A Day Dedicated To Artists

August 12, 2005 – Glendale, CA: Three Armenian children, the youngest three years old, carefully looked under bushes and behind trees, easels and statues for hidden art to put in their baskets, as part of the annual celebration of international Art Day, on Friday, August 12, 2005, at the Glendale residence of the holiday’s founder, Artists For a Better World member Becky Mate. “On Easter, children hunt for eggs,” said Mate, “so why not hunt for art on Art Day?” The girls, celebrating the holiday’s sixth year in existence, were happy with their bounty of music, small paintings, statues, wooden crafts, paint sets, jewelry, etc.

The adults gathered for informal songs, poetry, handmade jewelry, original paintings, photography, 3D video, a beautiful floral arrangement and souvenirs from the generous Magic Picture Frame. Mate showed off her latest release, a sci-fi short story she wrote after many interviews with various people about the subject of control, called “Pink Chocolate.” Her husband, local general contractor Randy Mate, manned the BBQ dishing out hotdogs, cheeseburgers and bowls of an artistic fruit salad.

A highlight of the evening was the display of “mail art” made especially for Art Day, with the theme of “Art in the Streets” as coordinated by artist Aisling D’Art of Houston, Texas. Postcards of street art were sent in from Brazil, France, Malaysia, and the US cities of Portland, OR, Houston, TX, Clearwater, FL, Brattleboro, VT, Denver, CO and Cincinnati, OH, etc. D’Art wrote to the Art Day founder, “Thanks so much for being part of this adventure…I have had tremendous fun with Art Day 2005. Now, the new game begins, thinking up bigger and better ideas for Art Day 2006!”