Out of the Box curator Erica Preston-French recently interviewed local artisan and musician Jon B for Mayday Magazine. Jon Busuttil’s work is on sale at Out of the Box  (27 King William St.) and Simply Zen (143 Locke Street S.).

She presently does most of her work painting in acrylic. Her favorite form of expression leans stylistically toward the abstract.

During her three years at Sheridan Technical Institute’s Craft and Design program, Erica specialized in glass blowing and kiln casting. Her program also included training in Drawing, Craft and Art History, Business, and Design.

These recycled paper Valentines are eco-friendly and fun for the whole family! They not only encourage children to show love for the planet, but also to use their imaginations and resist the commercialized nature of what Valentine’s Day has come to represent.

You will need...

• scrap paper
• water
• bucket
• deep square pan
• piece of screen that fits the pan
• rolling pin
• towels

Directions

1. Tear up the scrap paper and soak in a bucket of hot water for 30 minutes.
2. Using a blender or a whisk, mix until the paper becomes a creamy, mushy pulp. Be creative and add dried flowers, seeds, sparkles, or bits of yarn to the mix. For colour, try adding turmeric, coffee grounds, carrots, berries or spinach.
3. Pour a few centimeters of water into the square pan and add the screen. Pour a cup of the pulp-water mixture onto the screen.
4. Spread the pulp over the screen with your fingers. Gently lift the screen out of the pan and let the water drain away, leaving the pulp on top of the screen.
5. Lay the screen face-down on a towel. Gently peel the screen away, and cover the
6. paper-pulp with another towel. Use the rolling pin to press out the excess water. Allow the new paper to dry for 24 hours.
7. Cut into hearts and decorate. Be creative and have fun!

On Valentine’s Day, the children wear red, white and pink to school. With hearts soaring on cupid’s wings and copious amounts of sugar, they play games, dance, and exchange brightly coloured Valentine cards. A kiss, inspired by childhood curiosity and facilitated by a dare, causes the room to swell with squealing laughter.

In elementary school classrooms, there is a very important rule. If Valentine cards are given to one child, they must be given to all children equally. By ensuring that everyone is included, children learn the act of reaching out instead of turning away. Children learn to express unconditional love and celebrate universal friendship. To leave someone out would be unthinkable in the heart of a child.

As we grow older we turn our love inwards in pursuit of our passionate desires. Valentine’s Day becomes a celebration of romantic love and intimacy and is no longer the communal sharing of friendship and goodwill that children celebrate. Unlike children, adults no longer spend hours writing Valentine cards for their neighbours and friends, but why not? We should celebrate all types of love, for all types of people, in our homes, our communities and everywhere.

Saint Valentine fought to liberate love in a time of war. His battle still rages today. The steady stream of fallen soldiers, the slow suicide of environmental destruction, and the oppression of the world’s poor touch all of our lives. If children can learn to love their classmates unconditionally, reach out to them, celebrate with them, and share cupcakes with them, can we at least learn to stop killing each other? In the words of a six year old girl, “If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate."