This article by Heidi Hooper is about her passion and fortitude to create art in spite of obstacles and how it led to world-wide acclaim. After having achieved many accolades as a metalsmith artist, she was faced with cancer which left permanent damage to her arm. She could no longer work in that medium. Her persistence led to her becoming a world-acclaimed, award-winning … [Read more...]
Artistic Expression and Mental Illness
While serving as a volunteer in a leading mental hospital I was horrified to see patients being routinely injected by Thorazine as they continued to stare into oblivion. I saw no signs of rehabilitation being offered to these unfortunate individuals who spent most of their time in isolation. I felt frustrated and disillusioned with the profession and the … [Read more...]
John Sabraw: Eco-Conscious Artist and Alchemist
Update: 2020 Since this article was originally published in 2015 much has happened. In an article about John Sabraw in Time.com, August, 2020, writer Arvind Dilwar wrote: "Sabraw’s idea inspired not only a line of his paintings but also a collaborative effort between artists, researchers and community organizers to turn Sunday Creek’s AMD into paint pigments via an … [Read more...]
Healing Art from the “HerStory” Exhibition
Manhattan Arts International presents an annual "HerStory" online exhibition of women artists from around the world. It features art in all styles, subjects and mediums. For more than 20 years I've had the pleasure of curating the show. In this presentation you will view healing art from a few of the "HerStory" exhibitions. The art you see here either addresses spiritual, … [Read more...]
Using Art to Help People With Autism
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences. There are many types of autism, caused by different combinations of genetic and environmental influences, and the symptoms and their severity vary widely. … [Read more...]
Meg Black’s Hospice Commission “How Paintings Tell A Story”
The Art Celebrates the Beauty of Nearby Walden Woods By Meg Black Meg Black, megblack.com, has been a practicing artist using fibrous pulp for over 30 years. As one of a handful of artists working in this exciting medium, she is something of a pioneer, internationally recognized by galleries and collectors alike. Her focus on nature and the environment yields stunning … [Read more...]
The Art Memorial As Storyteller
The Memorial Tells the Story of Steven Sotloff’s Wish for Peace By Tracy Ellyn Throughout the history of art, memorials have always been both a reflection of their times and the power of the image to shape our remembrance. Ancient Egyptian memorials evoked not the pharaohs’ facial likenesses, but rather their impossibly larger-than-life power and strength via the imposing … [Read more...]
The Zen Tov Project: An Oasis of Healing Through the Arts
Tracy Ellyn is an internationally acclaimed artist who lives in Miami, Florida. She works in layers of 19th, 20th and 21st century techniques, often all within one piece. Her website is tracyellyn.com. Her art work has been exhibited at The Louvre, SCOPE/Art Basel, The Jewish Museum of Florida, Wynwood, and other venues around the world. She is also the founder and director of … [Read more...]
The Rewards of Being An Art Therapist
In this article by artist Christine Jolly we gain tremendous insight about the rewards of being an art therapist and about the many benefits art therapy brings to people of all ages. Christine obtained her diploma as an art therapist from the medical university of Lille and the Tours School of Art Therapy (AFRATRAPEM) and has cared for individuals and groups of … [Read more...]
Let’s Keep Our Hopes Up
An Inspirational Message from Ober-Rae Starr Livingstone When you visit the website of artist Ober-Rae Starr Livingstone, ober-rae.com, you are greeted with breathtaking paintings that lift you to a place of bliss and serenity. You will also find his equally inspirational words on his website and his social media messages. He extends a hand overflowing with hope, peace, love … [Read more...]
It’s Never Too Late to Become An Artist
Mary Mirabal, www.marymirabalart.com, is an artist from Tampa, Florida, who transformed her life when she began painting after spending 30 years in Corporate America. She paints exuberant contemporary abstract expressionist works of art that have been shown in many exhibitions including those at the Tampa Museum of Art. The artist also has a "Mary Mirabal Art VIP Circle" on … [Read more...]
Art Exhibition “Beyond Borders: Stories of im/Migration”
Beyond Borders: Stories of im/Migration is a powerful and timely group exhibition that runs through April 6, 2018, at Santa Clara University, Edward M. Dowd Art and Art History Building Gallery, 755 Franklin Street, Santa Clara, California. It has been organized by the curatorial team of Gutfreund Cornett Art. Karen Gutfreund and Sherri Cornett are Curator/Exhibition Directors, … [Read more...]
Call for Artists – “The Healing Power of ART” Online Exhibition
(Update: Sorry, this call for artists was in 2017 and is no longer available.) Manhattan Arts International has announced its Call for Artists for the 2017 "The Healing Power of ART" online exhibition. Since 2000 the Manhattan Arts International has been presenting these exhibitions. As a result thousands of artists who have received world-wide exposure and many other … [Read more...]
“Embedded Messages” Exhibition Examines The Current Polarized Political Climate
"Embedded Messages" is a multi-media, multi-medium installation of artwork by eight women artists: Sally Edelstein; Justyne Fischer; Karen Gutfreund; Penny Mateer; Sinan Revell; Debra Thompson; Linda Vallejo; and Margi Weir. Collectively, they ask the viewer what is happening with America, can we still identify the American dream and if so, who does the dream apply to? An … [Read more...]
Anastassia Elias Creates Art With Toilet Paper Rolls to Raise Awareness about Sanitation
Mesmerizing Tiny Cityscapes Armed with just a pair of scissors, glue and tweezers, Paris-based artist, Anastassia Elias, 40, has created ten mesmerizing tiny cityscapes inside toilet paper rolls to raise awareness about sanitation. She reminds us of the 2.3 billion people – one in three of the world’s population – who do not have access to a safe, private toilet. From New … [Read more...]
Fran Eber Award-Winning Artist
Manhattan Arts International recently launched "The Healing Power of ART 2016" online exhibition that will be presented until September 20, 2016. This year the curator Renee Phillips invited me to select an artist from all of the exhibiting artists in the show to receive The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS Featured Artist Award. I chose Fran Eber, an award-winning artist … [Read more...]
Life-Changing Art Programs for Children
Helping Children Heal, Grow and Excel Through Creativity Children benefit from expressing their creativity and art programs for children are life-changing. An art program is often the healing glue that mends a child’s fractured life when everything else seems to be falling apart. Ultimately it helps society as a whole. When children are taught creativity skills their … [Read more...]
Robert Rauschenberg Artist as Activist Fellowship
A Two-Year Grant Program This article was published in June, 2016. The contents for this article is based primarily from a press release received from the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. Robert Rauschenberg was an American painter and graphic artist whose early works anticipated the pop art movement. The Robert Rauschenberg Artist as Activist Fellowship is a two-year grant … [Read more...]