Author Adina Lichtman leads a reading from her children’s book to youngsters in the Saratoga Family
Residence in Jamaica. Photo courtesy of HFH
From Kitchen to Art Gallery: Artist and Author Creates Tin Foil Masterpieces
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | DEC. 17 - DEC. 23, 2021 9
BY BILL PARRY
Homes for the Homeless
held a recent book reading
and discussion at its Saratoga
Family Residence in Jamaica
for children ages 3 to 16 centered
on the release of the
“Knock Knock, Where’s My
Sock?” illustrated children’s
book by Adina Lichtman.
The book follows Chrystal,
a little girl whose family
moved into a shelter where
she loses one of her lucky
socks, makes new friends
and learns that everyone has
superpowers.
The creation of the book
was informed by several families
living in the HFH shelter
and includes a poem from a
teenage resident about her
experiences with homelessness.
Children from various
age groups wearing superhero
masks they created participated
along with several parents
as student leaders from
the Saratoga after-school
program took turns reading
from the book to the younger
children.
Lichtman joined the children,
who became more
engaged as the story’s plot
progressed. An interactive
age-appropriate conversation
took place afterward where
multiple children shared their
positive reactions as they responded
to questions relating
to the theme of the story.
“The experience was phenomenal
on many levels,”
Saratoga Afterschool & Recreation
Director Michael
Chapman said. “Having the
students involved throughout
the process from setting up, to
reading and overall production
gave them a different insight.”
Lichtman is the founder
of the organization Knock
Knock, Give a Sock, an organization
that works to humanize
homelessness “one sock at
a time” by bringing neighbors
living in local homeless shelters
and neighbors living in
homes together.
The group raises awareness
about who are homeless
in addition to providing them
with fresh socks, a much-needed
resource in many homeless
shelters.
Knock Knock, Give a Sock
sponsor Alston & Bird Law
Firm donated 150 book sets to
the families at the Saratoga
Family Residence. Copies
were provided to all participants
at the end of the event.
Saratoga Family Residence
Administrator Michael Fahy
noted the significance of the
story and the event for the
children.
“We try to empower the
children so they can gain
high self-esteem, showing
them that they can do anything
and take away from the
stigma of living in a shelter,”
Fahy said.
Reach reporter Bill
Parry by e-mail at bparry@
schnepsmedia.com or by phone
at (718) 260–4538.
Children’s book author
visits youngsters living
in Jamaica residence
for homeless families
When Shuangqiang Li is not tutoring students
in art school, Li is painting and creating with a
simple kitchen material: tin foil.
Art Inspiration from the Kitchen
Originally from Northern China, Li works as
an artist, author and professor who travels to
New York City on a frequent basis to
experience the diverse, exciting cultures and
walks of life. On top of the cultural exploration
Li adores, the New York City community
provides artistic thrills unlike anywhere else in
the world.
One place many do not expect to find artistic
thrills are in the kitchen. However, the kitchen
is exactly where Li felt inspired to begin creating the tin foil art pieces in recent years.
“The shape of the lines and textures are unspeakably beautiful,” states Li of the art he
creates painting on aluminum foil. “I often use the technique of separating oil-paper
lithographs to print on the tin foil. That’s all! The first tin board panting was born!
Discovering Tin Foil Artistry
With a keen eye for lacquer paintings and prints, Li worked as a professional art
teacher for 20 years in Heilongjiang Oriental College in 1999. His focus on lacquer
and oil prints made him a professor to be reckoned with and his passion for creativity
was one students and faculty alike could not ignore.
While many people see aluminum foil as a simple kitchen material, Li sees beyond
that simplicity. Li is the first artist in his country to work with such material and
create the prints he makes today. He sees the energy within the basic foil and through
artistic manipulation, creates something to expresses that energy.
“My traditional tin foil prints are on lithographs and woodcut prints. With
continuous changes in painting materials, I express more beautiful things and
achieve unexpected results,” explains Li of the process. “Breakthrough tradition and
bravely innovate.”
An Author on an Educational Mission
Li looks forward to his February visit to New York City where he will work on
translating the books and academic publications previously published in China so
they are available in the United States. His published book in 2020 THE IMPRINTS
OF THE TIMES includes several well appraised art pieces, NEW PAL, 2016; YEARS
OF PASSION, 2018; and MO DA XIAN JOURNAL, 2019.
Li’s work has received impressive praise in China and he hopes Americans will
connect with his unique art the same way others have. Better yet, Li hopes children
can truly grasp onto his art and use it as a way to express themselves.
“Let children feel the charm of tin foil painting. We must spread it to children in the
United States and promote it in primary and secondary schools,” says Li. “I hope to
publish handouts on production methods in American books and magazines. Let
children use this accessible and cost efficient technique to draw their best pictures!”
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