless families displaced and sheer indescribable ruin in its wake.

But there is one more thing that Ondoy left with Filipinos that day and it is hope. There has never been a more united effort to help fellow countrymen that this generation has seen than the volunteerism of people from all walks of life and of all ages in the many relief centers set up all over the entire country.

This is what’s happening now but we have to ask ourselves, where do we go from here?

START HERE is a collection of artwork inspired by Typhoon Ondoy relief efforts that aims, in turn, to inspire others to help in rebuilding the Philippines. The hope is that we can eventually set up an exhibit in the future to further help those who were affected by Typhoon Ondoy.

Why art? It is our belief that art is made because we have something to say and this is the perfect time to say something meaningful and in our own special ways. Art moves, not just our hearts but also towards a positive direction that we can choose for ourselves.

Say something. Move with us. Share your art visions of creation and rebuilding.


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START HERE is open to artists from all over the world who want to help the survivors of Typhoon Ondoy in the Philippines and inspire the rest of the world through art.

Please keep artworks to 8” x 8”, 300dpi, and save to JPEG or TIFF format. Include your full name, title of the artwork, your short description of the artwork, contact number and e-mail address when you submit to starthere.rebuild@gmail.com.

Submissions will be accepted until November 26, 2009.



Please help spread the word.
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