Click HERE to read Star Shooter’s First official newsletter, “June 2009.”  

I’m also emailing and snail-mailing this letter.  If you would like to be placed on one of these lists, please email me at mail@starshooter.org.

Thank you!

All Board Members of Star Shooter have agreed upon the decision to extend this contest for two months after the original deadline of May 31, 2009. At the beginning of the contest, a disclaimer existed in the website “Rules and FAQs” to possibly extend this event for further participation. The time has come and an extension is necessary. Therefore, the deadline will be August 1, 2009 and winners will be announced August 15, 2009. I understand this may be a disappointment to some, but just hang in there, keep shooting and the time will pass quickly! Please pass on the word about this contest, as we need 100 more participants! Stay tuned in for winner’s to be announced on www.starshootercontest.org August 15th! Thank you all so much for participating and believing in what Star Shooter can do for children.

God Bless Each of You, -Johnna Brynn Bockover, Founder

Join the contest: http://starshootercontest.org
Spread the word with Twitter: http://twitter.com/starshooterorg
Spread the word with Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/oth239
Join our Facebook Cause: http://tinyurl.com/qbmn7r

“Art therapy is an established mental health profession that uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages. It is based on the belief that the creative process involved in artistic self-expression helps people to resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and self-awareness, and achieve insight.”

Yep! and it was super Fab!  I’m not sure who was more proud… the kids or the adults!  Alexis and DeQuan were definitely excited to see their masterpieces on display at Barnes and Noble, and their writings and images brought tears to their staff!  -well, almost   A big thank you to Teach My People for letting Star Shooter have the opportunity to allow kids to discover the “star” within themselves! 

Two students from Teach My People (Pawley’s Island, South Carolina), DeQuan and Alexis, have started the Star Shooter workshop with great enthusiasm this past week! Their eagerness to learn and creativity has made Star Shooter’s first workshop super fun and successful! Our focus has been to document their lives at Teach My People and how it’s influenced their life today and how it will make a difference in their futures. They carefully selected images to be printed in a book and will also write for text to be included about the images. Enjoy a few shots of DeQuan and Alexis in action, as well as a few of their incredible shots!

DeQuan in action.

Alexis in action.

Learning iPhoto and Photoshop CS4.

Digital Fascination.

Classroom, by Alexis.

My bus, by DeQuan.

Happy Easter! by DeQuan.

Yes indeed, Star Shooter’s first workshop is in action.  I will meet two precious kiddos at Teach My People in Pawley’s Island beginning this week.  We will conduct a mini-workshop to generate a ‘book project’ to be on display for the Barnes and Nobles Cafe Mingle in Myrtle Beach, SC.  The children will photograph their life at TMP and how it’s helped them for their future, and have the images printed in a book.  TMP is conducting a “book drive” April 23-26 at the Barnes and Noble in Market Commons, Myrtle Beach (a percentage of all items purchased in the store on those days will benefit TMP).  So Star Shooter’s project will be one of the art pieces on display to help bring awareness to the community about TMP and it’s children in need.    

All are invited to join us at the kids’ showing: Friday April 24th, 6-8pm at Barnes and Noble in Market Commons, Myrtle Beach.

A photographer taught children and adults in a homeless shelter -about photography. Gave them Holga cameras and they captured amazing images!  I’ve been thinking of incorporating Holga cameras into Star Shooter curriculum. They are old-fashioned, china toys, with clunky body frame and light-leakage that creates often times cool vignetting.  And they’re pretty cheap too. Check ‘em out and the images they make: click here. 

Here is the link to the article: click here.

Stay tuned… two Star Shooter workshops are about to begin! for real.

Star Shooter has an official mailing address for those non pay-palers:

PO Box 44
Conway SC 29526

Well, Star Shooter is moving forward!  I’ll bullet the happenings:

• Feb 18. met with Jessica, Global Awareness Project.  Incredible brain-load of a meeting!  Thank you, Jessica, for giving us loads of resources, ideas and contacts that will benefit Star Shooter!  I have emailed several people in our local area to see how Star Shooter can collaborate.  Hopefully, next meeting with Jessica will be to search out grant opportunities!  (and to see GAP’s documentary on Ecuador!)  
• Jessica also connected us to an event in Myrtle Beach this saturday Feb 28th, 12-4pm to hand out information about Star Shooter with other artists at the Oyster Fest at Broadway at the Beach.
• Feb 19. met with another Jessica at Teach My People, an after-school program for  at-risk kids.  TMP opened their doors with a warm welcome and Tuesday will be an ‘observation’ day to see how the program runs and gain rapport with the kids.  We hope to start our first workshop there within this week or next –starting with two children.  
• Thank you, Crystal, for attending these meetings and being available this week to return to TMP.
• Well, as u and almost half the world knows… Star Shooter’s first fundraiser has begun!  O Lord, we are praying for YOUR provision in this vision!  :)  I hope to raise $4,500 in this three-month photo contest that you can read details and submit your photo here: starshootercontest.org.  To this date, we have had four photo submissions (and three extra donors!) and a handful of people saying they “will.”  I have networked and marketed out the wazoo in this virtual world -with email, craigslist, facebook, university’s photo departments, local photo studios, online photo clubs and twice on ebay (until i got thrown out. oops).  Also, 4×9 printed flyers have arrived in the mail… so i will place at photo labs, coffee shops, etc.  I’ll also travel to FL and PA in March, Charleston and maybe Wilmington to place the flyers!  Oh and a friend of mine in KC will distribute as well… and a guy that saw the ad on craigslist will distribute in photo labs/schools in Los Angeles!  That’s cool.  
• I’ve had a few of photographers (in different states) inquire about Star Shooter wanting to lend a hand in some way.  I’m not sure how to involve them at this point, but am making a list.
• I’ve also been thinking ‘big.’  It is my true heart’s desire to take Star Shooter to the nations.  My ultimate workshop-spot would be in the Gaza strip.  I know, my legs may get blown off in the process… but I believe those children to be the most hurting on the earth right now.  I have two connections in there.  One replied to my request with: pray and if God gives a strategy, they’d support me!  Lots of red-tape though.  Another country: I have an opportunity to go to S. Africa late August this year.  Prayer and funds will determine.
• Thanks again for everyone’s support!  I am practicing what God has been teaching me personally:  Rest.  Star Shooter will only be conducted out of Rest in Him and through His supernatural powers.