La Reina Buzz

Can You Drink this Cup?
By Tomoko

Have you ever heard of Kopi Luwak? It's the latest buzz amongst the most discriminating of coffee connoisseurs. I've yet to try it but the manner in which this “special” blend is prepared is what is fascinating. A Civet, described as a small, lithe-bodied, mostly nocturnal mammal native to tropical Asia and Africa eats coffee cherries and the seeds which is what is used as the actual coffee bean. The matter is half digested and excreted. Farmers then pick up the excrement, find the beans, clean them then roast them to what is transformed into one of the most expensive coffees in the world. According to Kopi Luwak lovers, the digestion process is what gives it a very sweet and mild taste.

Port Rico a coffee shop in the West Village neighborhood of NYC stocks the coffee for $250 - $340 per pound. For those on a budget, smaller quantities such as 1/8 lbs. are available as well.

If this did not pique your sense of adventure when it comes to matters caffeine, there is another exotic coffee blend, "Black Ivory" masterfully produced by the Thai Elephant. The cost is approximately $1000 for 2.2lbs. Allegedly, the enzymes in the elephant’s digestive system helps break down the protein of the coffee which is what is believed to be responsible for bitterness. The elephants must consume 33 kilos (66 lbs) of coffee berries to produce 1 kilo (2.2lbs) of product. From as best as I can gather, "Black Ivory" isn't available in the United States yet, but is offered at select luxury hotels in Thailand, Maldives and Abu Dhabi.

For those who cannot afford the hefty price tag of a trip to the Maldives, perhaps a stroll through the Bronx Zoo to collect elephant dung when no one is looking is a practical solution.

Welcome to the Kidz Art Stop a place that will inspire visual communication and development with a playful fun factor for the child and adult. This monthly article will include fun activities for the home, classroom, park, play ground or family vacation. Our focus at Kidz Art Stop is literacy and the arts, stimulating the child’s thinking while they explore and learn creatively.

Art is a process, not a product so it’s the process that brings great rewards!!

Join your child for creative play time and witness art in process!!

Creating art expands the child’s ability to interact with the world around them, and provides a new set of skills for self-expression and communication. Not only does art help to develop the right side of the brain, it also cultivates important skills that benefit a child’s development.

Art may seem like fun and games… and YES IT IS!... but you may not realize that your child is actually learning a lot through exploring the arts and doing art activities.

Did you know young people who participate in the arts for at least three hours on three days each week through at least one full year are 4 times likely to be recognized for academic achievement, are 4 times more likely to participate in a math or science fair, and are 4 times more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem.

The facts are that art education makes a tremendous impact on the developmental growth of every child and has been proven to help level the “learning field” across socio-economic boundaries, and has a measurable impact on at-risk youth in deterring delinquent behavior and truancy problems, while also increasing overall academic performance among those youth engaged in afterschool and summer arts programs.

We all know children love to play, love imagination, and love to create stories, so here at Kidz Art Stop we have created wonderful projects that incorporate imagination, storytelling and creative play.

LET’S PLAY!!!!!!

Break Dancing with Keith Haring

This project of Urban Art Break Dancers is inspired by Keith Haring, join us as we explore his artwork, his history, and his dream and desire to become an artist.

Keith Haring was born on May 4, 1958 was an artist and social activist in New York City. He was a well-recognized artist who spent most of his life using art to respond to the New York City street culture of the 1980’s by expressing concepts of birth, death, sexuality, disease, and war. He first received public attention with his public art in subways and in the streets. Some of his favorite materials to use were chalk and paint.

Keith Haring’s work told stories of people and politics, using bright colors and cartoonish shapes he created a lasting impression on the world. Keith Haring’s work is internationally recognized and highly collected today. Haring enjoyed telling stories and educating people with art. What story can you tell by using a Keith Haring inspired style? Will you draw a story of your family, school, friends, things you would change in the world, bullying, love, sadness, death etc. Let’s play together and tell our story with art.

Keith Haring Masterpieces

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

White watercolor or canvas paper or canvas board
Crayons / oil pastels or paints (acrylic, watercolor, or tempura)
Black oil pastel or black magic marker (for outline details)
Pencil and eraser (sketch out shape then fill in and outline with black)

REMEMBER TO ALWAYS WEAR AN APRON OR SMOCK AND PROTECT YOUR WORK AREA BY PLACING NEWSPAPER OR A DROP CLOTH ON YOUR SURFACE AND ALWAYS CLEAN UP ONCE YOU ARE DONE, THAT WAY WHEN YOU ARE READY TO CREATE AGAIN YOUR WORKSPACE IS READY FOR YOU.

INSTRUCTIONS / INSPIRATION:

The simple idea of Keith Haring’s cartoonish shapes is to use lots of bright colors and shapes to tell a story. Use your pencil to draw the outline of your artwork. Leave enough space in between for paint and coloring. Add a special message or word to your artwork that you can hang in your home, school or building to inspire others. See the supply list below and feel free to mix and match with materials. You can create a poster and hang it or share it with your community, there are so many things you can do. So, I ask that you be creative, brave and jump right into creative playtime and enjoy the process. See samples and finished artwork from our art students below and use them as inspiration for your masterpiece.