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When it comes to the topic of art, there appear to be a great many misconceptions floating around about it. For instance, a lot of people believe that in order to call yourself a “real” artist, you have to first do something such as sculpt or paint, while other people believe that someone can simply be born with artistic talent. On the other hand, there are those who are afraid that if they aren't good at something, there's really no point in attempting it. Therefore, they won't obtain any of the useful benefits.

However, we are all born with the sheer desire to show expression in whatever ways we can think of. In terms of art, a wide variety of activities can be utilized – more than you possibly could have ever imagined.

Here are some of the most useful mental benefits regarding art that can greatly help you.

Stress Relief

When you take part in an activity such as the aforementioned sculpting or painting, your stress level will decrease so much that you begin to feel mentally clear, as well as calm. This is possible because art provides you with a good enough distraction to allow your brain to take a break from all of your usual thoughts that you have. On average, a person has approximately 60,000 thoughts each and every single day, with 95% of them being about the exact same things. Taking on an art project will help to not only focus your mind, but also push all of your worries aside.

Self-Esteem and a Sense of Accomplishment

Just like hanging up a piece of artwork from a child can help to boost their self-esteem and also provide them with a sense of accomplishment, doing the exact same thing with your own artwork can also give you the same benefits. To be exact, this can help increase the levels of dopamine in your body, which will help to also provide you with more motivation. Additionally, you will have a much easier time planning ahead and resisting outside impulses, which will enable you to better achieve all of your goals.

Creative Thinking

As opposed to math, when it comes to art, there is absolutely no answer that can be incorrect in any way, shape, or form. Because of this, art is wonderful at helping to encourage creative thinking and allowing you to come up with your own solutions that can be distinctly unique. Additionally, taking on an art project and using your brain at the same time will help stimulate your brain enough to where new neutrons will end up growing.

Art From the Streets rely on generous donations of people like YOU! 

Purchasing artwork supports the artists directly. 

Donating to our program helps us to offer a free Open Studio 

for the homeless and at risk. THANK YOU!

 

Thanks to 3D printing capabilities, the dream of creating a home built in less than 24 hours and being hit with a price tag of only $10,000 could become a reality thanks to two different companies.

ICON and New Story have officially teamed up in order to help provide the city of Austin with what are thought to be the first 3D printed homes that are both up to code and able to house actual people. ICON is an Austin-based robotics company, while New Story is a nonprofit company designed to offer housing in various developing countries.

The Vulcan printer from ICON recently constructed an 800-square-foot home. While it cost approximately $10,000 to create the home, ICON hopes to bring the price down to around $4,000. It was also constructed in under 24 hours; however, the company is seeking to decrease the total time to about six hours.

Currently, the goal is to expand to other countries and construct homes in developing countries such as El Salvador and Haiti. Additionally both ICON and New Story hope to enhance the printer itself before moving it into the field in El Salvador to eventually begin test printing. The time frame for this is approximately 18 months.

New Story also works in locations such as El Salvador, Bolivia, Mexico, and Haiti to help provide shelter, according to their official website. Within the past three years, the company has funded over 1,400 homes for those families in need of shelter.

It's also hopeful that in the future, New Story will be able to share their 3D printing technology with other governments and nonprofit organizations.

Art From the Streets rely on generous donations of people like YOU! 

Purchasing artwork supports the artists directly. 

Donating to our program helps us to offer a free Open Studio 

for the homeless and at risk. THANK YOU!

 

Recently at the SXSW festival, a film that documents East Austin's first and only emergency homeless shelter for both immigrants and those seeking asylum, regardless of whether they're documented or undocumented, made its official debut.

The film, which is titled “They Live Here, Now,” made its debut this past Sunday afternoon at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar, with additional screenings to follow later on this coming week.

“They Live Here, Now” tells the story of a teenage girl from Mexico whose brother was tragically murdered by members of a gang. After making her way to the United States, she finds herself at Casa Marianella, the aforementioned emergency homeless shelter. Through this, the audience is able to meet the real-life occupants of the shelter, as well as see what typically goes on in their daily lives.

Thanks to the film, the audience will be able to see exactly how the shelter's residents do many things, such as assist one another with daily tasks, building up a fellowship with each other, and even take classes to learn English. Refugees from locations such as Somalia and Iraq are featured, and all share their own unique stories of forgiveness, acceptance, and having the chance to start a brand new life in the United States.

Casa Marianella has been in operation since 1986 and has seen many individuals pass through it, such as Salvadoran war survivors and many different immigrants and refugees from approximately 40 countries. Additionally, the shelter also offers various resources of both legal and medical natures, and back in 2003, the shelter opened a separate branch known as Posada Esperanza, which is exclusively for both women and children. Currently, Casa Marianella operates 13 different homes which serve more than 300 people on an annual basis.

Art From the Streets rely on generous donations of people like YOU! 

Purchasing artwork supports the artists directly. 

Donating to our program helps us to offer a free Open Studio 

for the homeless and at risk. THANK YOU!

 

Individuals who live in the city of Austin and are currently homeless have all sorts of housing assistance options available to them, despite what they may have thought or heard previously. Many resources in the area are designed to help both families and individuals suffering from homelessness receive housing that is both long-term and sustainable for as long as possible.

Here are some of the types of housing assistance that are currently available for Austin's homeless population.

*Regardless of what an applicant has gone through in their personal life (drug use, alcohol issues, etc.), anyone who submits an application for housing assistance while homeless will be accepted.

*If an applicant has a poor financial or credit history, criminal conviction, poor absent rental history, etc., this does not mean that their application for assistance will be rejected.

*There are discretionary funds available to assist clients who either have no income or who are suffering from some type of financial difficulty. Additionally, they are provided with a reasonable amount of flexibility in terms of paying their share of the rent.

*Supportive services, such as those offering assistance with both problem-solving and engagement, are offered; however, a client does not have to participate in these types of services if they do not wish to.

*No tenant will be evicted if they use either alcohol or drugs by themselves, provided they do not have any other type of lease violation.

*Tenant selection is based on factors such as how long they have been homeless for, how vulnerable they are, etc.

*Housing units may come equipped with features that help to reduce harm, promote good health, and accommodate various types of disabilities.

*If a tenant needs to be transferred to another housing unit from the one they are currently living in due to their current living situation being jeopardized for any reason, all efforts will be made to ensure that this is done.

Art From the Streets rely on generous donations of people like YOU! 

Purchasing artwork supports the artists directly. 

Donating to our program helps us to offer a free Open Studio 

for the homeless and at risk. THANK YOU!

 

A statue of Leslie Cochran, a homeless Austin resident who's most well-known for his crossdressing and passed away in 2012, is closer to becoming a reality in the city of Austin.

Over the years, Cochran frequented the area of Sixth Street and Congress Avenue, where he would often be seen pushing a large cart filled with not only all of his belongings, but also adorned with many different slogans and signs that were made by him.

A local filmmaker was inspired by Cochran so much that he decided to make a film detailing his life. Additionally, he is also working to raise funds to have the aforementioned statue, which will involve Cochran sitting on a bench, erected in downtown Austin. Currently, the plans are to have the statue sit at the corner of Congress Avenue and Sixth Street, where it will be in front of an area Starbucks store.

A local artist has designed the statue, with the model of it recently being relocated so that a final fitting can take place for the statue and bench prior to any kind of a mold being cast. When the time comes, the mold itself will be used to cast the statue itself in bronze.

An additional $300,000 is needed in order to finish both the statue and the film about Cochran's life. Anyone who wishes to contribute can do so by visiting a fundraising webpage that has been established. Additionally, the “Remembering Leslie Cochran” Facebook page also contains more information regarding the project.

Art From the Streets rely on generous donations of people like YOU! 

Purchasing artwork supports the artists directly. 

Donating to our program helps us to offer a free Open Studio 

for the homeless and at risk. THANK YOU!