WELCOME TO THE MARCH, 2011 EDITION OF LINN COUNTY KIDS CREATE.  SCROLL DOWN AND VIEW WRITTEN AND VISUAL WORK DONE IN MANY STYLES.  THERE ARE MARIONETTES AND ANIME DRAWINGS, PHOTOS AND COLLAGES, LONG POEMS AND SHORT POEMS.  ALL SPEAK WITH A GREAT DEAL OF HONESTY AND EMOTION.  WHEN YOU REACH THE SUNSET, I BELIEVE YOU WILL AGREE THAT LINN COUNTY KIDS DO, INDEED, CREATE.

A SIGN OF SPRING
By Mari, Grade 6, Memorial

Down it floats, gently brushing
me with its
Soft,
Pink,
Fuzz.
It drifts past my nose,
Its sweet, spring scent filling
my nostrils. Its pink cheeriness                                                          
makes me smile.
As I watch,
It dances like
A snowflake                                             
to the ground.
The first cherry blossom to                                 
 fall. 
 "It's Spring!"
 Is the message it whispers to
 me.

---

RELAXING IN SPRING
A Haiku by Hannah
(Editor's note: This haiku won an honorable mention in the Memorial Haiku Contest.)

Resting in the breeze
Relaxing in the cool grass
Asleep in the peace

COLOR CONTRAST
Photo by Jamie, Grade 12, Lebanon High

CRAZY
Print and Poem by Flavio, AOS

Crazy is the title of my piece
Crazy are the lines, the curves it conveys
Crazy is what the idea was when it came to my head.
Crazy is another way to describe the colors it portrays
Crazy is, that they call stamps, prints
Crazy is the title of my masterpiece.

TEXTURE PICTURE, COLLAGE
by Maddie, Grade 7, Memorial

I Am From…
Poem by Ayla, AOS
I am from rainbows and unicorns
The search for a leprechaun’s pot of gold,
Sun showers and adventure
I am from the dream of never growing old

I am from four leaf clovers
And sugarplum fairies
White spotted mushrooms all over
The pirate’s gold that he did bury
A young child’s fantasy is where I’m from

I am from cupcakes and berries
Gumdrops and gingerbread men
Chocolate covered cherries
And a delectable pie fresh out of the oven

I am from “adventure time”
And “let’s chase the rainbow”
From mother goose’s nursery rhymes
And “it’s time, ready, set, GO!”

If you looked in my mind
To see where I’m from
What you would find
Is a child at heart having some fun

I live in my imagination
And am proud to say
That’s where I’m from
And where I’m going to stay!

ANIME DRAWING
by Meghan, Albany Library Anime Club

SABRINA'S POKEMON BUTTERFREE
by Sabrina, Albany Library Anime Club

HAIKU
by Eriq, Grade 8, Memorial
(Editor's note:  This haiku won first prize in the Memorial Haiku Contest.)

The water is white,
Waves wash upon the blank shore,
Lit by setting light.

WATERFALL
Photo by Mackenzie

SUMMER, 2010
Photo by Jamie, Grade 12, Lebanon High

Just Be
by Sienna, Grade 6, Memorial  

The sky was pictured like a photograph, as if of an old memory.
Where you’re either happy or sad, where you’re either crying or smiling.
The lights twinkle in the background on, off…
Waiting for the last bit of the day to come to an end.
The trees sway as the wind blows like a whisper.
‘Cause I am here and I am now, not then or there.
Your face shines upon me, a tear in your eye.
‘Cause I am not here and I am not now and I will never be.
So let the fireflies be.  So let the sun turn to the moon.
As the picture fades away, as the sky darkens, as everything turns still, pitch black still.
As the wind blows the last candle light out and you know things not to be seen.
As the world stops and you can hear the last heart beat.
As you say these last words silently…

“I am still as a ghost, I am not dead or living, I am just free.”

TEXTURE PICTURE, COLLAGE
by Sean Marie, Grade 7, Memorial

CAMEL AND UNICORN MARIONETTES
Santiam Crossing

MEXICAN UNICORN
Grid Drawing and Artist Statement by Caleb, AOS

The title of my art piece is “Mexican Unicorn”. It is a drawing of my wonderful companion Jack.  A lot of steps went into creating it.  First, I drew lines on a picture of my dog.  Next, I drew corresponding lines on a large sheet of paper. On both I drew horizontal and vertical lines making a grid.  Then, I shaded in each box on the large paper according to the shade of that box on the picture. Finally, I erased the grid and reshaded the spots where the grid was.  This technique is called grid art. The materials you use are pencil, paper and a ruler.  My inspiration came from my majestic friend Jack.  I wanted to capture his cuteness, but I failed because nobody can capture a unicorn.  I like it because:  1) it’s my dog, and 2) I got to look at his cute little face all 5th period. I didn’t like it because the drawing does him no justice. He is much more adorable in person.

TEXTURE PICTURE, COLLAGE
by Paige, Grade 7, Memorial

WILD THING
Collage and Artist Statement by Reyna, AOS

          The title of my art piece is “Wild Thing”.  First, I went through magazines and found pictures of animals from the jungle.  Then I pasted them on a box.  Finally, I poked holes in the box to add texture and painted the rest of the box a jungle green.  The technique I used was painting and collage.  The materials I used were glue, box, pencil, paint, and magazine pictures.  My inspiration came from my love of animal prints.  I liked it because it gave me a chance to express myself.

TWO VIEWS OF A MARIONETTE
Santiam Crossing

ANIME DRAWING
by Samantha, Albany Library Anime Club

ANIME DRAWING
By E. T. W., Albany Library Anime Club

REVENGE
Drawing by Alex, Grade 7, Memorial

HAIKU: MIRRORS
by Tobey, Grade 7, Memorial
(Editor's note:  This haiku won second place in the Memorial Haiku Contest.)

In smooth surfaces
You will find someone you know,
Your movements the same.

HAIKU
by Blaine, Grade 7, Memorial
(Editor's note: This haiku won third place in the Memorial Haiku Contest.)

A warm summer day
Diving down into the dark
As you make a splash

TEXTURE PICTURE, COLLAGE
by Emma, Grade 7, Memorial

FROZEN LEAF
Photo by Mackenzie

THE BUNNY GIRL
by Kaitlyn, Albany Library Anime Club

TWO SIDES OF "I LOVE YOU SUNSHINE"
Hand-made Pillow by Ayla, AOS

ANIME DRAWING
by Jessica, Albany Library Anime Club

ANIME DRAWING
by Katlynn, Albany Library Anime Club

PHOTO
by Jamie, Grade 12, Lebanon High

TWO HAIKU WHICH WERE AWARDED HONORABLE MENTIONS IN THE MEMORIAL HAIKU CONTEST

Love
by Hannah

Racing through my veins
My heart beats eversofast
When I see you there

HAIKU
By Katlyn

As you watch nature
Waiting for the grass to grow
Like a drifting bird

A BUG'S LIFE
by Mackenzie

ANIME DRAWING
by Karli, Albany Library Anime Club

POEM AND HAND MADE PILLOW

BY SHANNON, AOS

I am from Pb&j sandwiches
and kool-aid
the smell of cookies and
laundry detergent, no cologne
just perfume
a broken family is where I’m
from

I am from green grass and
tire swings
from mud pies and inflatable
pools, with a big brother and
a dedicated mom

I am from a loving family
with a rich background
and Guiness accomplishments
uncle Elton in the world
records for fishing

I am from “Clean your plate
before dessert” and “I’m
going to count to three”
I am from home made spaghetti
and fresh fruit from my aunt’s
garden
I am from a fuzzy pink
journal with a lock and
key to go with it and
family photo albums
with pictures that never
fade

ECLIPSE
Drawing by Katie, Grade 8, Memorial

ARE YOU LISTENING?
Colored drawing by Sean Marie, Grade 7, Memorial
(Editor's note:  This drawing won an award in the Howland Community Art Show at the Art Center in Corvallis.)

ANIME DRAWING
by Meghan, Albany Library Anime Club

ANIME DRAWING
by Desiree, Albany Library Anime Club

HAIKU
By Kate, Grade 7, Memorial
(Editor's note:  This haiku won fourth place in the Memorial Haiku Contest.)

Strength masked with beauty
Art expressed through the body
I am a dancer

HAIKU
By Wes, Memorial
(Editor's note: This haiku won fifth place in the Memorial Haiku Contest.)
Swimming like dolphins
On a silver waterfall
While rain falls slowly

SHADES OF EMOTION
Collage and Artist Statement by Draven, AOS

The title of my art piece is “Shades of Emotion”.  First, I gathered photos of civilization and nature, then I glued them all down on a big piece of paper, and finally I painted the rest, adding contrast, finishing my collage.  The technique I used was pencil, pen, paper, paintbrush, acrylic paint, magazine photos, glue, feathers.  My inspiration came from Rauschenberg.  I liked it because it was remiscent of today’s world.

TEXTURE PICTURE, COLLAGE
by Katie, Grade 7, Memorial

(Editor's note:  The following two haiku won honorable mentions in the Memorial Haiku Contest.)
DANCE OF THE SNOWFLAKES
 by Hannah

Snowflakes fill the air,
White, white, white everywhere
Around me, they dance

MUSIC
  by Mari

So strong, yet so weak.
Expressing true emotions
Music is my life.

TEXTURE PICTURE, COLLAGE
by Hanna, Grade 7, Memorial

POEM
by Flavio, AOS

I am from a place where the sun shines
bright for most of the time.
I am from a land full of poverty and corruption.
I am from a place where the sand is white
and the salt water is warm.
I am from oranges, bananas, mangoes and all
kinds of fruits you desire.
I am from a home my father built with his
bare hands.
I am from a place called Vera Cruz where
the women are stunning.
I am from a place where I have Dark
Dark Skin, Black hair and brown eyes.
I am from Mexico.

PHOTO
by Jamie, Grade 12, Lebanon High

TSUNAMI
Painting and Artist Statement by Nick, AOS

The title of this art piece is called “Tsunami”.  First, I put the picture of the town on the priority mail box, then I put a picture of some deformed fish on it.  Finally, I painted it, to look like it was eating the town.  The technique I used was pictures and painting.  The materials I used were a box, pictures, and paint.  My idea came from the magazine I found the fish in.  I liked it because it turned out looking pretty cool.

AMAZING FOODS
Collage by Jaedyn, AOS

The title of my art piece is “Amazing Foods”.  I chose pictures out of magazines, then I painted my box on each side, then I glued down all my pictures to the box. I added texture to all the sides of the box.  I painted the whole box, mixing colors and going over pictures with paint.  Finally, I put on the orange and the straw to add texture.  I used collage and painting. I used a box, magazine pictures, glue, acrylic paint, a straw, and an orange.  I was really hungry when we started doing this project, and so food was all I was thinking about.  It like it because it’s all about food, and it even has an orange on it, and food is the best.

PILLAR
Photo by Mackenzie

LOOKING AT THE PAST
Pencil Drawing by Andrew, Grade 7, Memorial

RASTAMUD
Collage with Painting by Kaine, AOS

The title of this art is “Rastamud”.  To make this piece, I divided my background paper into 3 sections: red, yellow, and green.  I then found pictures to match my description like pictures of trucks in mud or dirt bikes, and finally I put color pictures of the beach to compare and contrast to the black and white photos. The technique I used was painting and collage.  The materials I used were paint and the internet to find photos.  My inspiration came from within.  I liked my piece because it was simple but interesting and I liked the colors.

MARIONETTE
Clay head, cloth costume, strings,  Santiam Crossing

MAN VS NATURE
Collage and Artist Statement by Caleb, AOS

The title of my piece is “Man vs. Nature”.  I made it by first cutting out pictures from magazines, then I glued them to a sheet of paper.  Finally, I cut away the blank parts of the paper to give it a non-geometric shape.  The technique I used is called a collage.  The media I use were paper, scissors, glue.  My inspiration came from my love of nature, and my ever shrinking respect for humanity, and added to the mixture is the irony that as a human I am part of the problem.  Another part of my inspiration was sadness for what humans are doing to the Earth, sadness because I can’t do anything to stop it, and sadness that I will never see the day that humans no longer infect the Earth.  I liked making this piece because it allowed me to share my views about humans in contrast with nature.

POEM AND PAINTING
by Joan, AOS

I am from the infected juices of a soulless rapist, a crack head and a whole bunch of blurred out faces.

I am from the hot cracked desert floor covered in beautiful cactus, and from the bullets that use to go through our windows while mom would yell “get under the mattress”.  Tucson, Arizona is where I’m from.

I am from the saying “talk spit, get hit” and “to legit to quit”.  The opinion that no one really cares, but everyone tries to is also where I’m from.

I am from the luminous sun that I wish was not covered by clouds every morning, and from the state of Oregon where the rain stays steadily pouring.

I am from all the homies that I kick it with almost all the time, and also from all the skilled rappers that can bust a sick rhyme.  The sound of music is where I’m from.

CAMERA
Photo by Jamie, Grade 12, Lebanon High

SUNSET VIEW FROM AN AIRPLANE
Photo by Mackenzie

THANK YOU FOR VIEWING THE WORK THAT LINN COUNTY KIDS HAVE CREATED.  ANOTHER EDITION IS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE, 2011.