Kindness and Philanthropy - AlphabeThursday

Spreads a whiter wing. Acrylic and Collage on paper. June 2011
© Rachael Pinks

I have been considering what it is to be kind and philanthropic.  I don't usually donate to charity and I buy a lot of clothes from charity shops, this is mainly because I am totally skint most of the time.  I don't mind this because the other option would be to have a full time job, money and never see my kids.  I have taken the choice to live cheaply and spend time with my children. (Although sometimes I think they would prefer the ipods and games!)

I did find myself drawn to Rachel Pinks's campaign to save her art studio, The Old Lock Up in Cromford, Derbyshire.  As its name suggests, her studio was the village jail in the 1700's and  it sits nestled in the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site and Rachel set up the studio for her to do her fantastic artwork in.

A short history lessons - Derbyshire pioneered Hydro powered cotton mills, then one Samuel Slater, an apprentice from nearby Belper, headed off to America and became known as the 'Father of American Manufacturers'.

So there is a strong historical connection with Derbyshire and America that I quite love.  A few years ago I took part in an exhibition which travelled to Pawtucket and I like to think that my piece of artwork is still sat on a wall in the musem there.

But, back to philanthropy, I decided to support Rachel's attempt to save her studio because she is living the dream that I wish I could be living.  She is working and creating in a  studio that she has worked hard to set up and maintain.  So by donating, I can touch on that little piece of a dream and hopefully some of it will rub of on me. 

Please click here to buy some of Rachel's Artwork by donating to save The Old Lock Up and support a fellow creative. 

This post ties in with Jenny Matlocks fantastic Blog and her Alphabe Thursday game.  Lots of good blogs are linked to this and well worth taking a look.

My theme for philanthropy is the same approach I used with technology: to find a need and fill it. - An Wang