Thursday, October 15, 2009

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Camp Straussundbloom Interior Design Project

As part of the Camp Straussundbloom experience, campers share the projects that they are working on outside of camp time. Campers Katie and Kellie are planning on redecorating their shared room and it was turning out to be a problem because they couldn't decide on how to decorate the room. Camper Katie was interested in an all Phillies room and Camper Kellie was interested in a pink and purple polka-dotted room, and they compromised by choosing a "hippie" themed room. However, Camper Maggie suggested a "Jackson Pollock" room which was the winning design. Counselor Strauss was fairly shocked that the campers knew who Jackson Pollock was but apparently the campers are well versed in post war painting. Camper Maggie has a particularly active interest in art.


Here are some inspirational images to base the Jackson Pollock room on.



Jackson Pollock
Number 8
1949 (detail)




Jackson Pollock
Lavender Mist: Number 1
1950



Jackson Pollock
Full Fathom Five
1947


"Paul Jackson Pollock (January 28, 1912 – August 11, 1956) was an influential American painter and a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement. In October 1945, he married the artist Lee Krasner.

Pollock's most famous paintings were made during the "drip period" between 1947 and 1950.

Jackson Pollock used hardened brushes, sticks, and even basting syringes as paint applicators. Pollock's technique of pouring and dripping paint is thought to be one of the origins of the term action painting. With this technique, Pollock was able to achieve a more immediate means of creating art, the paint now literally flowing from his chosen tool onto the canvas. By defying the convention of painting on an upright surface, he added a new dimension, literally, by being able to view and apply paint to his canvases from all directions.

... He also moved away from the use of only the hand and wrist, since he used his whole body to paint."

Jackson Pollock
From Wikipedia

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But ladies, where would the Jackson Pollock room be without an underpinning of Lee Krasner in the room?


Lee Krasner
Shattered Color
1947



Lee Krasner
Untitled
1948

"Lee Krasner (October 27, 1908 — June 19, 1984) was an influential abstract expressionist painter in the second half of the 20th century. On October 25th 1945, she married artist Jackson Pollock, who was also influential in the Abstract Expressionism movement.

Krasner would often cut apart her own drawings and paintings to create collages.

Lee Krasner 'is a major, independent artist of the pioneer Abstract Expressionist generation, whose stirring work ranks high among that produced here in the last half-century.'


In addition to their mutual admiration as artists, Krasner and Pollock gave each other support during a period when neither's work was well-understood. Comrades in art, Pollock and Krasner fought a battle for legitimacy, impulsiveness and individual expression. "

Lee Krasner
From Wikipedia

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Camp Straussundbloom Hike

Camp Straussundbloom enjoyed a day filled with history and exercise today... a walk from the home of the original Bloom home to the high school so the campers could get a sense of how far the everyday walk was for their mother and aunts. This activity was suggested by Camper Katie and all campers agreed on it.



Here's everyone at 227 Plumstead Ave in Lansdowne, PA.




Here's the campers and counselors at the High School



Humor levels of camper Maggie are high. Tired levels of camper Katie are high. What's going on with camper Kellie? I don't know.



Camper Maggie celebrates her mother's humble beginnings.

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Next Week: Campers visit Virginia and Write Their Postcards!

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Camp Straussundbloom Orientation

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Welcome!

Today was the first day for Camp StraussundBloom orientation. We oriented and then we started our first activity... Architecture and Design.

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Kellie looks for inspiration in Met Home


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Katie checks out "Atomic Homes" and "101 Things I Learned in Architecture School."


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Maggie and Head Counselor Aunt Lynn discuss Mid-Century Modern Homes.

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Maggie decides on the dining room palette.


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Now, the most EXCITING PART OF CAMP STRAUSSUNDBLOOM... the postcard project. Maggie, Katie and Kellie have received 13 postcards and they are going to shoot their own photos to make the postcards to send back. We will have them ready to go in 2 weeks... everyone is incredibly excited about this. Seriously. Please have high expectations if you sent a postcard... Camp Straussundbloom campers take it to the next level.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009



Camp StraussundBloom Informercial by Maggie Hamilton, Katie Hamilton and Kellie Hamilton.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Gearing Up for Camp StraussundBloom

Important announcement!

Camp Straussundbloom is proud to announce the names of the 3 campers attending this year's camp. It was a very competitive field this year and these three young women have managed to come out on top!

"Drawing Conclusions"

Camper Maggie!

"They Call Me Stylist"

Camper Kellie!

"Katie, aka Kathy"

Camper Katie!