Stories are at the center of everything. The most powerful and potentially debilitating being the ones inside our head. The stories we tell ourselves. The erosive stories we’ve been told. Stories formed from our experiences. That’s why it’s so vital we have access to and seek out alternative stories that give us strength and hope. Help us realise our full potential. Particularly our children and young people.
Not in a ‘Be wealthy and successful and famous’ way. But to be kind enough to ourselves that we can then go out into the world more securely and do good. Be a thriving, kind, compassionate and caring human being. But that starts from within.
The Army of Ink and all the characters are the carriers of stories full of strength, hope and possibility. They pitch an alternative to what we’re being told (and sold) through social media and popular culture.
They put a caring arm around our shoulder and keep us safe and strong. Encourage us to think and question what makes us who we are. Help us take back some control over our sense of self. Our lives. Our world. And our future …
Find The Army of Ink including Robin Small, Amelia Bloom and Rose and Boots and their stories across five parks in Melville. See Melville Storylines for information. Instagram @browneink.
Sometimes I Wish I Wasn’t Me .
This little soldier finally realised that being the fairest isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and looking up to stars can be dangerous – especially when they fall. And that ‘way up high’, ‘over the rainbow’ and ‘climbing the ladder’ are sometimes dangerous places to try and reach. And too far away to possibly get there on time.
Footnote: It’s such a competitive world. There’s a strong current drawing us up, up and away from who we are – or are comfortable and content being. Acceptance, popularity, success and fitting in, can feel so out of reach. It can feel impossible to meet the expectations of others. Until the question arises – what and who determines our worth? It’s also wise to question the notion that a sense of belonging exists somewhere outside ourselves. And that bigger and the better and more determines if we are – ‘enough’. It’s potentially a hothouse for discontent. Home? Home can be a building, a place, but it can also be a secure feeling within yourself.
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Robin Small on river walking path below Goolugatup/Heathcote lowerlands (Perth, Western Australia)
Robin Small street art Piney Lakes (Perth, Western Australia).
Boots in Kadidjiny Park (Melville, Western Australia).
Part of the Melville Storylines Festival.
Rose was very curious about the origin of sadness .
Rose welcomes all forms of feeling with a particular interest in ones of the socially unacceptable kind. She has pioneered many expeditions into the realms of fear, sadness, anger, disillusionment and horrible muddled states of mind with quite profound results and a significant degree of personal resolve. Long Live Rose.
Footnote: We’re often not encouraged to feel what are often termed, ‘negative’ emotions – like anger and sadness. This Rose seems to be suggesting that ‘to feel is to be real’. Perhaps to be able to personally progress and move actually requires the acceptance and riding out all emotions. Viewing them as valuable modes of transport to a better places rather than weakness and flaws in our character?
(Wisdom of Rose and Clunk & Jam 2019 books. Reposted from 2013).
Rose never looked up to anyone – it saved her feeling small .
Rose has a tendency towards independence of a difficult kind. She is not easily lead and exhibits a strong will to do things her own unusually diverse way. Rose also sprouts a grounded view on equality which often clashes with the viewpoints of those she refused to look up to. Still, she continues to look to herself for divine guidance. Long Live Rose.
(Reposted from 2013. Find Rose in her own pocket book and Clunk & Jam book 2019.
