I will be part of this year’s Little Lotus project, and this time Spinning Top charity are taking 12 artists from NZ, the US and South East Asia to Mae Sot, Thailand. We’ll be painting murals and teaching art classes for children in Sky Blue and SAW schools, and when we come back we’re holding art exhibits in NZ & the US to raise more funds for them. It still bugs me out to think about how this thing that I love doing - painting, can actually help people who are in truly difficult situations. At the same time, Spinning Top are not just giving money away, but are truly building sustainable communities for these refugee children, with their school programs, building a vegetable garden and a playground for them, among many other things. I’m hoping that by teaching art, painting and creating fun memories with these children, I’d be able to, at the very least, encourage a few of them to dream and pursue their happiness as they grow up.

I’ll be going on this trip with a lot of my other artist friends from around the world and I’m really looking forward to sharing this experience with them, and having my first Thai Christmas!

The past couple of months I’ve been holding mini fundraising events, as well as doing online fundraising, which would help me on my trip there as well as raising more awareness on the project. I had $3,000 as my goal and I’m stoked to have raised $2,980 as of today. Giapo had supported me by donating gelato vouchers which I gave away on my online fundraising.  We’ar, an awesome eco yoga clothing brand from here in NZ has donated massively to my pool, and I’m really excited to be collaborating with them soon on Little Lotus. 

I’m still fundraising and I’ve almost reached my goal. I’m giving a limited edition print of one of my paintings from my solo exhibit as a gift to anyone who donates to my GiveaLittle page. My highest donors will receive an original painting by me. Giving many thanks to all my friends who have extended themselves to help me with this, amazing how people pull through in things we all believe in.

2 weeks to go till I leave.

Artists:

Peap Tarr
DRYPNZ
Ritzy Periwinkle
Angry Woebots
Meghan Geliza
Sheryo
J*RYU
Cleo Barnett
Leon Dalton
Pat Shepherd
Gareth Moon
Daniel Zana