Comments on: Question of the Week: How Have You Been Called to Charity? http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/question-of-the-week-how-have-you-been-called-to-charity/ The online magazine of the Getty Tue, 21 May 2013 03:42:49 +0000 hourly 1 By: Kathy Ferrell http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/question-of-the-week-how-have-you-been-called-to-charity/#comment-33651 Kathy Ferrell Thu, 26 May 2011 20:19:28 +0000 http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/?p=4073#comment-33651 I have been called to charity by being inspired to create a program that provides professional quality art supplies to talented teens who wish to pursue art as a career! I paid for the first competition myself. Unfortunately, I haven't the funds do another this year, but I won't give up. I'm sharing this with you in the hopes that you might share the idea with other artists. I think it would be a beautiful program to spread across the country! If the link doesn't "take" you can find it by searching for "Cup O Swank Studio Tools of the Trade Competition"! http://cuposwank.wordpress.com/tools-of-the-trade-competition/ I have been called to charity by being inspired to create a program that provides professional quality art supplies to talented teens who wish to pursue art as a career! I paid for the first competition myself. Unfortunately, I haven’t the funds do another this year, but I won’t give up. I’m sharing this with you in the hopes that you might share the idea with other artists. I think it would be a beautiful program to spread across the country! If the link doesn’t “take” you can find it by searching for “Cup O Swank Studio Tools of the Trade Competition”!
http://cuposwank.wordpress.com/tools-of-the-trade-competition/

]]> By: William Zaluski http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/question-of-the-week-how-have-you-been-called-to-charity/#comment-33261 William Zaluski Tue, 24 May 2011 23:54:09 +0000 http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/?p=4073#comment-33261 Thank you all! Each of your stories illustrates how every person's response to calls to charity is both personal and intense. During the gallery talks last week, one participant wanted to know more about the specifics of Francis' call: Were the heavens opened by a group of cherubs? Or was the painting from the imagination of an artist trying to convey an idea? In another talk, someone wanted to know why the movement of the composition was weighted so heavily towards the left. Another visitor saw the American Sign Language word for "love" in the right hand gesture of the saint. The painting offers such powerful reminders of charity and drew individuals to conversation. The online and gallery discussions remind me that one gains just as much as one gives in charity, as in dialogue. Thank you all! Each of your stories illustrates how every person’s response to calls to charity is both personal and intense.

During the gallery talks last week, one participant wanted to know more about the specifics of Francis’ call: Were the heavens opened by a group of cherubs? Or was the painting from the imagination of an artist trying to convey an idea?
In another talk, someone wanted to know why the movement of the composition was weighted so heavily towards the left.
Another visitor saw the American Sign Language word for “love” in the right hand gesture of the saint.

The painting offers such powerful reminders of charity and drew individuals to conversation. The online and gallery discussions remind me that one gains just as much as one gives in charity, as in dialogue.

]]> By: Deborah http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/question-of-the-week-how-have-you-been-called-to-charity/#comment-33099 Deborah Tue, 24 May 2011 17:08:11 +0000 http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/?p=4073#comment-33099 My call to charity comes from my mother who always said, "It's our duty to serve in the community, it's what makes us human." We belong to a service organization that raises money for local charities but from time to time we need to take care of our own. This month a fellow volunteer is undergoing cancer treatment and the rest of us are handling dinners for the family. Charity is always local. My call to charity comes from my mother who always said, “It’s our duty to serve in the community, it’s what makes us human.” We belong to a service organization that raises money for local charities but from time to time we need to take care of our own. This month a fellow volunteer is undergoing cancer treatment and the rest of us are handling dinners for the family. Charity is always local.

]]> By: Laurie http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/question-of-the-week-how-have-you-been-called-to-charity/#comment-32412 Laurie Sat, 21 May 2011 03:12:19 +0000 http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/?p=4073#comment-32412 I give of myself as a teacher to elementary kids, and for that matter, adults around me, every day. I volunteer at church on a weekly basis and help run a program for divorcees. This is my second summer giving a week to God. Last summer I went to Appalachia to encourage and help the good folks there. This summer I will be a counselor at a camp for abused and neglected kids. I think part of giving charity in money or time is what gives my life meaning. I give of myself as a teacher to elementary kids, and for that matter, adults around me, every day. I volunteer at church on a weekly basis and help run a program for divorcees. This is my second summer giving a week to God. Last summer I went to Appalachia to encourage and help the good folks there. This summer I will be a counselor at a camp for abused and neglected kids. I think part of giving charity in money or time is what gives my life meaning.

]]> By: Olga Raffa http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/question-of-the-week-how-have-you-been-called-to-charity/#comment-32368 Olga Raffa Fri, 20 May 2011 22:54:42 +0000 http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/?p=4073#comment-32368 I used to restore antique books and when I was circuling the Dalai Lamas' Palace in Dharamsala I felt a huge energy impress upon me to set up a conservation project in the Tibetan library there. The proposal was approved by the Dalai Lama and I nearly got my proposal into the Getty for help with funding then I became pregnant. My daughtetr Tara is now 10 and you've just reminded me I really must get back on the programme! Thank you for the reminder! I used to restore antique books and when I was circuling the Dalai Lamas’ Palace in Dharamsala I felt a huge energy impress upon me to set up a conservation project in the Tibetan library there. The proposal was approved by the Dalai Lama and I nearly got my proposal into the Getty for help with funding then I became pregnant. My daughtetr Tara is now 10 and you’ve just reminded me I really must get back on the programme! Thank you for the reminder!

]]> By: patrick http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/question-of-the-week-how-have-you-been-called-to-charity/#comment-32153 patrick Thu, 19 May 2011 09:41:03 +0000 http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/?p=4073#comment-32153 One of Solomons proverbs says "Don't pretend not to see somebody in trouble-you might be able to save them!Patrick. One of Solomons proverbs says “Don’t pretend not to see somebody in trouble-you might be able to save them!Patrick.

]]> By: Ms. Smart http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/question-of-the-week-how-have-you-been-called-to-charity/#comment-32123 Ms. Smart Thu, 19 May 2011 02:15:31 +0000 http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/?p=4073#comment-32123 I volunteer read to a second grade class a half hour every week. I read a story and create a related activity. My goal is help them enjoy reading, think, be creative, expand their thinking. It is such a joy. Love it! I volunteer read to a second grade class a half hour every week. I read a story and create a related activity. My goal is help them enjoy reading, think, be creative, expand their thinking. It is such a joy. Love it!

]]> By: Kathleen Westlake http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/question-of-the-week-how-have-you-been-called-to-charity/#comment-32115 Kathleen Westlake Wed, 18 May 2011 23:14:26 +0000 http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/?p=4073#comment-32115 I'm an Alaska native artist, and I've been called to give to charity large and small countless times. I've given to public radio, television, funerals, cancer treatment, search and rescue, you name it, I've donated. When you live in such a small community such as Alaska ( and Alaska really is that small) every cause is important, and it's important for very able person to contribute. I've had relatives missing out on the ice, and we need to pay for gas and food for the rescuers, and the people manning the VHF back home. I've also had relatives in the hospital with cancer in the lower 48 who couldn't possibly pay for a hotel room without donations. Other times, people couldn't pay for a funeral, so we all help. That is how I'm called to charity. It is my duty as a human being. I’m an Alaska native artist, and I’ve been called to give to charity large and small countless times. I’ve given to public radio, television, funerals, cancer treatment, search and rescue, you name it, I’ve donated. When you live in such a small community such as Alaska ( and Alaska really is that small) every cause is important, and it’s important for very able person to contribute. I’ve had relatives missing out on the ice, and we need to pay for gas and food for the rescuers, and the people manning the VHF back home. I’ve also had relatives in the hospital with cancer in the lower 48 who couldn’t possibly pay for a hotel room without donations. Other times, people couldn’t pay for a funeral, so we all help. That is how I’m called to charity. It is my duty as a human being.

]]> By: William Zaluski http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/question-of-the-week-how-have-you-been-called-to-charity/#comment-32113 William Zaluski Wed, 18 May 2011 22:33:29 +0000 http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/?p=4073#comment-32113 Hi, Christiana. I agree that a call to service is easy to overlook or ignore, but does become meaningful when one directs oneself to it, acknowledges it, and acts on it. Yesterday in the gallery a visitor seemed impressed that Francis was able to see past the circling cherubs to connect with his call to "charity." The subtlety of Murillo's painting of the engaged look by Francis to me seems quite masterful -- and meaningful. Hi, Christiana. I agree that a call to service is easy to overlook or ignore, but does become meaningful when one directs oneself to it, acknowledges it, and acts on it.
Yesterday in the gallery a visitor seemed impressed that Francis was able to see past the circling cherubs to connect with his call to “charity.” The subtlety of Murillo’s painting of the engaged look by Francis to me seems quite masterful — and meaningful.

]]> By: Christiana http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/question-of-the-week-how-have-you-been-called-to-charity/#comment-32097 Christiana Wed, 18 May 2011 20:01:03 +0000 http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/?p=4073#comment-32097 I do a lot of service/volunteer work but there was no specific moment, or vision, or action that brought me to it, heavenly or otherwise. I think calls to service are all around us every day, in many small ways that are easy to overlook or ignore. I do a lot of service/volunteer work but there was no specific moment, or vision, or action that brought me to it, heavenly or otherwise. I think calls to service are all around us every day, in many small ways that are easy to overlook or ignore.

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