Every January for the past eight years, Philadelphia-based artist group Artclash Collective has been inspiring people of all ages, artistic persuasions, and walks of life to make art through their Fun-A-Day initiative. The idea behind it is simple: anyone can participate as long as they select an artistic act to do every day throughout the month of January. At the end of the month, each artist assembles the resulting 31-part exhibit for the ArtClash Collective to arrange in its annual show. Daily art projects have been as diverse as making the bed, writing a haiku, drawing a penguin in a different outfit, writing art jokes, posting a Jay-Z quote to your facebook profile, and learning a new song.

Fun-A-Day is now active in 20 U.S. cities as well as Dundee, Scotland, and Montreal.

The works produced by Philadelphians will be exhibited in the 2012 Fun-A-Day show at Studio 34 at 4522 Baltimore Avenue on February 11 and 12.  The exhibit will also feature an open mic event for those making daily literary art. Studio 34 reports that in past years, over 500 people have turned out to see the Fun-A-Day projects.

For more information, visit Studio 34’s and Artclash Collective’s websites.

– Emma

Bird food, plant and monetary donations are needed for the Spruce Hill Bird Sanctuary. For more information see the flyer below. Please call the Spruce Hill office (215-349-7825) to arrange a drop off time for bird food donations.

The bird sanctuary is located in the backyards formed by the houses facing Spruce & Locust, 45th & Melville Streets. It is open to the public (the entrance is next to 233 S. Melville). Click here to see photos.

Here are some more details on how you can recycle your Christmas tree.

Option 1:  From Tuesday, Jan. 3 through Saturday, Jan. 14 West Philly residents can drop off their tree at the Sanitation Convenience Center located at 3033 S. 63rd Street. The center is open Monday through Saturday 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Christmas trees brought to the site should be free of all decorations and ornaments, untied and free of plastic bags or wrappings. For more information call (215) 685-4290, 01.

Option 2:  You can bring your tree to Bartram’s Garden (54th St. and Lindbergh Blvd.) on Saturday, Jan. 7 from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. during Christmas Tree-Cycling & Coat Drive. Your tree will be recycled into wood chips. $5 donation requested. All decorations must be removed. No early drop-offs, please. Also, gently used coats will be collected for donation to Feel The Warmth.

Option 3:  Also on Saturday (Jan 7) UC Green will set up a Christmas tree collection station at Clark Park (43rd & Chester). Bring your tree along with a $5 donation between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The collected trees will be recycled into wood chips for Farm 51 and the Holly Street garden. Also at the same time and place, UC District is collecting used electronics for recycling, so if you have anything with a plug you want to dispose of, please bring it in.

One of our readers emailed us earlier today with this information:

“This guy is hanging out on my back steps at 4301 Larchwood. Purple collar but no tag. It’s in an enclosed back hard, but the back gate is open. He/she may not be lost, but I’ve never seen it before, and it’s not motivated to go anywhere.”

If this is your cat please email to: claireiltis[at]gmail.com

A few West Philly public schools are featured on DonorsChoose.org, an online portal that helps raise money for classrooms in need. Teachers at Henry C. Lea Elementary, West Philadelphia High School, Samuel B. Huey Elementary, Anna H. Shaw Middle School and a few other schools in West Philly have posted their projects, mostly in science and literature. An added incentive is that if you contribute today you can deduct from this year’s tax return.

To view the projects and to donate please click on the links below.

Avery D. Harrington Elementary – several projects
http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/search.html?state=PA&community=12358:2&school=90708

Anna H. Shaw Middle School – “Science Journals!”
http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/search.html?state=PA&community=12358:2&school=90723

William L. Sayre High School – “MicroSwitches: Assistive Interfaces For Quadriplegic Teens”
http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/search.html?state=PA&community=12358:2&school=90722

If you want to help other schools, here’s a link to the Philadelphia School District page:
http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/search.html?state=PA&community=12358:2

If you haven’t tried a burger at the Lucky Old Souls food truck, then New Year’s Day could be the start of something special for you.

The truck will be there this Sunday to help patrons through what could be a groggy morning. Along with their grass-fed beef burgers and veggie burgers, the “farm to truck” spot will feature a range of breakfast sandwiches.

The Buttercream Cupcake Truck (and possibly another truck or two) will also be in the park on Sunday from about 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The Lucky Old Souls truck has been coming to Clark Park on most Sundays, and will continue doing so. They are slowly building a following in this part of town. The usual hours in Clark Park have been noon-6ish, but they might move earlier for the winter.