The Bead Table Challenge -- My Bead Kit Arrived!

"Living Life with Gratitude & Sharing the Joy of Artistic Creation" -- Pine Ridge Treasures

Friend Lisa Lodge of "Pine Ridge Treasures" is a published jewelry artist (see Bead Trends magazine, December 2011 and May 2012) hosting the "Bead Table Blog Hop" -- a blog hop and jewelry challenge using beads from Lisa's bead table and our own. The challenge is to combine beads from Lisa (leftover or not necessarily matching) with our own extra beads to create a jewelry design. 


Lisa sent each participant a mix from her bead table of various beads and components in a variety of colors and shapes. I absolutely love the bead mix I received! Check it out -- it is a wonderful :) 

The shades of blue are so pretty! The rich cobalt blue beads are magical and uplifting with their array of speckled color. They remind me of a wonderful story I once heard about cobalt blue glass. It's a tale of hope and wishes and manifestation, and I'm grateful the pretty beads have sparked my memory of the story. Lisa has included a virtual rainbow of coordinating colorful silver lined seed beads and Swarovski crystal, and if you look closely you'll see cat's eye beads in warm yellows and oranges too.


The ceramic (or glass) coral branches intrigue me -- blue coral is my favorite gem! Likewise, the little bird bead makes my heart sing, and I love how its colorway, with a pretty peach beak and light blue feathers, is mirrored in the heart focals and millifiori rounds.


The bright silver suns (there are two!) seem to be growing this lovely garden of beads, with lucite flowers and pink petals supported by an earth of smooth rhyolite (perhaps?) rounds. Opposite the sun, cool brass and pewter components shine: one charming infinity with a spiral dance; one like the full moon of an ancient Toltec night, adorned perfectly by the Aztecs.


There is what appears to be a cool slice of natural aventurine with its glittery, shimmering mica. It will be perfect for wire wrapping and seems to call out for its own design in snow quartz and fantasy faceted quartz crystal. 

More gems catch my eye as the turquoise nugget calls for copper and a special place in a hip modern bracelet, or perhaps asks to be a treasure in Mexican style silver. The sodalite coin beads look like the summer sky with stretches of hazy white clouds against a blue canvas. Likewise, the square beads of soft white and blue glass are an ombre summer morning sky, and the symmetrical, transparent blue tiles build the night. 

 Thank you, Lisa! :) 

  
 Big Hugs, TJ




Toltec Jewels is an author by day and jewelry artist by night. Her literary work is housed by the San Fransisco MOMA in a permanent collection of mixed media art and is published internationally in popular magazines, literary quarterlies, and university publications. She has won a number of awards for both her literary and jewelry art. A gemstone collector and jewelry lover, she makes handcrafted jewelry with her entire family. Her store offers small sets of gemstone beads for creating one of a kind handcrafted jewelry.

She is also the creator of Jewel School Friends, a community of expert and new jewelry artisans taking inspiration from each other, Jewel School, and jewelry art culture. Jewel School Friends features jewelry designers and bead artists, supports entrepreneurship for independent artisans, and hosts community events, challenges, and fundraisers. Join her at Jewel School Friends on Facebook for challenges, fundraisers, contests, free jewelry tutorials, coupons, Jewel School and handcrafted store features, youtube tutorials, networking, give-a-ways and beautiful jewelry!

Soup's On! My Finland - U.S.A Bead Exchange :)

Bead Soup Blog Party 6 is underway and it's time to reveal the bead soups! We were to send our partners a Party Pack, something nice we would give our best friend that included:

::  A focal  ::

::  Some coordinating spacers or beads  ::

::  A special clasp (not just a lobster claw)  ::

The soup I received from Margareta Saari (Mags - koruga ) is a lovely collection of beads by Finland artists (I apologize I don't have links to their work) African glass (new to me!), and a totally cool handcrafted ceramic focal. The infinity clasp is very, very special to me right now for personal reasons, and I love the silk ribbon and pretty braided leather. The colorway is subdued and soft, and together, it's a calming soup of purple and black hues that feels like Finland. Margareta added all the heart and flower beads and components as "extras" and the lampwork bumblebee is for fun. 

Although Margareta had shared her love of seraphinite, boulder opal, and turritella agate with me, I tried hard to keep my favorites a secret, only sharing my general interests in polymer and lampwork beads. I am excited by the energy of my Finland bead soup and the new beads now before me! I'm happy to say I'm completely surprised by everything Margareta sent me. I adore it all:)

My Bead Soup from Finland:

My bead soup from Margareta arrived the day after I mailed hers.
Amazingly, the Express package I mailed on a Friday actually arrived on Monday! (My package to Canada for the Pantone swap took 10 days instead of the promised 3-5 days). I had decided on sending two servings of soup and some dessert, so I created two coordinated soups to represent each of us: one bead soup celebrates Margareta's love of fossils and one celebrates my beloved tropical paradise home in Orlando. Here's what I sent Margareta:

Bead Soup First Course: Fossil Soup

  I am so proud of the U.S.A. artists' work I shared in "Fossil Soup"!


The copper wire wrapped fern fossil is a Carboniferous era plant fossil -- the fern existed more than 300 million years ago (before the dinosaurs)! My dear friend Audrey Allen of Wrapped Up in Magic created the amazing pendant. It's beautiful and I'm honored the rare fossil pendant is now in Finland. 

Likewise, I so admire the work of my friend Lisa Liddy of Metal Me This, and love the earthy, copper handcrafted leaf clasp she created. Lisa is always inspiring and delighting me with her beautiful metal work. I love how the etched leaf impressions of the clasp compliment the fern fossils in the pendant. 

Barbara Lewis of Painting with Fire created a rich copper heart with colors of copper touched by the fire. I thought it was perfect for copper soup! And finally, I added cool polymer beads by my friend, the gifted Barbara Bechtel of Second Surf. I had originally planned on sending an almost exclusive soup from Second Surf -- and Barbara kindly said she'd hop this year through me -- that is, until my daughter saw Barbara's mermaid key focal and fell in love. So I gifted the special Second Surf bead soup to my daughter so she may participate also! (I'll post a special look at our mother-daughter soups later :)

The rest of the soup is faceted natural jasper, carved and faceted goldstone, freshwater pearls, mother of pearl, Czech pearls, boulder opal, and lots of copper findings as friend Tina Holden of Beadcomber suggested I include for Margareta's convenience. 

When the turritella agate finally arrived, I mailed out another 3 day express package with natural ruby beads for the fossil soup and fantasy faceted quartz crystal beads for the tropical soup. It was nice to add a few more nice gemstone beads!

Bead Soup Second Course: Tropical Soup

The tropical soup was based on the lovely Hibiscus pendant by Tina Holden. She created it using her Hibiscus silkscreen and her new texture technique. You can see the beautiful pendant and learn how Tina created the 'crackle effect" using polymer clay in "Texture and Micro Urchins"  on her blog, "Polymer Clay Bites."

It was tough to give the gorgeous pink, blue and purple pendant, but Tina showered me with amazing pieces of her art during our Pantone swap; I have another Hibiscus pendant in green and gold (with lots of beachy peridot, I'm thinking);  and I really really really wanted Margareta to feel and see the bright colors and tropical flowers of Orlando -- Holden's Hibiscus focal is perfect! 


I added seraphinite and the "unusual wood" that Margaret had mentioned wanting with  Margot Potter "Your Grandmother's Crafts" vintage buttons. The pretty Amazonite beads are an ingredient in the Tropical soup.

I included many silver beads and handcrafted head pins. Margareta shared her love for boulder opal, so when I found "Jelly Pins" in "Hawaii blue opal glitter," I was delighted. Although I did include a boulder opal bead in the fossil soup, the jelly pins brought some "opal" to the tropical soup. The numerous varieties of Jelly Pins in so many styes are very cool. There are even glow in the dark Jelly Pins! I loved finding Amber's Etsy store :) 

I added an "appreciate" bead, sparkling Austrian crystal rondelles (both white and blue), silver pony beads, Capri Blue Swarovski bicones, a beautiful floral Jill MacKay clasp, the popular Panda beads, pink Austrian crystal balls, and pretty silver flowers with loops. 

Florida's gemstone is coral, so I included my favorite gem, blue coral, along with pink chalk turquoise, carved howlite flowers, carved and pear amazonite, turquoise cubes and pink jade cubes, a strand of natural rose quartz, and blue crackle quartz coins and rounds.


I also included two beautiful Second Surf beads by Barbara Bechtel. Like Holden's Hibiscus, it was hard to part with the blue pink and purple polymer beads. But I'm glad to share and glad to have a "mother-daughter" Second Surf bead party coming soon! :)

I kept in mind the idea of creating bead soup for a best friend, and I like the many gems, beads and various handcrafted treasures in both the bead soup courses  -- in my eyes and soul, a very good best friend's gift! 


Our "funny or fun" bead exchange: 


Margareta said she would include something "funny" in her soup. And thus, I have the fun lampwork bumblebee! For her, I sent along a little kaleidoscope filled with semi-precious gems that make the changing patterns and designs.

Our Rukousnauhat (rosary) Beads: 

After seeing Margareta's beautiful handcrafted rosaries, I suggested we exchange beads for rosaries too. The BSBP6 is an international, diverse bead soup party & as such, no religious symbols are allowed in the soups - no crosses, no goddesses, no Buddhas, etc. -- so we made rosary beads a separate swap.

Margareta sent me lovely blue quartz and Mystic rainbow quartz beads -- sensational! The mystic quartz is a bead I've wished for; amazing to have it now. The rich blue seed beads are perfect spacers. I love my rosary beads. 

I decided  to mirror the rosary beads Margareta had sent me, gifting purple quartz & Mystic rainbow hematine beads. The mix of Czech iris seed beads and the faceted rainbow glass rondelles look like the mystic hematine beads. Our rosaries will certainly be beautiful! 






Finally, Dessert:

 I sent the BSBP6 dessert directly to Margareta, and the package is scheduled to arrive just days before our August 11th reveal. I'm tempted to share the reveal, but I think it will be more fun for Margareta if I keep it a surprise. Can you guess what it is? (Ok, click here to peek :)




So, here's my soup in a nutshell: 

And the Handcrafted Artists:

See you in August! ;)
Big Hugs, TJ 







Toltec Jewels is an author by day and jewelry artist by night. Her literary work is housed by the San Fransisco MOMA in a permanent collection of mixed media art and is published internationally in popular magazines, literary quarterlies, and university publications. Her store offers small sets of beads for creating one of a kind handcrafted jewelry. As a gemstone collector and jewelry lover, she is happiest when making handcrafted jewelry with her entire family.  She has won a number of awards for both her literary and jewelry art.

She is also the creator of Jewel School Friends, a community of expert and new jewelry artisans taking inspiration from each other, Jewel School, and jewelry art culture. Join her at Jewel School Friends on Facebook for challenges, fundraisers, contests, free jewelry tutorials, coupons, tutorials, networking, give-a-ways and of course beautiful jewelry!

Let the Beads Roll and the Party Begin! BSBP6 1st Reveal

 It's here! The first reveal of the 6th Bead Soup Blog Hop Party!

 Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party is underway with the first reveal this weekend! My friend Tanya of Fusion Muse created a beautiful web page of everyone's jewelry designs if you'd like to take a look at the jewelry and revisit all the stores, and of course here are the BLOGS themselves to hop if you'd like to savor the posts and comment on the designs. I'm doing both. I love the way the reveals are all organized by Tanya (an act of love) and I really love seeing the blogs and moving from partner to partner. 

The Bead Soup Blog Hop Party -- and so many of Lori Anderson's bead swaps, Cup of Soups, and jewelry challenges -- are a great way to make friends, learn as a jewelry artisan, and have fun. I enjoy Lori's group on Facebook, The Bead Soup Cafe and recommend the Jewel School community of experts and new artists join in! The group is an excellent way to learn about new artisan's work to use handcrafted with handcrafted, but more on using handcrafted with handcrafted later. For now, look for the image above on Lori's page and you'll find the list of all the participants in the first reveal enjoy the Bead Party!




Big Hugs, TJ




Toltec Jewels is an author by day and jewelry artist by night. Her literary work is housed by the San Fransisco MOMA in a permanent collection of mixed media art and is published internationally in popular magazines, literary quarterlies, and university publications. She has won a number of awards for both her literary and jewelry art. A gemstone collector and jewelry lover, she makes handcrafted jewelry with her entire family. Her store offers small sets of beads and bead soups from high quality Jewel School gemstrands and crystal components for creating unique, well designed, one of a kind handcrafted jewelry.

She is also the creator of Jewel School Friends, a community of expert and new jewelry artisans taking inspiration from each other, Jewel School, and jewelry art culture. Jewel School Friends features jewelry designers and bead artists, supports entrepreneurship for independent artisans, and hosts community events, challenges, and fundraisers. Join her at Jewel School Friends on Facebook for challenges, fundraisers, contests, free jewelry tutorials, coupons, Jewel School and handcrafted store features, youtube tutorials, networking, give-a-ways and beautiful jewelry!

Meet Finland Jewelry Artist Margareta Saari

Participating in Lori Anderson's bead swaps and blog hops has given me the opportunity to learn about new artists and new elements in jewelry design, and to make some terrific friends! 

I recently was in Anderson's Pantone Summer Color Bead Swap -- an experience that taught me about color as I created bead soups for each of the ten Pantone summer colors for my partner, the immensely talented Tina Holden of Beadcomber. Holden is an expert polymer clay and jewelry artist and instructor, and her bead soups made for me were exquisite! Tina has now become my good friend, and as she says, we know we would be hanging out if we weren't at opposite ends of the USA and Canada! Distance doesn't stop us from having fun online,  sharing life's adventures and challenges and of course, the jewelry arts. I'm so grateful to have met Tina!

Now being a part of Lori Anderson's 400 person Bead Swap Blog Hop Party is another amazing experience! Not only has BSBP6 been fun, but exchanging beads between Orlando Florida and Jyväskylä Finland has been an adventure! I've learned some Finnish, and I've learned about Finland. But most of all, I cherish making another friend, my partner Margareta Saari of Mags - Koruja, a beautiful artist whose jewelry is intense, artistic, poetic and very popular. Margareta Saari is a beloved Finland artist, and it is easy to see why. Her work ranges from inspirational rosaries to leading edge modern folk art to the sophisticated and sublime.

One of my favorite pieces from her blog is "Noitanainen" (meaning "Witch Woman"). I love the raven, a cool twist on the popular birds in jewelry designs, and adore the magic bottle! I've looked hard for one, and the small size of the glass bottle filled with flowers makes it perfectly magical.

"Noitanainen" by Margaret Saari

Margareta loves Seraphinite, as do I, and often works with the feathery, upscale gemstone. Seraphinite, the gemstone of the angels with its silvery wisps of wings on soft, muted fern greens, is called "serafiniittti" in Finnish. Saari's  necklace "Päivän sana: kiitos" represents thanks to the angels.

"Päivän sana: kiitos" by Margareta Saari

I've learned how challenging it can be for artists to shop, ship, and share internationally -- and I've come to appreciate the stores, independent artists, and internet jewelry challenges that are  open to all and are internationally focused to bring us together. It takes more energy and more time and even more income to go global, but it is so well worth it! The results are outstanding. Whether we are in Canada or Finland or the U.S.A., we all share our love of jewelry arts, our love for our families and children as mothers, and our love of adventure. 

Thank you brilliant Lori Anderson and thanks to my partners in soup, Tina and Margareta -- I'm honored to call you all friends :)

Big Hugs,
TJ






Toltec Jewels is an author by day and jewelry artist by night. Her literary work is housed by the San Fransisco MOMA in a permanent collection of mixed media art and is published internationally in popular magazines, literary quarterlies, and university publications. A gemstone collector and jewelry lover, her store offers gemstone beads and she is happiest when creating handcrafted jewelry with her entire family. She has won a number of awards for both her literary and jewelry art.

 She is also the creator of Jewel School Friends, a community of expert and emerging jewelry artisans taking inspiration from each other, Jewel School, and jewelry art culture by featuring jewelry designers and bead artists and supporting entrepreneurship for independent artisans. Join her at Jewel School Friends on Facebook for tutorials, community events, challenges, and fundraisers.

Soup for Finland: A Look at Colorways for Bead Soup Party 6 !

This summer, I'm participating in Bead Soup Blog Party 6 and exchanging beads with Margareta Saari of Mags - koruja, an amazing and gifted Finland artist. The Bead Soup Blog Parties are hosted by the energetic and talented Lori Anderson, who is managing this summer's 400 participants! Artists are paired up to exchange bead soups, and after creating jewelry using at least the focal and the clasp from the soup, everyone's  jewelry creations are revealed during a blog hop party. This summer's huge Bead Soup Blog Party 6 will have three parties, or reveal dates: July 28, August 11, and August 25.  Margareta and I are in the August 11th reveal. The Bead Soup Blog Party is a lot of fun, and a great way to work outside one's comfort zone and grow as an artist. You can read more about the event at Beading Daily, "Over 399 Ways to Be Inspired to Make Great Jewelry: Bead Soup Blog Party 2012" by Tammy Jones.


For now, here is a look at the colorways I created for the party and sent to Margareta in Jyväskylä, Finland.

Bead Soup First Course:

Bead Soup Second Course:

Desert:

And, here is a peek at the soup Margareta has created for me. The gentle shades of lavender, blue, and purple -- and the cool patterns and textures -- are intriguing. I love the soft, muted colorway!

 Stay tuned as Margareta and I reveal the soups we exchanged, and as the parties begin, check out the inspiring jewelry designs that will be revealed in BSBP6 as 400 jewelry artists share their best beads and finest designs. 

 -- TJ












Toltec Jewels is an author by day and jewelry artist by night. Her literary work is housed by the San Fransisco MOMA in a permanent collection of mixed media art and is published internationally in popular magazines, literary quarterlies, and university publications. A gemstone collector and jewelry lover, her store offers gemstone beads and she is happiest when creating handcrafted jewelry with her entire family. She has won a number of awards for both her literary and jewelry art.

 She is also the creator of Jewel School Friends, a community of expert and emerging jewelry artisans taking inspiration from each other, Jewel School, and jewelry art culture by featuring jewelry designers and bead artists and supporting entrepreneurship for independent artisans. Join her at Jewel School Friends on Facebook for tutorials, community events, challenges, and fundraisers.

What's In A Name? Blog Hop Party -- Happy Birthday Shelly!!

 Shelly Graham Turner of the "Fabric of My Life"  invited jewelry artisans to celebrate her birthday by sharing their stories in a special literary blog hop on July 17th. What's in a name, she asks, pondering the details that make jewelry blog artists inspired: "the story behind your jewelry business or blog name, why you chose your font, color palette and logo. How did it all evolve?"

So what gives? What's with my 3 names: JEWEL SCHOOL FRIENDS, GEMFAIRY, and TOLTEC JEWELS?

When I became a reviewer at JTV, I first thought of a name for me and jewelry. I loved giving it, so I came up with GemFairy (a little like the birthday fairy or the tooth fairy ;) and it fit.

Years earlier, after reading about the ancient Toltec culture, I was moved by the idea that thoughts and attitudes play a powerful role in creating our lives. As I practiced looking for good and appreciating, I felt empowered. 

 

My spouse was working as a gourmet sous chef, and we had the idea of opening a restaurant complete with an attached jewelry store, Toltec Jewels. Later, when I began making  handcrafted jewelry, that name fit too :) 

I started  JTV Friends on Facebook when JTv reviewers wanted to meet and share online. It was so long ago, JTV wasn't on Facebook yet and Jewel School didn't exist!  But as JTV grew, JTV Friends became Jewel School Friends as customers learned the art of jewelry making with  Jewel School.

 I had discovered the amazing world of jewelry artisans, handcrafted components, and all the richness of the jewelry arts. I was inspired and absolutely thrilled to learn and share in such a beautiful craft!

 

My first purchase of handcrafted jewelry was Margot Potter's "Magnoliophyta" flower earrings from her book New Dimensions in Bead & Wire Jewelry. Margot Potter's work is exquisite and perfectly made, with lovely compositions, colors and designs. Inspiring!

 
As a reviewer, I added photos to my thoughts on jewelry and my love of photography grew. The world of macro photography and gem photography opened up and so did my heart.

I was delighted to photograph jewelry for my Gemfairy reviews,  like these pictures I took of Margot Potter's Original "Zigzagged" necklace from Bead& Wire Jewelry Exposed.



 Now it seems enchanting that a big part of creating handcrafted jewelry are the photos that go along with it!

Today, the names GemFairy's Jewels and Toltec Jewels and Jewel School Friends are celebrations of the jewelry arts and the incredible community that creates that art. Nothing makes me happier than featuring the work of jewelry artists and special gemstones, like this amazing labradorite cabochon from Dale Cougar Armstrong.

And like this awesome agate from Christiane Ross! You'll see it on an episode of "Beads, Baubles, and Jewels" Season 16 during Christiane Ross'  guest appearance on chainmaille bezels. She and this amazing gem are the star jewels!

Jewel School Friends represents the jewelry community: experienced and new jewelry artists alike are friends -- friends who are empowering, appreciating, and encouraging of each other. Jewelry arts are often learned from other artists, and at the heart of the community is the great stuff in life: learning and friendship.

So its the gems and jewels, the handcrafted beauty, and the friendships that for me answer the question: What's In A Name? 
The names all reflect my appreciation for gemstones, beads, and handcrafted treasures, as well as for the amazing people who live artfully, giving of themselves and creating beauty,  artists like  Shelly Graham Turner, who made her birthday a blog hop party for all! -- who is interested and affirming  and generous -- the very best gifts we can give friends.

Happy Birthday Shelly! May all you share return to you and fill your day with beauty, joy and treasures beyond measure. May you have a great birthday, a year full of wishes coming true, and much to celebrate and love!


What's behind these names? Blog hop around and enjoy!

Audrey Bélanger of Dreams of an Absolution

Jenna Tomalka of Twin Birch Studio

Marla Gibson of Spice Box Designs

****Toltec Jewels of Jewel School Friends  (you're HERE :) ****

Shawn Mills of Bent Wire Boutique

Marlene Cupo of Amazing Designs

Joyce Blair of Bent Wire Boutique

Keri Lee Sereika of Pink Lemonade

Jayne aka “Boot~C”  Capps of Cool Beads by Boot~C

Tammie Everly of TTE Designs

Christina Miles of Wings N Scales

Kelly Patterson of PyxeeStyx ~ TravelingSideShow

Heather Otto of Mama’s Craft Room

 Jenny Vidberg  of Shyme Designs

Shannon Hicks of Falling Into The Sky     

Dyanne Everett-Cantrell of Dee-liteful Jewelry Creations

Candida Castleberry of Spun Sugar Beadworks

and

                               Blog Host/Birthday Girl! - Shelley Graham Turner of Tori Sophia

The Jewel School Design Contest !!

Coming: July 23 Official Rules will be posted

Multiculturalism, Art, and the Individal

It's time for Bead Soup Blog Hop Party 6, and that means exploring the world of jewelry making with a multicultural perspective and an appreciation for jewelry design globally. The Bead Soup Blog Hop Parties are an important part of the jewelry arts culture, and thanks to gracious host Lori Anderson, the creator of the popular Bead Soup Blog Hop Parties, they are connecting artists in wonderful new ways with modern technology.

Finland is a leader in internet technology and communication

The idea is to gather into pairs (each pair discussing the how, what, when & where of the beads to swap -- while still keeping it a surprise!), create jewelry with traded beads, and then to share photographs of one's jewelry with an international audience in a series of fun, fabulous jewelry reveals.

It's a jewelry party on a grand, diverse scale that connects us beautifully as artists, and perhaps even as teachers, while we stretch ourselves to create in new ways with new products and make new friends.


The last Bead Soup Blog Party was limited to 200 participants, yet it included 16 countries and 41 states (click for the map)!  Bead Soup Blog Hop Party 6 has 400 participants and 3 reveals. 

Finland cities built along rivers

 I am honored to have the privilege of swapping soups with Finland! As a teacher of multicultural studies, I'm delighted to not only bead outside the box, but think outside the box too. A wonderful way to have healthy communications and share with others is to first let go of our fears and our ethnocentrism. It sounds like a bad thing, but it isn't; rather ethnocentrism is simply something we all have and base our world view upon. 

It's the way we look at (or dismiss) culture, community or the individual. Because we are immersed in ethnocentric realities, we must make a conscious decision to consider a multicultural perspective. Sharing multi-culturally requires us to be aware of and considerate of our assumptions. And to release our fears about difference or the unknown. We must be willing to be imperfect.

 For example, in some cultures it is a norm to call one's parents by their first names, while in others it may be viewed as "liberal" or perhaps even rude. Another example might be differences in social norms regarding discussing money. It may be rude to ask how much money someone makes in one country, but no big deal in another. What we may or may not discuss depends on each culture and differs from society to society. 

 Pointing is another good example of multiculturalism. Pointing has many different meanings ascribed to it, even within the same country. Different social groups, or sub-cultures of society, define pointing at others as rude. Yet in American deaf culture, pointing is considered good and fine. In fact, pointing is a part of American Sign Language, a language with it's own syntax and meanings. ASL is not English put to gestures (that is called "signed English and is actually not considered its own language) but a language in its own right, and pointing is a way of defining subjects in sentences. 

Embracing multiculturalism means that the more we consider our world view, the more we become aware of differences. As we are thoughtful of differences, ethnocentrism has less ability to marginalize those communities, individuals, cultures that are different. 

Recognizing differences helps us to unlearn ethnocentrism, to hear and see without assumption or judgement, and ultimately to share  with diversity. Art is subjective. Our judgements of others are subjective. Yet, the awareness of our subjective self makes art appreciation -- and honor for and appreciation of others -- vast, diverse, and free. It makes our experiences inclusive, and ultimately empowering.