Brush Biker Updates

Indiegogo has launched!

bb@brushbiker.com — 2012-03-11T18:22:49-04:00

Yes! The Indiegogo fund drive has just launched!
Contribute today and claim some really cool stuff!

Outer Peace Creations

bb@brushbiker.com — 2012-03-11T18:19:13-04:00

Artist Elizabeth Medere of Outer Peace Creations has joined the Brush Biker effort and her one of a kind hand made crystal jewelry can be had in exchange for your pledge! Check out some of her samples on the gallery tab here!

83,957

bb@brushbiker.com — 2012-02-29T14:50:53-05:00

Florida Weekly Reports : 83,957 Homeless Kids in Florida!!
Read the Article here...

Brad Champion on the Brush Biker Project

bb@brushbiker.com — 2012-02-29T14:26:51-05:00

Thank you Brad Champion for lending your voice and support for The Brush Biker Project!

Busy behind the scenes!

bb@brushbiker.com — 2012-02-29T14:56:53-05:00

Yes, it has been busy behind the scenes at the Brush Biker Project!

To start things off, dear friend of Brush Biker, Mary Todd Esq. donated a much needed new Apple computer! Thanks Mary!

Since last I wrote, I found a source that will be able to provide 10,000 Travel toothbrushes, with logo and still keep within the original budget! Originally we could only afford 3,000.

Having decided to move from Kickstarter to Indiegogo enables me to make the need of the toothbrushes for the homeless more the focus. I love Kickstarter and they are great for creative projects. At Indiegogo, projects can be more community oriented and to those of us on the Brush Biker Brigade, giving the Homeless Kids a voice and a toothbrush really are the most important goals of this project. Showing them that we do care as does everyone that contributes to this project.
Yes, the documentary and photo essay are important and will be created, but don't help the homeless as directly as the toothbrushes and online forum/ blog site they can create, where they can feel a part of the community and be as anonymous as they like, creating a safe place for them to go and interact and share their experiences.

Realizing that not everyone will be wanting a documentary about Homeless in America, I am coming up with numerous other premiums in exchange for your cash!

I have been working with Elements and Love yoga, securing class packs to be used as premiums for your contributions.
I am also helping Sue Lovett finish up her Alchemy Crystal Bowl Meditation CD entitled "Chakra Harmony" that will also be available as a premium.

Also in the works is a Brush Biker Brigade ID Card that, in conjunction with businesses and establishments, will provide the holder with discounts as a reward for contributing to this project.

And last but not least, Actor Brad Champion came by the studio and was kind enough to not only lend his words and heartfelt feelings for the Brush Biker Project, but is also making available autographed 8x10s to contributors.

Official Brush Biker Hats!

bb@brushbiker.com — 2011-12-23T17:16:47-05:00

The official (distressed military style) Brush Biker hat arrived today compliments of Quensboro
A great company out of N. Carolina that does excellent embroidery work and at a really reasonable price!

Check them out and tell them we sent you!

Launched!

bb@brushbiker.com — 2011-12-14T18:59:55-05:00

At 6:01 PM
We launched our project on Kickstarter!
And sent out press releases....

Local Artist Launches Fundraising Campaign To Give a Voice and Toothbrushes to Homeless Children.

Local artist, Stephen Orsillo, known primarily for his portrait photography, has just launched a fundraising drive on Kickstarter.com to help create a documentary entitled "Through the Eyes of a Child: A Documentary by and about Homeless Children in America." Under the moniker Brush Biker, taken from his days working with a Massachusetts radio station where he would deliver toothbrushes via old Harley Davidson to school children, Stephen wants to help the children create this documentary in their own words. There will be an accompanying photo essay and a website set up so the homeless children will have a centralized place where they can continue to blog and talk about the challenges they face.

In the United States, almost 1 in 4 children are living in poverty. In Chile, by comparison, it is 1 in 5. Florida is currently ranked with the 7th largest homeless population in the United States and just within the Lee/ Collier county area there are approximately 2,000 known homeless school children. Orsillo wants to raise awareness to the issue that is right in our own backyard, bringing into focus the reality of poverty and homelessness that exists nationwide. Currently being labelled as "outcasts" by some of the American media, it is the hope of Brush Biker to let them know that they are not "outcasts" but are a a vital part of the modern American society. We meed to hear what they have to say.
Travel toothbrushes will be imprinted with "I have a voice at brushbiker.com" as a constant reminder that there are people out there who care about what they are going through.
By helping to fund this project, you are not only supporting the arts, you are also helping to give a voice to our homeless brothers and sisters.
Brush Biker is also giving away some great thank you gifts for becoming a patron.
Kickstarter is an all or nothing fundraising platform helping to bring creative projects to life. Your pledge only goes to the creator if the funding goal is reached. If Brush Biker does not reach his goal, your contribution doesn't go through.
Find out more about this project by going to brushbiker.com and look for this project on kickstarter.com
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1693934105/through-the-eyes-of-a-child-brush-biker-project-20

One thing leads to another...

bb@brushbiker.com — 2011-12-05T19:57:40-05:00

I originally approached Carla Olla to do the soundtrack for the documentary, after having realized that all films have some type of music, if only in the opening and closing segments. Her background in music as far as I knew at the time was as a guitarist or bass player for Debbie Harry.
We got together one afternoon to discuss this Top Secret Project, known here as the Brush Biker Project, only to learn to my utter delight that along with a couple of other bands based out of NYC she had also performed with Dee Dee Ramone!
And here was I this humble little photographer asking a Rock Legend to do some soundtrack music for my film. She may not think of herself as a Rock Legend, but in my book if you are in the bands and performing with Rock Legends Debbie Harry (Blondie) and Dee Dee Ramone (The Ramones) , well... need I say more?

Happily, Carla agreed to be involved in the project. As we talked and hashed things out and did an impromptu photo shoot (Carla is also the owner of Love Yoga in Naples FL), we spoke of how difficult it can be to make it as an Artist and imagine if being homeless was thrown into the mix.... maybe, just maybe in the travels of Brush Biker, we can find a small band of musical children that Carla could coach and direct and help them produce their first song!
This excited me to no end as this would be the rebirth of the true punk movement!
To that Carla posed the question: Would that make me Malcolm McLaren?

Photo above is from the meeting, Carla is doing makeupyourownasana

Brush Biker on Youtube (Full Intro)

bb@brushbiker.com — 2011-12-02T19:02:49-05:00

Full Intro Film

Brush Biker on Youtube

bb@brushbiker.com — 2011-12-02T09:36:26-05:00

There is now a Brush Biker YouTube page, first video went up last night!

Cards

bb@brushbiker.com — 2011-11-30T09:33:43-05:00

Cards arrived today, compliments of 4over4!

Other News

bb@brushbiker.com — 2011-11-27T13:18:05-05:00

Brief communications with Terrilynn, a woman involved with a local organization very much in favor of the BB Project.

In talks with the Ural Motorcycle Company in hopes that they will help sponsor the project.
Why Ural?
The Ural Motorcycle is a tough machine that can go anywhere and overcome every obstacle in its path. Symbolic to the Hope that Brush Biker wants to instill in the children he meets on his adventures.

After all URAL stands for "YoU ARe A Leader"

Crystal Bowls

bb@brushbiker.com — 2011-11-25T19:00:56-05:00

Some of the background music the into movie was generously provided by Sue Lovett, it is the sound of her playing her Crystal Bowls during a meditation recorded by Stephen Orsillo.

Sue specializes in Yoga, Reiki, and Sound Therapy.

Hats

bb@brushbiker.com — 2011-11-14T17:58:43-05:00

We are working with a hat company to see if we can get some caps with the BB logo embroidered on them to provide as premiums and gifts to the homeless!

Thank you!

bb@brushbiker.com — 2011-11-23T11:57:23-05:00

The great people over at the local Radio Shack have provided some of the needed electronics for this project at half price!
Thank you Radio Shack!!

Recent Recruits

bb@brushbiker.com — 2011-11-11T19:14:22-05:00

I am very pleased and proud to announce that joining the BB team is an accomplished Musician and Yogi with a penchant for traditional punk rock and also joining the crew is our very own Strategic Consultant and Pie Maker Extraordinaire!

Names to be disclosed at a later date.

Suspense is a wonderful thing, dontcha think?

New Brush Biker Logo

bb@brushbiker.com — 2011-11-03T15:20:42-04:00

The New Brush Biker logo was finished today. Here is what it looks like:

Kickstarter Approved!

bb@brushbiker.com — 2011-11-06T18:23:20-05:00

The good people over at Kickstarter have approved listing of this project to help raise funds to make this all possible!
I am currently in the process of creating a timeline and actual budget for completion of work.

Mothers and their children

bb@brushbiker.com — 2011-10-28T17:15:15-04:00

I took a little time off from the planning of the Brush Biker Project to supply almost 100 families with a free portrait of the parents with their children. Many of which had no such images and some of which couldn't afford such a keepsake otherwise. Below is one of my favorite images from the endeavor.

Chile 1 in 5, USA 1 in 4

bb@brushbiker.com — 2011-10-13T20:18:28-04:00

Last night I did a search wondering if there were programs in place for sponsoring our American children. Most sites I came across were still focused on other lands even though they were based here in the United States....

One had something that surprised me...
It stated that 1 in 5 children in Chile live in poverty... here in the USA we are closer to 1 in 4!

Big Changes

bb@brushbiker.com — 2011-10-12T17:12:38-04:00

Brush Biker's Focus has changed!
In learning that there are approximately 2,000 homeless children in the Lee/ Collier County area, we feel it more important to focus on those truly in need....

Refining

bb@brushbiker.com — 2011-10-11T13:38:00-04:00

Refining of website and project continues.

The Tooth Fairy Calls!

bb@brushbiker.com — 2011-10-10T13:27:34-04:00

Brush biker's New Mission Statement is released!