For our seventh interview of the 2020 Delaware Fun-A-Day, we talk to five members of the Givens Family: Brian, Kim, Katie, Jon, and Laura about their combined 7 years of participation with us, creating works as a family, the power of art for children, and cosplay. Thanks, Givens Family!
Be sure to check out our Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for updates on the progress of our interviewees! And make sure you check your email (and this site) for important information on drop off, the event, and art pick up!
Left to Right: Brian, Katie, Kim, Laura (in front), Jon
Over the past 7 years we’ve had 5 members of the Givens Family participate in Delaware Fun-A-Day. It all started with Brian Givens, who in 2014 was the first Givens family member to participate with us. So Brian, this is your SIXTH year participating with us, how did you learn about Delaware Fun-A-Day? What drew you to our event?
Brian: I think I saw it mentioned on Facebook, perhaps by Carol Maurer. I had only recently started thinking of myself as an artist who could exhibit pieces in shows and Fun a day looked like a great opportunity to do that again. Also, I recognize the value in creating under constraints and I thought that the need to create art quickly and repeatedly would be fun and fruitful. I chose to draw the same object (that I designed and 3-D printed) every day for the month. I thought it would improve my drawing skill (though in the end I don’t think it made much difference).
Brian’s First Fun a Day project (2014)
Brian, how did you motivate or inspire other members of your family to participate in our event? Do you feel that over the years, it was your family that kept you coming back each year, or are you still the main motivator?
Brian: I think they all decided to participate because I dragged them to the shows every year! Also, I encouraged them to join every year and I think they saw that people from all kinds of backgrounds (including other kids) and using all sorts of media were participating in the shows.
In terms of motivation, I’m definitely self-motivated to continue participating. My initial impression that this sort of project would be fruitful and valuable to my growth as an artist has been born out every year. This holds true for Kim as well, she is enthusiastic about participating every year and has become a huge evangelist for Fun a Day, especially at her school.
We like to know how people are connected to Delaware Fun a Day - are the Givens Delaware residents, born and raised? What opportunities have Givens family members found by being in this exhibit?
Brian: All of the Givens are Delaware born and raised. In terms of opportunities from Fun A Day, I have found inspiration for further pieces from some of my Fun a day projects. One of the benefits of Fun a Day I didn’t anticipate was that it has led to discoveries that I have been able to carry into more work.
Kim: We have met so many amazing artists through this experience. They have introduced us to new art forms, encouraged us to continue and expand our own artistic endeavors, and become good friends.
Participating members of the Givens Family have been: Brian, Kimberly, Jon, Katie, and Laura. What is the family dynamic? Who is who in relation to each other?
Our Family:
Brian - Father
Kim - Mother
Joe - older brother (we haven’t convinced him to participate yet), 22
Katie - older sister, 16
Jon - younger brother, 13
Laura - younger sister, 8
Can each of you describe your favorite memory from your Fun A Day experiences?
Brian: In terms of the creation process, I really enjoyed the unexpected results I got with my 2018 project, where I painted and sanded wood. I had developed that technique for a previous piece and at that time the results were totally different than how I had anticipated. When I dug into it with the multiple pieces for Fun a Day, I was pleasantly surprised again with the different results it let me achieve.
Kim: I look forward to seeing the art from the other artists. I walk from one exhibit to the next and am constantly impressed at the talent and imagination of the people living in our community. It inspires me to think about my own art and encourages me to take risks and push myself, knowing that in the end I will be surrounded by talented people who enjoy sharing their art as much as I enjoy sharing mine.
Jon: Deciding what weird things to put on the big snake picture (from 2016 project)
Katie: Using creative problem solving skills to figure out how to present my project.
Laura: Seeing one of my teachers at the show!
Kim, you also are participating in your SIXTH year of Delaware Fun a Day, but it looks like in 2017 you were the only Givens family member who participated that year, and your project was called “HappiNest”. Tell us about that year: What was your project about? And how was it being on your own that year? Do you feel like Fun-A-Day was more enjoyable with your family, or was it nice flying solo?
HappiNest was a series of fabric baskets that would nest together. I wanted to learn how changing the starting fabric dimensions would change the size of the final product. To add challenge to the project I was determined to use only scrap fabric. Making this project helped me to think about the transition from a 2D design to a 3D product, a skill I am still working on.
Working alone was okay. I had fun, as always. So far, our projects have been individual rather than collaborations, but I definitely enjoy having the family all participating. It is more fun to create together or even side-by-side, than it is to create alone.
Brian, you’ve shown the audience at Delaware Fun A Day that you have an incredible talent in woodworking. Can you explain the process of how your woodworking is implemented into not only your everyday life, but also some of the projects and art you have created over the years?
My interest in woodworking stemmed from helping my father with practical DIY projects around the house and continuing into my work on my own house as an adult. Over the last 10 years or so it has grown into an interest in fine woodworking. This is still utilitarian, as I am mostly building furniture such as a dining room table and benches. However, it has been fun to incorporate it into art pieces when the opportunity arises.
The Cherry board piece incorporates a flashing LED circuit, based on a 555 timer IC, that is essentially the same as the circuits used in the “dead bugs” in my 2015 Fun a day project. I wanted the LEDs to be concealed until the button is pressed and the cherry board to look like a solid piece of wood. I made a frame of cherry and glued a sheet of cherry veneer over the face to hide the holes for the LEDs but still let the light through.
This type of interaction between practical skills and art comes up a lot for me. I don’t consider myself a fine artist but I enjoy using any skills I have creatively. As I mentioned, another area I like exploring is electronics, such as in my 2015 Fun a day project or my recent collaborations with Anne Yoncha (https://anneyoncha.com/)
As a family of well-seasoned Delaware Fun-A-Day participants, what is your collective advice for our newcomers? Is there any piece of advice that you all can agree would be a top priority for other families or groups?
Brian: Some advice we discussed: Be yourself and pick a project that is manageable to do every day, so it doesn’t start to feel like a chore.
Kim: Just go for it. There is value in planning and thinking things through, but at some point you have to just jump in and enjoy the ride. There is no reaching perfection, but there is great value in the process.
What unique challenges do you think came up as a family participating in the same challenge? Do you think it was more or less difficult?
Brian: Generally we feel that it’s easier to participate as a family, since everyone can remind everyone else to keep working on the project and others provide more support to keep up when you don’t feel like working on it. However, it can feel intimidating sometimes as you are creating your art and you see the amazing things the others are making.
Brian, on a Facebook post you shared a few years ago, you were working on Voltron helmets for your children’s costumes. Since then, have you created any more cosplays for anyone in general? Any other television shows or movie influences that you’ve created in woodworking?
Brian: In terms of costumes, I have to give all the credit to my amazing mother Judy. She always sewed Halloween costumes for my brother, sister and me. Those costumes were amazing and most of them survive to this day, which certainly isn’t true of the plastic smock and facemask costumes most people wore in the 80s!
This tradition kind of set in my mind that of course we make our costumes. So Kim and I just continue to do that.
Kimberly, how important do you feel that exploration in the arts is to child development? Do you feel that the old adage “lead by example” has been a part of your experience with Fun-A-Day and having the younger Givens members participate?
Art is imperative to child development. It is where we learn to express ourselves, learn to problem-solve, deal with frustrations, communicate what is important to us, and learn that it is good to take chances and learn from them no matter what the outcome. As parents, we do try to lead by example, but we also learn from the example of our children. They are creative risk-takers and I am encouraged by their willingness to take on seemingly enormous tasks. Where I might have just seen the amount of work, time, and skill that a project would have taken and gone a different route, my kids will see the same project as a fun challenge and go on to accomplish it. They lead, support, and inspire us, and I hope we are able to do the same for them.
My parents were very creative. They shared their love of art with the family. My mom taught me to crochet, to bake making treats that were both delicious and visually interesting. My dad has helped me to learn new skills and techniques with machine sewing as he quilts and creates himself. He played the organ every Sunday when we were growing up, and instilled a love of music and self-expression through music in my sister and me. We learned to love the theater as children, to appreciate gifts that were hand-made especially for us, and to enjoy the art of making things together as a family. Those values have carried over into my adult life and I hope that they will continue in the lives of our children.
Katie, we believe that Delaware Fun-A-Day brings out the best in our community, but also the best in each other. What are some of the creative ways you encouraged one another?
Katie:Watching Jack work on his projects has been inspiring.
Where can people see more works by the Givens Family?
You can come see us at Delaware Fun-A-Day this year, and in years to come. You might also find us in the future at Christina School District Art Shows and the Newark Arts Alliance.
Kim: kickeriki.tumblr.com
Brian: @givens_made on Instagram