Fall 2023 Show

 

Oceans of Emotions By Adie Larsen    Guitar and vocals

Hi, my name is Adie Larsen. I’m a 16-year-old PSEO/Homeschool student and this session I had the honor of being mentored by Aaron Sutton. Over the course of the last few months, I created my song, ‘Oceans of Emotions’. I constructed this piece by using my guitar and my vocals.

The idea for the song spawned when I was having a pretty rough day. You know? The kind of day where everything just seems to be going wrong. Not only was I feeling crappy, but I was also feeling guilty. I kept comparing my situation to others and thinking “How on earth do I have the right to feel horrible when people all over the world are going through so much worse?” I felt like an entitled toddler throwing a fit. Everything was boiling up in me. Ready to explode at the slightest provocation. That’s when ‘Oceans of Emotions’ popped into my head. It felt right. I continued the thought process in my notebook and BAM, my song was born… Or at least the beginning of it. This song took a lot. I had to fight noticeably more this session than in the past. I still have some pretty big reservations about it. I mean it’s so exposing. Even now, while I’m writing this, my stomach churns at the very thought of having to play this in front of a whole bunch of people. So hopefully if you’re reading this, it’s already behind me, and there’s no more stress. Hooray!

You know what? I think the most important thing I’ve learned from this session is sometimes you just need a good old cry. And sometimes you need to stop wallowing in your own self-pity and go and get it done. Balance. It’s harder than you might think but then again, lots of things are hard. You just need to pick your hard. Many thanks to Aaron who sat by and listened when I needed to verbally process. I appreciate that more than you know. And a big thanks to all the musicians who helped me get me to where I am today. 

__________________________________________________________________________________

My Fantasy by Savion Ramos    Electronic Instrumentation

Hello! My name is Savion Ramos and I ’m sixteen years old and I go to Katherine Johnson Education Center. My mentors were Aaron & Elijah. My piece comes from my imagination and that’s why I chose the name My Fantasy. 

I felt focused when coming up with my piece because I had no distractions.  I chose the sounds in this piece because of how I felt it would fit in the song.

I have gained friendship from this process. This process has also brought me out of my comfort zone when I told my life story. This has also improved my spiritual life because I have hung out with people that also believe in God. 

Some people that I would like to thank would be my mentors, my mom, and my grandma because of what they have done for me. 

__________________________________________________________________________________

Societal Puppet Show  by Amanda Colleen Asch      Water Color   18” x 24”

People know me as Amanda, which is my first name, but I would like to be called by my middle name, which is Colleen. For this session I made sketches in pencil and then added watercolor paints.

This is what my art is about… Society is really messed up and it controls me. I see myself as a puppet on a string. My whole life is a puppet show. I hope for societal changes. I think it would give me a break if the strings were cut. I would be happier and have more self esteem. I think God will eventually cut the puppet strings. I wish it were now.

I want to thank Shane Mahon for being a good role model and inviting me to join Portable Vision and Audio. I also want to thank Harriet Braun for bringing me to Portable Vision and Audio for most of this session. She also takes me out to try lots of fun things.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Persephone By Anika Van Vooren     Photo transfers, embroidery, and beading on canvas

Hi, I’m Anika! I am a homeschooled junior. My mentors for this session were Marsha and Colleen. My piece was created by transferring photos onto canvas and stitching them onto cloth with embroidery thread and beads.

My piece was inspired by the Greek myth of Persephone. According to the myth, Persephone was the goddess of spring. While planting her flowers, she was kidnapped by Hades, the god of the underworld. She was forced to spend her winters in the underworld, and while she stayed there, the world above her withered and grew cold. But when she reemerged in the spring, she brought with her growth and life. Two years ago, I went through a very difficult season. Like Persephone in the myth, I almost felt kidnapped by darkness, unable to return to the way things were. It felt like “spring” in my life was out of reach. Over time, however, I was able to move past those challenges and begin to grow again. Difficult things are inevitable, but they never last forever–and walking through that season of darkness helped me to more fully appreciate the light. In the myth, Persephone had to go down to the dark underworld, but when she returned, she made the earth a far more beautiful place. When we face challenges, we have a choice: we can remain prisoners of darkness, or we can create something beautiful. I decided to create this piece as a record of where I have been, but also as a reminder that challenges do not define who I am and who I can become. The statue of Persephone in the center of my piece is surrounded by flowers and butterflies–signs of growth and new life. I chose gold leaf, threads, and beading to symbolize light and the soul. 

Making a piece inspired by a Greek myth as a Christian was a fascinating experience. While I certainly do not see the story of Persephone as anything more than a myth, I also think that the themes of the story can still resonate with Christians. There is nothing that Satan loves more than to trap us in darkness as Hades did in the myth and convince us that we will never be able to escape our challenges. But through Jesus, followers of Christ can break free from these lies and find new life and freedom. 

I want to thank Marsha and Colleen for being such incredible mentors, and Paul and Shane for their great advice and help with my piece. Portable Vision is such an incredible experience, and I am so grateful that I am able to be a part of it!

__________________________________________________________________________________

Made New   by Annika Nelson    Acrylic Paint

Hello everybody! My name is Annika. I am 16 years old, and I am from Becker, MN. During this session my mentor was Justine Miller. I based my piece on different Bible verses about being made new through the love of Jesus. I used lots of my time trying to mix the correct color; most of the time spent on my piece was trial and error.

 I chose my main verse to be 2 Corinthians 5:17 because it has been my favorite verse since my youth group took a trip on a Leadership Quest, and we had to memorize it. After choosing what verse to center my piece around, I thought of other verses and pictures to add to my piece that symbolizes being made new. I chose acrylic because why not?

I appreciate sharing life stories at PV because it helped me reflect on how good and sovereign God has been in my life and in everyone else’s lives. I want to thank Mary for chatting with me every week. It brought me joy and helped me stay positive when my piece wasn’t going my way. She is always happy and energetic, goofy, and a great thinker. Justine was a great mentor and was very helpful when I got stuck and didn’t know what to do. Thank you to all the mentors for helping us every week, leading us, and feeding us. Lastly, thank God for showing me what to do with this piece in a way that will glorify Him

__________________________________________________________________________________

Life is a River Not a Path By Ben Foos    Graphite 15 X 19

• My name is Ben Foos. I am 17 years old and a senior at Kimball High School. 
• The name of my mentor is Paul Burris.
• My piece is an image of a mountain range framed by trees on either side. A river runs from the jagged mountain range toward the forest.

 

• Everyone has bad times and good times in their life. Reflecting on my life God has cared  for me through those bad and good times. You see the river representing the flow of your life. That river flows through the dark mountains to a sunny valley and back into a shaded forest visually showing the journey that life is. 
• I chose this image because I like drawing landscapes and I enjoy being outdoors. It is a peaceful place for me.
• I chose the media that I did because I am comfortable with a pencil.

 

• I have benefited from the time spent and lessons learned about God through the power of art. Having the opportunity to be open about God with strong believing mentors is refreshing considering the world we live in. 
• My spiritual journey has benefited from the fellowship with other believers. Prior to this time I have felt disconnected from God with my relationship being one of acquaintances with a hello here and there. Sometimes the deeper connection is made with him but nothing prolonged. Jumping back into a community of believers is refreshing for my soul.
• I would like to thank my parents for the opportunity to come here and the support in my spiritual journey with God.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Hidden in the Clouds by Caden Freeman    Mixed Medium

My name is Caden Freeman, I am 15 and go to Calvary Classical Academy. I used a mixed medium of fineliner, gold acrylic paint, and watercolor. My mentor this session was Paul Burris, and I enjoyed having him as my mentor.

The inspiration of this art piece was halfway through Ezekiel 15 through verse 18. “And the four had the same likeness, their appearance and construction being as it were a wheel within a wheel. When they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went. And their rims were tall and awesome, and the rims of all four were full of eyes all around.”

I feel that this artwork has been inspired by the awe I get when reading scripture. It just leaves me to wonder how and why the angel was the way that it was. I really enjoyed hearing everyone’s life story, and it puts it in perspective that everyone has their struggles. I expected to leave Portable Vision without learning much about others, but I enjoyed getting deeper and hearing their stories and struggles too.

__________________________________________________________________________________

The Fight with Evil  by Dominic Farrell   Ink, paper   13×17

My name is Dominic. I am 13 years old, and I am homeschooled.  My mentor’s name is Paul.

This is a little comic about Jesus defeating a demon. I made this art piece because I’ve seen people struggle with problems like fear or doubt and sometimes that is caused by demons. I believe in the power of deliverance that people or angelic or Godly resources can help kick demons out. That’s why I made this art piece. 

What I’ve gained from the art mentoring process is that I’ve got to hear everyone’s life story and that they all had problems, but they have solutions too. Hearing how people have experienced things made me understand the things in my life. 

 What inspired me to do this art piece was that my dad and pastors do deliverance and take demons out of people, and it made me start thinking about deliverance and how people experience stuff like that. 

__________________________________________________________________________________

Wildfire by Elijah Phifer    Sculpture

My name is Elijah. I am 13 years old, and I go to Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School. The mentor that I worked with the most is Shane. My piece is called Wildfire. It is a wooden sculpture with little hand made trees and a carved lake and river to stop the burning of the wildfire.

I made this art piece because one of my favorite songs is named, Wildfire. I chose Wildfire because I am definitely influenced by the songs I listen to and this is why you might hear me listen to fast upbeat songs or also some slow calming songs like Wildfire. I chose sculpture because I feel like it is the only medium that can harness the feel of wildfire like I want it to and to see the wildfire in the full 3D feel.

What I gained from this is to only bite off what you can do and not anymore that you think you can do or else you might panic, like a lot and stress out. This whole sculpture thing I think has helped me with God a lot and He shows me how I can actually come out and finish the project. And so now I would like to thank you for reading all of this and also Shane, Hudson and Noah for pushing me to work on my project and not bother them and also my dad for helping me make some of my trees.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Boaz The Dog by Grace Raftevold    Printmaking

Hi there, I’m Grace! I am 16 years old and am a part-time PSEO student at the St.Cloud Technical and Community College. I created “Boaz, The Dog” using printmaking. (which consists of linoleum, ink, and paper). This session I had Molly as my mentor and she helped quite a bit in the creative and technical process. 

My dog, Boaz, was the inspiration for my piece. He has been an important part of my life. Having him has helped me be more responsible, patient, and more of an early-riser. He has a very calming demeanor, which I think pairs well with the soft colors of this piece. I have done linoleum prints a couple of times before and I have always enjoyed working with the tools and the surprise that comes with every print. I find the process challenging, but very rewarding.

This session, like last, I’ve felt very crunched for time. Trying to fit ideas on paper, then carve them on linoleum, and print them out can be an extended process. Throughout this process, I’ve learned to organize my ideas better and create strong relationships along the way. I think the Lord has given me much inspiration throughout these last couple of months on what to do with my piece and how to execute it. Making something that resembles His creation gives me joy and I hope to use that joy throughout more of my art. I’d like to thank my mentor, Molly, for helping me form ideas and having good conversations with me. 

__________________________________________________________________________________

The Shield of Faith by Hudson Johnson    Wood/Wood Burning

Hi, my name is Hudson and I live in Rice MN. My mentor’s name is Shane and my artwork is called The Shield of Faith and the art medium I chose to use is wood and wood burning.

The reason I made this shield is because faith is a big part of the life of a Christian and I have been struggling with my faith in the past. I wanted to show the struggles of faith and the benefits of having faith. I think that a big example of having a lot of faith is my mom. She is super faithful and I have seen how that shows up in her life and that is why I’m making the art piece The Shield of Faith”

I chose the medium I did because I thought that it would make a really good set with my sword I made last session. The wood I used was poplar wood and I love the colors of poplar wood.

Something I learned from the art process was that sometimes I need to get to the point because I procrastinate so much and make myself do so much work in the last week. I think I need to do more work at home and I think that will be something I will really think about next sesh. And in the end I just want to thank my mentor Shane and all of the other students around me because they made this a really fun and enjoyable session.
__________________________________________________________________________________

Look to the Hills by Jadyn Rolling    Oil

Hi I’m Jadyn, I’m an 11th grade homeschooler, and I’m also doing PSEO at Alexandria Tech. I made my piece with oil paint and fabulousness, using a couple of pictures I took.

I made my piece based on Psalm 121: 1-2, “I lift my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, maker of Heaven and Earth.” I tend to focus on all my problems and just kinda try to fix them myself which always ends really spectacularly of course. I chose to make my piece on this psalm because I think it’s a really good reminder not only of everything the Lord has done for me already, but also that He is in control of the future and instead of worrying all the time I should just do my best in the present. I wanted to use a picture from the Black Hills, partially because it’s really cool but also because that’s a place I feel very at peace, and sometimes even a little closer to God. I felt like the hills were a good visual for the verse so that’s pretty neat.

I’d like to thank Lydia Larson and Matt Hebert for being a huge help in the studio, and also Meagan and Annika for being generally awesome and some of the only people I had already befriended that didn’t graduate last year, unless I forgot someone in which case I apologize for my unfortunate memory. 

__________________________________________________________________________________

The Violin of Life by Jonathan Zellgert    Sculpture

My name is Jonathan Zellgert. The title of my sculpture is The Violin of Life. My medium is foam, paint, wire, and toothpicks (Mixed media). I am 14 years old and I am a part of a homeschool organization called MNVA. The mentors that have helped me are Marsha and Shane. My piece is a violin which represents the connection that people have with each other. There are also dinosaurs surrounding it which represents the corruption that is in the world.

The thing that inspired me to make this is the times that I have listened to beautiful instrumental music. The reason I made my piece is because of the true concept within its meaning. I was originally going to do clay but Shane inspired me to use foam, so that’s what I did.

When I heard Aaron’s song I could really feel each note trickle down my body with love and life.

I feel a lot more connected with God in a spiritual way because of the process I have gone through. I thank Matt for encouraging me, Shane for guiding me, and Marsha for pushing me.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Wasteland by Julia Rassier    Sculpture

Hello! My name is Julia Rassier and I am a sophomore in the Rassier Academy (aka I’m homeschooled). I have spent this session working on sculpture with my mentors, Shane and Colleen. My piece, Wasteland, is made out of a globe that Shane, through much innovation, managed to cut in half for me. Inside, there is a mixture of found objects, clay creations, wood, paint, and lots of glue. 

This piece was inspired by a song called Wasteland by NEEDTOBREATHE. There is a specific line in this song that my dad loves, and has talked me and my brothers through a multitude of times. The line “In this wasteland where I’m living there is a crack in the door filled with light and it’s all that I need to survive” resonates with me, as it perfectly describes the world we are living in. The world can sometimes seem like a dark wasteland, but God filled His creation with evidence of Him: sunsets, fall colors, babies, science, and so much more. These are represented by the little gems throughout. In addition, the door to Him is open a crack, letting His transformative light in. He also sent His Holy Spirit, which is represented by the dove flying out of the door and into the world to us. The one true God has given us a crack in the door that leads to His light, and that light is all that we need to survive. 

This session I have loved getting to dive deeper into the use of symbols in my artwork, from something as big as the color black to represent sin to something as small as a minuscule pearl doorknob reflecting Revelation’s description of heaven’s pure pearl doors. Another thing that I have gotten to experience this session is painting, a medium that terrifies me and tends to disappoint me every time I try it. However, with Ang’s help, I had the opportunity to explore that medium and benefitted from that learning experience. I would like to thank Shane for his cherished advice and his willingness and patience in giving it even with a multitude of people asking for it every Tuesday night. Thank you to Colleen for your gentle guidance and encouragement. I know that you are a calming presence for more than just me. I would like to thank Ang for patiently helping me undergo a new medium that I was not comfortable with. And, finally, thanks to you, viewer! Truly, this show would not be possible without you. 

__________________________________________________________________________________

Red Horse by Karina Trejo    Oil Paint   24 x18

Hi, my name is Karina Trejo. I’m 16 years old and I’m a junior at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School. My mentor was Matt Hebert. I chose oil painting because I really enjoy painting with oils. Painting with oils is calming but just the right amount of challenging for me. Something about this painting that was challenging was the horse, I’m not very good at drawing horses let alone painting horses. In this painting there are 4 main colors: red which symbolizes east, black symbolizes west, white symbolizes north, and yellow symbolizes south; these 4 colors create the 4 races of mankind.

I really struggled with what I wanted to do for my art piece this session and I just prayed to God for an idea to come to me, and I thought of my grandfather so I painted something that means a lot to him. My grandfather is Native American from the Lakota tribe. He was nicknamed Red Horse for his bravery and courage with a sorrel horse that ran away in a storm. My grandfather has taken and used this nickname for honor and I honor him through this painting. When I think of my grandfather I think of God because my grandfather is one of the most Godly people I know. 

In Portable Vision everyone shares their life story. I really connected with Miles’ story. He said that a difficult time in his life was when he moved away from all his friends in his neighborhood. When I was eight I also moved away from all of my friends in my neighborhood and it was a very difficult time for me. Miles’ life story helped me to better understand that I’m not the only one who experiences hard times like that. 

When I was painting this art piece I asked God to help me because I was struggling with how to go about painting this sentimental piece. When I look at this art piece I think of God and my grandfather. I want to thank my grandfather for being the best grandfather I could ever ask for and for giving really good advice about everything. I also want to thank my amazing mentor Matt Hebert, my mom who signed me up for this amazing program, and most importantly I want to thank God for everything He has done in my life and everything He will continue to do for me and my family.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Travel Pals By Lea Klumper    Paper Mache

I’m 17 and go to Connections Academy.  My amazing mentor is named Marsha.

The big snail is named Sheldon.  He is a snail horse.  The eye that rides on him is Steve. He has no legs so Sheldon helps him get around.  They are made of paper mache.

I wanted to give my dad a good Christmas present that he would actually be able to see in 3D.

I chose the image because I was going to do a tree holding an eye and I couldn’t figure out how to draw a tree.  So I was inspired by a show called Amphibia with lots of frogs and snails.

I chose paper mache because I found clay to be challenging. I enjoyed working with it as I felt like a surgeon if I messed up.  It was also challenging to work with because I am allergic to glue and tape.  It was fun to work with all the tape!

I enjoyed being able to socialize which is not always something I enjoy or do.  I found it fun.

I was questioning if I was saved or not even though I was baptized when I was younger.  I realize that being saved is a personal thing, not just baptism.  I am working on processing through the Bible.  I trust the Lord with my whole heart, but I am working on the journey of really learning what the Bible says about being saved.

And I thank my mentor, Marsha, for helping me with the project and using more tape.

__________________________________________________________________________________

In God’s Image by Liana Fern    Clay

My name is Liana Fern, I go to Tech High School. My mentor is Marsha. My piece, In God’s Image, was inspired by a nose I made.

What inspired my work was flowers. I wanted to make flowers but I ended up making a nose instead. Then I made the rest of the face for the nose. I wanted to make the flower to represent beauty, but when I tried to make it I noticed that it looked sort of like a nose, so I made one. I chose clay for my media because I really like the feeling of clay, I also think that clay is really fun to use.

Something I gained during these past few weeks is being a bit more confident in my art. This journey has affected my spiritual life by helping me get more close with God, and helping me meet other people who care and love God.

I would like to thank God, my mentor, and my parents.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Last Glance in Brooklyn by Maiya Couzens    Mixed Media 11 x 17

Hi! My name is Maiya Couzens and I’m a junior and a PSEO student at SCTCC (St. Cloud Technical Community College). I created “Last Glance in Brooklyn” using magazine clippings and encaustics. I’m very thankful to have had Colleen and Shane as my mentors throughout this session. They have supported my ideas but at the same time, encouraged me to try new things and helped me to not get caught up on small details in my piece.

This piece is based off a picture I took in New York City of a cafe we ate at in Brooklyn. I took this picture as we were walking away from the cafe, so I think it’s kind of funny that this – of all the hundreds of pictures I took there, is the picture that stood out to me the most to create a piece around. I chose this picture because I’ve always been interested in architecture (especially old buildings) and thought it would be fun to make a piece of a place I’ve actually been too.

I chose to work with mixed media because I wanted to try something new. I wanted to get out of my comfort zone a little bit and thought the different textures and colors, shapes and designs in the magazine clippings and in mixed media would suit a picture in New York well and kind of play into the chaos. A part of the process of creating my piece that I really enjoyed was taking random pictures or objects in a magazine (like the boat in the top right corner) and putting them into the piece to make it more interesting.

Something that has stood out to me and impacted me in my experience with PV/PA is hearing Life Stories. Every single person that comes to PV/PA shares their life story. I really love how in Life Stores you learn things about a person that wouldn’t usually come up in casual conversation. You get to hear their perspectives on life “a level deeper” than what we’re used to sharing. My favorite part about Life Stories is hearing and giving affirmations at the end of someone’s Life Story. You get a little confidence boost and those words mean a lot to the person. I also appreciate the Christian based side of PV/PA and YFC. Nothing is forced onto anyone, but the mentors do encourage you to ask questions and they share how God has been a part of their lives.

I’d like to thank my parents for always encouraging me, Colleen, Shane, and all of our other amazing PV/PA mentors who take time out of their days to make art with us and have meaningful conversations. And finally YFC for being so generous with their space and time.

__________________________________________________________________________________

The Right Balance by Mary Kelsch     Acrylic Paint  18 X 15 in

I’m Mary Kelsch, I am 14 years old and go to Sauk Rapids Rice High School. During this session my mentors were Justine and Shane. They both helped me make my piece come to life.

My piece, The Right Balance, is a two perspective piece so if you look one way you’ll see one thing and if you look the other way, another thing. But if you are standing a little off it won’t look as good, so you have to find The Right Balance.

My piece also is a representation of crazy vs calm, or going to your freshman year of high school from a super small school. It can also represent my personality. Sometimes I’m all over the place, but other times I am calm. It all really depends where I am and who I’m with.

I chose splatters for one perspective because you can’t really find peace in all of that chaos. For the other side I have scripture in the middle along with a calm setting. My bible verse is Psalm 34:14, “Turn away from evil and do what is good; seek peace and pursue it.” If you just put your focus on the crazy it will be harder to get out of it, but if you turn towards God you will be content.  

I chose acrylic paints for my piece because you can almost always get the right color you need, and it is also good for splattering paint on a piece of paper.

Through this session of PV I learned that making mistakes isn’t always a bad thing, and that you should try to embrace your imperfections because you are perfect in God’s eyes. This process has made me put more trust in God, considering that I almost ran out of time.

I thank Justine for always pushing me to do my best and encouraging me to keep going on my piece. And I would like to thank Shane for helping me make the backboard of my piece. Finally I want to thank my mom for dropping me off at PV every Tuesday, and for paying for me to make art.  

__________________________________________________________________________________

Animal Love by Meagan Madsen    Wood Burning

Hi my name is Meagan, I am a homeschooled ninth grader and this is my second semester of Portable Vision. My mentor this semester is Molly. She helped me with ideas to get my piece started and encouraged me through the whole process. My piece is a couple blocks of wood that I chained together. I then drew me and my dog with a woodburning tool.

I was inspired to do this project because of my dog Dakota who is now three years old. We got her in January of 2021. Before this point I have been longing for a dog my entire life so finding out that I was actually going to get one changed my life. She is a beautiful red labradoodle that is  super energetic and playful, she is also a big blanket when you get cold and a great companion.

She has been there for me when I needed her the most even though she couldn’t say anything she was always there. I grew up in a christian home so I have always known about God. Last year I decided to give my life to Jesus because I knew there was no other way except through him and I wanted to show him that I was all in and I was going to follow him for the rest of my life. I am so grateful for my parents and giving me the opportunity to follow my heart and do what makes me happy and encouraging me on the way. 

__________________________________________________________________________________

Eyes on the Prize by Miles Rassier    Oil paint on canvas  18” x 24”

My name is Miles Rassier, I’ve been homeschooled my whole life, I am fourteen years old, and I live in St. Augusta. My magnificent mentors are Lydia Larsen and Matt Hebert. This session I created an oil painting dubbed “Eyes on the Prize”. It depicts a character dashing through a series of rolling hills which are life, with his eyes locked on his prize which he will receive upon finishing. However, it’s not going to be as easy as he estimated, for in the distance there is a formidable dragon waiting for its prey like a stalking cat.

I run cross-country and track for the St. Cloud Christian school with fellow artists Bella and Noah Orluck. My piece connects running with the Christian life in a Pilgrim’s Progress sort of style. In a race, you are often tempted to slow or stop because of the strain on your body. Likewise, when running the race of life for Christ, it is often enticing to sin. The fiery red dragon is alluring the man in the painting to quit and turn back. However, if he keeps his eyes on the finish line of heaven and blocks out the alluring temptations, nothing can keep him from obtaining his reward!

The compassion and loving guidance of the colleagues and mentors of PV/A have helped me become more outgoing and transformed me from being intimidated by PV/A to looking forward to Tuesday nights! I am thankful for the swamp crew (oil painters) for leading me and teaching me the art of oil painting.  

__________________________________________________________________________________

Open the Chapter  by Mya Blackmore    Charcoal and Collage

My name is Mya Blackmore and I am a Sophomore at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School. This is my third session of creating art at PV. While making my piece I worked mostly with Angela, but I also got a few tips from other mentors. I used charcoal to create the backdrop of my piece based off of an image I had in my head at the beginning of the session. I then used different notes, papers, and writings from my life to be the words coming out of the book.

Sayings, books, music, writings, notes, and just words in general have always been important to me. There is so much beauty that you can create with words, and I love keeping any note or card that I get no matter how long or short the message is inside. Keeping those notes to look back on is important, but sometimes I keep too much which can result in hoarding cards that are over 10 years old. Finally some of those notes and cards have come in handy for this project. I used multiple important notes, documents, cards, and papers for this project that all have one thing in common. That is that they all have some connection to Prince of Peace Lutheran School. I was a student at Prince of Peace from Kindergarten all the way to Eighth grade. That means that I was at the same school with the same small class for nine years. There were a lot of hard times, but there were also so many fun times and traditions that I now miss not being a student there anymore. I am constantly looking back at this time in my life, thankful for all of the fun, happy, and goofy memories. One of these moments was why I decided to center my piece around Prince of Peace. Knowing that, I made sure that every writing, note, or card had some sentimental value that all tied back to Prince of Peace. I then combined these with an image I had in my head at the beginning of the session. The image was the person in the darkness holding a book full of light. I accomplished this darkness by using charcoal, and the light comes from all of the physical memories of Prince of Peace. This contrast really shows how that time in my life is so full of joy and light, and I can always reopen that chapter when I am surrounded by darkness. 

I am so thankful that I was able to do PV again this fall. I have made new relationships with people and strengthened other relationships. Hearing all of the life stories helped me accomplish that. There is something so special about hearing people go a level deeper in their story that really helps me create amazing connections with them. I always love how these connections help me dig deeper in my story and feel stronger in my faith. 

There are so many people I would like to thank for helping me this fall through this session of PV. I would like to thank YFC for providing me with this opportunity. I would like to thank all of the mentors and friends in the program who made it fun to come every week. I would also like to thank the staff, students (current or alumni), and everyone at Prince of Peace for giving me the best nine years of my schooling career while I was a student. I would like to thank my parents for always supporting me and making it possible for me to go to Prince of Peace all nine years. And finally I would like to thank God for all that He has done for me. I would not be here making this project at all if it wasn’t for His plan for me to go to Prince of Peace. 

__________________________________________________________________________________

The Glory of God by Nadine Chambers     Mixed Media

My name is Nadine Chambers, I am a homeschool student, and I’m 15 years old. My mentor was Colleen. My piece is patterned like a human eye. Like it says above, my piece is mixed media. I used watercolor acrylics and more. It is titled, The Glory of God.

This piece is inspired by Psalm 19:1, which says the heavens declare the glory of God, and the skies proclaim His handiwork. I remember memorizing it in sixth grade. I chose the images that I did because they are found in, come from, and can be seen in the sky, or they are the sky in various appearances. My piece is sort of laid out like an eye, because the layout I was considering in the first place was similar  to the pattern of a human eye, and I thought why not embrace it. I chose to work with Mixed Media because it seemed so hard to choose just one media.

I benefited from hearing in others’ life stories that I am not alone in my struggles. I think just being in a community with other Christians was spiritually beneficial. Thank you to my parents simply for providing transportation. Thanks to all the random students and mentors who helped me find supplies, and to the mentors who helped me mix black paint. Thanks to Paul for helping me with preserving my acrylic paint so it didn’t dry out. Thanks to YFC for providing this program. Lastly, I would like to thank God for His constant presence no matter what happens.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Untitled by Noah Orluck    Sculpture

Out of all the billions of people on the earth imagine that one day you would stumble across a project that I created. Crazy isn’t it? Well, if this is such a miraculous occasion let me introduce myself. My name is Noah. I am a freshman in high school. I go to the Saint Cloud Christian School. This session I worked with a mentor named Shane. He was the person I would go to if I was missing something or too scared to use the big saw. He was very helpful and knowledgeable to help with my project. I chose wood because I really like working with wood and metal. 

My piece that I created is an embodiment of temptation in my life. The treble clef signifies the media, social media, social interactions, kind of all of it. The snake signifies the original tempter or embodiment of temptation. The snake is coiled around the note to show that the media was a good thing but the snake turned it into the wrong thing. 

The reason I chose this was because I was reading the Bible and a verse came up. First Corinthians 10:13 says that God has not tempted you beyond what you can bear. This is a kind of encouragement to keep going. I was easily tempted but went to the verse to keep myself in check and just be a better person. I hope that when you are feeling kind of tempted or maybe just really want this one thing once. That you are definitely strong enough to say no. 

In this session there were a lot of great moments and conversations that happened. When we would go into small groups we would kind of just talk about how we all are, and how we all did zero work over the week and had fallen further behind. This was nice just to check up on each other. This session I have really grown with God just because while making this project I accepted that I had a struggle for the first time, and I was able to address it. I am very thankful to a ton of people but Shane was really helpful and super kind. I would also like to thank my parents for driving me. 

__________________________________________________________________________________

Cutting Art by Reuben Henry Wagenius    Mixed-media collage on fabric on wooden board

I am Reuben (Henry). I am a junior at Apollo High School, but I also take courses at the Community College thanks to PSEO. Angela, Shane, and Matt are the mentors that I worked with during this session of Portable Vision. They provided me with much-needed encouragement and advice while I was working in a new medium.

My piece is a mixed media collage featuring cuttings and excerpts from more than 15 different drawing notebooks that I’ve filled up over the years that I’ve been practicing the skills of artistic expression. The title of the piece, “Cutting Art”, embodies not only the core action of cutting out images to compose into a collage but also speaks to one of the largest obstacles that I faced while creating this art piece: I was afraid of cutting up the very art that I desperately wanted to make use of in this piece; indeed, it took many conversations with all three of my mentors to bring me to accept the plain fact that the old art was not being defaced, nor destroyed, but instead it would be given new life in a new form separate from the old. “Cutting Art” also has a deeply personal meaning because it reveals, through slices of art and writing from my notebooks, many moments in which I experienced profound spiritual and emotional struggle.

Over the course of the last year, I have embarked on a journey of finding healing and understanding why I am who I am, and this piece felt like a natural next step in that long and winding journey. In finding the images for this piece, I flipped through the worn pages of my old notebooks and re-lived the memories ingrained in each pen stroke, be it a hastily scrawled doodle or a well-studied portrait. Not only were these notebooks places where I practiced my skill with the pen, but they were also diaries and records of what I felt and observed in my day-to-day living. With the gift of hindsight, I have chosen the images featured in the collage based on pervasive themes and continuities found across many of my older notebooks.

When I first joined Portable Vision this fall, I was completely convinced that I wanted to continue developing my knowledge and skill in the medium of pen and ink. However, during a fast-paced, experimental activity on the first night, I was introduced to the fascinating medium of mixed media. That night, I knew I wanted to make a collage for my final art piece this session. As evident in the work presented here, I succeeded!

I have found immense value in the opportunities at Portable Vision to have authentic, deeply personal conversations about the intersections of life, art, and faith in a community of other artists and believers. Specifically, the long discussions that have opened up in my studio group have at once been engaging, entertaining, insightful, and sobering. As an effect of the wonderful community, I have gotten to re-learn how to connect with other believers outside of the context of church or youth group, which has further nourished and refreshed my ongoing journey of faith with God.

Finally, I would like to wrap this up by thanking those that have mentored me spiritually and artistically through all of this, and more. From PV—Ang, Shane, and Matt; from Hope—Ellis, Hunter, and Pastor Brian; from Apollo—Mrs. Burris, Aiden, and Emma; and finally, from home—Grandma Joyce, Sonja, Mom, Dad, Soren, Bjorn, and the cats.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Gotta Cut Em All by Ruby Helgeson     Pokémon cards

Wsg, my name’s Ruby and I used a lot of Pokémon cards I’ve stolen from friends to create this piece 🃏🤏. I cut the cards out with an exacto knife and glued them together so they’re 3D. My side piece is Bulbasaur 🤯. I drew him digitally because I was bored 🥱😴. My mentor for this session was Ang Chillson, we both started our project on the second ✌ to last night of PV😎. She’s a bomb 💣💣 mentor, highly recommend ✅.

I chose to destroy 🚮 Pokémon cards because I honestly have way too many dupes 😭, they take up a lot of space in my collection so why not combine some into a singular shadow box card 🤜🤛. I got this idea from a dude I used to watch when I was younger named Jazzy 🇦🇺, he used to be insane but he mellowed down a LOT 🧘🏼‍♂️. The Bulbasaur I drew was because I’m drawing every Pokémon from the Pokédex in order from first 🆒 to last. Or at least I was until I ended up literally crying 😿 over that Bulbasaur cause he took forever👧👩‍🦳. Anyways if you have any duplicates of Pokémon cards you should find me and hand them over, I’m the girl with hair that flicks out on the sides. Average Pokémon collecter 🤓.

I benefited during this session by becoming macho👺, specifically my right arm is now buff💪 from all of the cutting. But I also benefited because now I don’t have as big of piles of cards in my room 🙏. Shout out to my table mates cause I was definitely wigging🗣️ out while doing all of this. Preciate y’all. Also thanks for coming to the show! (Childish interests are 🔛🔝) (except when the little kids in the aisle give you dirty looks 🏃🏼‍♀️) __________________________________________________________________________________

Lake Beauty by Svea Weeks    Sculpture  4.5×5

My name is Svea Weeks, and I am a part-time PSEO student at St. Cloud Technical and Community College. I got the inspiration for my piece from last summer. I spent a lot of my time at Lake Beauty Bible Camp volunteering, helping at a retreat, or being a camper. It meant a lot to me, and I knew I wanted to create a piece based on my experience. My mentor, Shane, helped me a lot throughout the process of making the piece. He gave me a lot of good ideas and helped me figure out what materials would be best to use. 

Going into this session, I knew I wanted to make a sculpture inspired by Lake Beauty. The idea for a lake came from the camp’s name, and the loons came from my time as a camper. I was able to be a part of the LIT program at LBBC, and loons were a big theme throughout the weeks. After LIT, I came back to camp to be with the campers. During my time there I was able to have an impact on the campers, grow connections with the staff, and learn more about God. 

Throughout this session, I learned how to use materials in many different ways. Everything is painted with watered-down acrylic paint, including the greenery at the bottom of the cube. The paint helped to make the base look muddy and add detail to the cattails. The cattails are made from wool, toothpicks, chopsticks, and a lot of glue. I would not have been able to finish this project without my parents and mentors. They helped me out a lot along the way, and I want to thank them for their support.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Life! by Aaron Sutton     Acoustic Guitar Composition

About 3 ½ years ago and then again 16 months ago, I became a grandfather.  This session, I had a goal to create a piece inspired by my journey as a grandparent.  Early in the session, I came up with what would become the main musical idea of my composition, which everything else is built around.  However, the more I tried, the more I struggled to find the right lyrics.  As the end of the session approached, all I had was a 30 second musical idea, obviously not a project.  What you now hear came from me going back to the drawing board again and again, which is often the way the creative process goes, and finally . . . I discovered the song.  

My piece, Life!, starts with a percussive track representing a mother’s heartbeat and then, one by one, the remaining 9 acoustic guitar tracks are layered in. You will hear a simple bass line representing the father, another quieter and faster baby heartbeat track, picked harmonics representing the first flutters felt by the mother, a quiet rhythm guitar line representing development, the main idea I call “All is Calm” and then the final 3 layers that bring a triumphant conclusion with the arrival of our new little life!  After delivery, all layers conclude but one, a quiet little heartbeat.

I would like to dedicate this piece to my two beautiful granddaughters, Rosie and Violet.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Worst Case Scenario by Angela Chilson     Charcoal and watercolor

Welcome viewer!  Thank you for coming to this Portable Vision / Audio show. This is my twenty-third session as a mentor.  As always, I want to thank my fellow mentors for giving their time and energy into making this yet another amazing show.  Also a shout out to each student for hanging with us, sharing their stories and displaying their talents with us.  Thank you all!

In true mentor fashion, I started my piece very late in the game.  Most of my creations center around bits of song lyrics or Bible verses that stand out in my head and this one is no different. Inspired by the song Confession (What’s Inside My Head) by Red, the following lines in particular:

And I can breathe

And I still feel

But not the way I want to

I’m on the edge

I don’t know how

I can escape this nightmare

 

There are times when my mind will run right to the worst case scenario, thus the title, and I struggle to regain peace.  But in those moments of feeling helpless and trapped, I know I can cry out.  There is a God who hears me, as I am reminded over and over in the Psalms.  “I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me, hear my word. Wondrously show your steadfast love…” Psalm 17:6-7 and Psalm 86:7 “In the day of trouble I call upon you, for you answer me…”

Charcoal was not my original idea as a medium, but when I noticed things were not going to work the way I planned, I needed to pivot. Just messing around with charcoal, the image of the atom bomb came together well, so I decided to stick with it. The dark shadows that can be created with smudging the charcoal lent themselves nicely to portray the fear caused by imagining all the Worst Case Scenarios.  This session, as with many of the others, I have learned to have a loose grip on the plan and the idea because where I start is often very far from where it lands. 

__________________________________________________________________________________

The Moon by Elijah Tweten   Audio

Hello, my name is Elijah Tweten and I am a new mentor at Portable Audio. I created The  Moon with vocals, guitar, and a variety of other instruments. I used to make graphite  pieces in Portable Vision when I was a student. But for the past couple of years, I have  been developing my songwriting skills.  

I am not a natural songwriter, but I have always loved listening to and creating music.  This piece started as an experiment with unique chords I played on guitar. But the way  the chords were played evoked a sense of soul that I wanted to take advantage of  lyrically. I developed a song about my apprehension towards going out into the world as  a young adult. It describes going through the standard motions of life until something  comes along and changes things for the worse. Then when life seems to fall apart in  ways uncontrollable, there’s always hope that can be found in the things that never  change. In this case, I capitalize on the moon being a mode of stability. I used the  analogy of hiding in the moon’s shadows as sort of a metaphor for hiding from the world  that seems as distant as the moon. I am naturally inclined to be secluded and hide my  emotions. I think this song reflects the fact that I don’t want to get caught up in an ever changing world and my temptation to hide away from it. God is finding ways for me to  venture into his world and to find ways I can glorify Him.  

I greatly benefited from being able to share a piece of music I felt was worthy of open  ears. I had many pieces to choose from and I felt like this one was easy enough to play  live. I’d like to thank my family for always encouraging me to be musical and God for  giving me the courage to make music for others to hear.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Not my Dreams by Justine Miller   Embroidery

Hi friend, so glad you’re here! My name is Justine and I created Not my Dreams; It was created with embroidery floss on an embroidery hoop but most importantly, with many hours of prayer and reflection. 

In a way, this piece is about letting go of things that weren’t even mine to begin with. Ever since I was a little girl the Lord has put big dreams in my heart. When I close my eyes, I can visualize them-what I’ve always hoped my life might look like. You see a glimpse of this when you look at my piece – a little home, surrounded by green emptiness, maybe a blue sky above, hopefully little ones running around (probably barefoot), a kind someone to lead our home and help raise those little ones, and just maybe a few four legged friends to keep us all company. Quite simple. 

Although I’ve always felt those things aren’t too much to ask for or obtain – the Lord has given me a new heart posture. The recent reflection sounds a little like this: “Lord, I thank you for giving me big dreams- ones I can picture and thank you for giving me a healthy fear to not settle. But God, I so badly wonder- will I be heartbroken if my “dreams” do not come true? Will I feel that you, you alone will still be enough?” The first time that thought came to me – it hit me like a punch in the gut. Truly, it felt that way because at the time I don’t know if I could’ve said “yes.” That broke my own heart. I have dwelled in this thought and have been in constant prayer to the Lord since. Asking Him to open my heart and see His eternal gifts – like being fully known, and yet still, fully loved by Him, being able to even be in relationship,  and the opportunity to live in eternity with Him. This brings a much greater joy than the materialistic life I think I want. I would be lying if I said I still didn’t want God to bless me with those things one day, but this season has helped me keep my eyes on the Lord and let go of those dreams. Afterall, they’re not mine anyway- the Lord holds them. 

Gratitude towards Youth For Christ and their hearts behind this ministry, this space to simply create and highlight our best selves, every encouraging mouth that has spoken life, every pair of serving hands and all the spirit filled feet that have walked into this special place.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Mom and Dad  by Lydia Larsen     Oil on Canvas  18” x 24”

Hello everyone! We made it to another gallery show! My name is Lydia Larsen and this is my first session as a mentor after being a student for the past ten sessions. Being back at PV has been a joy and delight. I mentored in the oil painting swamp along with the one and only Matt Hebert. I created my piece “Mom and Dad,” a portrait of my parents, Carl and Angel, with oil paint on canvas. I chose to paint this particular picture because it depicts my parents doing what they love-being in the mountains together.

I don’t know if words can express how much I love my parents. They are wonderful, wise, quick to show hospitality, and always willing to listen. The way they love one another and love others inspires me to be like them. I can confidently say they have had the most influential and formative role in my life. I would not be who I am without them. I love that I have the benefit of being like both of them in different ways. I am practical and organized like my mom, artistic like my dad, and have a love for the mountains shared by both of them. I am so thankful that they have always been in my life and that they love me so deeply. I am blessed to have them.

Mom and Dad, this piece is for you. Thank you for fostering my skills and pointing me to Jesus. Dad, thanks for all the hugs and homemade lattes. Mom, thanks for all the walks, encouragement, and timely practical gifts. I love you. 

__________________________________________________________________________________

Vision  by Marsha Benson   Yarn

As my first session, I was amazed getting a look behind the scenes of the gallery shows I have attended over the years.  The challenges and joys, both artistic and in life, allowed God’s light to shine in our lives.  In particular, I was honored to work with some fun and sometimes quirky (in a good way) students who challenged me just as I challenged them.

My piece is called “Vision” and is based on one of the many visions found in the book of Zechariah.  Chapter 4, verses 1-7 say this:

Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep.  And he said to me, “What do you see?”  So I said, “I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps.  Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.”  So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?”

Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” and I said, “No, my lord.”

So he answered and said to me:
“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:
‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
Says the Lord of hosts.
‘Who are you, O great mountain?
Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!
And he shall bring forth the capstone
with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”

One thing young Zechariah learned was that what God sees and His meaning behind what is seen is not always what we see or how we would interpret it.  The vision was simple, but God’s message behind this vision was mighty and powerful.  As we look past the obvious and mundane things of this world, we get glimpses of God’s power and majesty.  We have a daily choice to rely on His strength or on our own.

__________________________________________________________________________________

In a World Where I Belong by Matt Hebert   2023, Oil on Canvas, 40” x 30”

The comic book style dialogue sequence below is a creative assemblage of contemporary song lyrics (2011) and excerpts from Inspired ancient prophecy. I have intentionally rearranged them here, removing them from their respective contexts with an aim to invite viewers of the painting to see more in the composition than a gathered crowd at a concert.
* All apologies and homage to the original authors, the Prophet Isaiah (ch. 43-44) and Jon & Tim Foreman (Switchfoot song, “Where I Belong”) with Mike Elizondo.

This painting is for those who celebrate Christ’s Kingdom now AND for those who long for His Kingdom to come (whether or not they yet know the Source for their longing). For me, such desperation to both worship and to work (Romans 12:1-2) is epitomized in the global movement of YFC, and unique expressions of the Kingdom, like Celebrate Minnesota 2023.

__________________________________________________________________________________

West Palm Turtle By Molly Olivier  Glass and Shell Mosaic  10×24

I have always told myself as I was picking up shells on the beach, I would do something artistic with them. I just have been saying that for 50 years! But now it has finally come to fruition! On Vacation in West Palm Beach, FL in August I was really drawn to the simplicity of the bivalve shell that possessed rich colors. I picked up quite a few in the seven days I was there. In the evening down time, I spent arranging them in color and value studies. It became a puzzle for me, almost mesmerizing and relaxing.

I also love sea turtles and would love to be able to see them emerging onto the beach to lay their eggs. I did find some nests and the turtles’ paths to the nest; but the sea turtle still eluded me! So, I thought I would make my own with the shells that sea turtles may have drug themselves across to lay their eggs. 

The bivalve shells were used to help outline the flippers and create interest at the head and neck. The remaining portions were delineated by stained glass and grout. I knew I wouldn’t have a window to hang my piece to capture the light, so I created a light box!

I am very thankful to be able to work with these kids, passing on the love of art, as well as skill to create it is something God has laid upon my heart. Creating art that Jesus loves to bless is something I want to help others realize is an act of worship.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Conversations With My Spiritual Self  by Everett Paul Burris    Digital  10.5” x 15.5”

My name is Everett Paul Burris and I like to make comic books. I work on a character called Spiritman with Scott Snyder. Scott was my best friend in high school. He’s still pretty cool today.

My art is page 1 from Spiritman issue 2. I made the original drawing in pencil and then scanned it into the computer. Photoshop was used to create the black outlines and to add colors. Illustrator was used to add the text and word balloons.

Martin Taylor is the boy sitting on the chimney. Spiritman is the powerful, armored up superhero standing next to Martin. Back in issue 1 Martin asked Spiritman who he was. Spiritman responded, “I’m you.”

Now Martin is trying to understand how that could be possible. Spiritman represents a picture of what Martin Taylor, a follower of Jesus, looks like in the spiritual realm. While Martin often feels useless and insignificant, that is not how God sees him. God decides to show Martin the impact he has in the spirit realm. Equipped with the full armor of God, obedient to the instruction of the Holy Spirit, Martin appears as a powerful warrior.

I want to thank Dominic, Caden, Ben, and Colleen (Amanda) for being great studio mates. They were entertaining along the way but also brave when they needed to be. Everyone worked hard and engaged in the small group discussions

__________________________________________________________________________________

Honorable Mention by Shane Christopher Mahon    Assemblage of Found Objects

 

Honorable mention is a diptych, a two-part artwork that is designed to be displayed together. Both works resulted from contemplating this story from the Bible: 

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Mark‬ ‭12:41‭-‬44‬ ‭NIV

The first artwork, the trophy, is a traditional sculpture. It is a visual record of my contemplations.

The second piece is different. It is a sculpture of the imagination. Here is how to experience it:

1. The front tray contains pennies. Take two.
2. Imagine everything you own.
3. The pennies are everything you have; your money, your possessions.
4. Imagine giving it all away.
5. Put the coins in the donation box
6. Take some time to process this experience
7. The donation box has a door. Open it.
8. Read.

[17] As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” [18]  “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. [19] You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” [20] “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” [21] Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” [22] At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. ‭‭Mark‬ ‭10:17‭-‬22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

__________________________________________________________________________________