Here are some of the ideas we came up with and scroll down more for some of the pictures! You can see more when you follow @valleywedesign on instagram!

PUBLIC ART

• Train Station Underpasses can feature seasonal public art from local artists, or competitions for all over
• Valley Maps or Directories can be designed by artists, and a great way to attract
• Garbage Cans can be a way to engage the high school artists communities

SAFETY

• Fences around the train station rails, this can also beautify the blocks, and Scotland Road
• The sidewalks are horrible, and uneven. We should definitely get them fixed
• More signs

DIRECTIONS TO THE VALLEY

• In addition to the maps, we can have just arrows pointing the district from Scotland Road.

There were so many more ideas shared, you can come to the follow up meeting, Tuesday, September 24th. More details to follow. Visit http://www.handsinc.org for more information.

Please join us for this evening of hope and good fun! 

TICKETS ARE FREE BUT RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. FOR TICKETS VISIT:  WWW.PAPERTICKETS.COM/EVENT/431059 OR FACEBOOK FOR THE DREAM BIC CONCERT OR CALL 973-3100 EXT: 24

SOUTH ORANGE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER: One Sopac Way, South Orange, 07050

*donations will be accepted and greatly appreciated to defray the costs and help Avery and his family.*

• The content of the poem or short story can be about anything you want, using the following writing prompt: 

Write a poem or short story in 26 sentences. Each sentence beginning with the next letter of the alphabet. Here is an example:

A writer, writing about a writer.

Beautiful words, telling a lovely story.

Characters in the story falling in love .

Deciding, that you can’t fall in love with the story, but with the writer.

Everyone can like anything.

Favorite things rarely mean it is meant to be.

Gorgeous moments, with the person is what matters.

Human nature.

I‘m a writer.

Jaded, yes. But I still write.

Knowledge does not always mean you are older.

Learning and educating others varies with age.

More. more. more.

Never stop writing,

Open my mind, heart, and inspired, I tell her.

People clap, but did they listen?

Quiet was the room, but who heard?

Respect writer’s work.

Speak.

Thank you for sharing.

Understanding between two writers.

Velvet, experience hearing that story.

Whether or not we meet again, I say thank you.

Exquisite experience, I hope to bring to my writing.

Years from now, I’ll remember the story, a 16 year old writer wrote about another writer.

Zestful story.

• Please send work to p.r. (editor-in-chief) in the body of the email or as an attachment to zinefeature@gmail.com or here.
• Include the following information: author name, age, hometown, blog/website, social media (twitter, instagram, facebook) 
• DEADLINE: midnight, October 1st 2013 

Date: Saturday, September 14

Location: Ironworks Studio, 406 Tompkins Street, Orange, NJ 07050

“Hey everyone, I’m cleaning out my inventory to make room for my next collection. I have lots of unique pieces, and selected sample from the Chloe + Isabel, that you can choose from.”‘

If you can’t make it to the studio check out the upcoming Etsy Shop to place an order.

Special thanks to my partner, Kat Dolly Black, Laura Campbell, Tyree Huey, Marie David, my mom, and sister, the models, Clothes Minded, Valley Arts, Hat City Kitchen, ORNG Ink, Mike and Molly, the glam squad and all who came! Thank You !

#ValleyWeDesign Project: Walk Around & Picnic Works

Residents, business owners, community organization representatives, and elected officials are invited to tour the Valley, photograph and identify opportunities to enhance existing and design new public open spaces to enrich community life.

Small teams will begin walk around workshop at 9:30am. Suggested RSVP to Jessica at 973-678-3110 x8 or jessica@handsinc.org

A CALL FOR NOMINATIONS!

It’s that time of year again, HANDS’ fourth annual Leadership Awards: Innovation Celebration. Please contact Jessica with nominations for this year’s community awards. Last year, Mike Mal was honored at the event. I can think of a number of artist’s here that volunteer at ORNG Ink that would be perfect for that.

http://www.handsinc.org

Here are some pictures from last year’s event at the Firehouse Gallery and an amazing Den Fenelon art show, November 2013. Molly wore a custom made Robyn Modest dress! 

This Fall, Pat n Kat are looking to link up with the next dope boutiques, and fashion designers for 2 amazing opportunities for exposure!

1. Pat n Kat’s first Pop-Up Shop event during the Valley Arts District’s annual VAMP Festival. Sell your pieces in a pop-up shop designed by ORNG Ink Artist Collective, featuring a fashion presentation styled by Pat n Kat! There is a small vending charge but the main goal is to gain exposure, collaborate and of course sell! 

2. The Robyn Chronicles, the New York City Web Series starts filming in the Fall! We want to feature your line, in the same way new designers got discovered on shows like Sex and the City, and Girls on HBO. There will also be a fabulous launch party in New York that is sure to be a glam event!

There will also be a lookbook shoot published in masConsumption zine that will be available online and a good way to showcase your clothes on the web and social media.

Want more information? Please contact and send a link to your work to, patnkatstyle@gmail.com. Serious inquires only! Also visit the Pat n Kat Pop Up Shop page! 

Naeema, Cesar, Tyree, Ray and I piled up in Naeema’s car for a life-changing trip. I honestly do not even know where to begin. Thursday morning we got on the road, and arrived at the center after about 8 long hours on the road.

As soon as we arrived, we were greeted with warm welcomes and Molly’s energetic spirit. We were joining Molly and her family: her younger sisters Sadie and Gahlia were on staff there, her nephew Javey, Michael Kaufman her dad and his wife. Gamal, an ORNG inker was also on staff. The adorable Malbroughs, Mike Mal, his wife Paige, and two children Bella and Abe. It has truly been a family affair. We all looked forward to volunteering around the camp.

Later that night after dinner the emerging artists, Mike and Molly led the first half our or art program. We presented how ORNG Ink came to be, and how each of us were brought to the studio. This was definitely a highlight because I learned a lot from everyone, and gained a new sense of pride for each artist, and what we bring to the table. And I also realized that it was truly fate, and hope that has brought all of us together.

We then went to our cabin, number 8 in the middle of the woods. It was super dark, and a little scary at first. Then it became funny because on the way there we had running joke that Molly was luring us to our death and this was the start of a horror movie. Gamal was the killer, and was going to finish all of us. We woke up the next day to the fresh air of nature, and the sound of crickets. It was beautiful. Breakfast was at 8:00am and we had to go the main building to take a shower. My wardrobe of choice for the entire weekend was basketball shorts, and my old Jordan’s. Comfort, and self discovery was my overall mission.

After breakfast I sat in front of Mount Chicoro and did some writing exercises. Ray and Naeema helped Cara gardening to pick for the day’s meals. Molly, Bella, Naeema, Ray, Tyree, Cesar, Javey and I went to the pond and decided to take a row boat to Blueberry Island. An island across the pond that grows delicious blueberries. We all got turned around on the water, and needed a lot of help. The scenery however was absolutely beautiful. The view of the mountains, and green trees. The way the sunlight reflected off of the water, and the sound of the ores hitting the water. The air was so

fresh.

After our swim, we got ready for fun night! Fun night is the weekly talent show. Anyone can perform, anything. Ray and Cesar performed and hosted the event! It was awesome. People performed songs, shared short stories, stand-up comedy and more. It was so entertaining. After fun night we played a cool game, Pictophone with the cool World Fellowship Staff which are all young like us. It was fun. It is a mixture between pictionary and telephone.

The night ended with a going away party It was amazing. The sky was beautiful. It was life changing. We rode bikes fast down the road. Ray and I talked in front of the moon on top of the hill. It was amazing.

The next day, the crew hiked a trail and Tyree discovered a path to a fire tower. Later that night, we hiked there and climbed the tower. This was the facebook status I posted that night:

Pictures or words can’t describe my view right now. I’m in a tower in the middle of the woods, in a fire tower looking over the valley of New Hampshire, with my love Ray Sykes, bestie Tyree Huey, and friends, drinking beer looking at the stars. Moments like these are special and unforgettable. Life changing. Thank you Molly Rose Kaufman for inviting me on this amazing trip.  life is good.  p.r.’s facebook status on 8/24/13

That night, Ray and I decided to sleep in a near by cabin. That was fun. The following day we led another art program but this was more about our actual craft and the purpose of creating. Ray and Ceasar shared new songs, Naeema talked about her photography journey, and I led a mini zine making workshop.

It was great. The circle then shared and donated their zines to ORNG Ink. Now we have a piece of World Fellowship Center here at the studio. 

We filled days with basketball, naps, hikes, photography bike rides, volunteering at the dining hall, housekeeping with Sadie, musical jams, writing, talking and soul searching. We were all so sad when we had to leave Monday. I want to thank Molly for inviting us on this trip. Look out for more pictures from Naeema!

As you all probably know I did not spend the summer on the beach, or on vacation. I spent the summer working. The summer was filled with photo shoots, and planning meetings and working at Hat City Kitchen. And now that the runway show is over, I am trying to get the last bit of summer as I can. So, I decided, with much reluctancy to take a week off of work.

After the show, I realized I needed a break. I missed my family and boyfriend. Love in life is important and fulfilling. I have been in overdrive for the last year or so mapping out what my plan was, and trying to establish myself. I am 23, with big dreams, my own apt and responsibilities. I have finally taken a step back and said to myself, it is time to relax. After many conversations with my peers, (artists trying to make it in the creative industry) and came to a lot of revelations about life, and what is important:

1. There are more important things in life than money. So true. I am always stressing about money, and how I am broke. But I thought about it and of course I am broke! I am a 23 year old, aspiring artist and writer, recent college grad living on her own. Yeah, you’re supposed to live like shit in your 20s, while making your dreams come true.

2. Define your own success. Once you come to terms with your goals, and your efforts, it takes some of the pressures off. Do not let other people define what achieving success means to you. I am young. Just starting out. I have to put my work in and be patient before things really take off the way I hope for them. I can not get discouraged because I am impatient. I looked back in the last 2 or 3 years of my life, and all the small things I have achieved, and to me that is me growing, and learning, which to me, equates achieving true success. In the last year, I have faced my fears and because of that I have allowed myself to reach new heights with the feeling of never stopping.

3. Let Your Work Speak For Itself. Honestly, being a young african american woman, it is hard for people to take me seriously. You think people in your community support you, but they really could care less. You have to show them. You have to make such a mark that they have no choice but to take notice. Portrait of a Lady did just that, and I think people are truly impressed and can not wait to see more!

I just wanted to share some of things I have learned the last week. I do not know if taking a break from work is for me. I think I wasted a lot of time, but Ray says I am a workaholic so I have to have some balance in my life. I took a break off blogging this summer, so I am excited to get back to that. There is a lot of work to be done and it feels good. I want to thank my amazing team, support at ORNG Ink and partners in the Valley for believing in me, the project and let’s take the Valley over!!!!

-p.r.