Betsy Cole is an artist who expresses her feelings in free-flowing colorful abstract paintings. She reminds us of the importance of letting go and states, "I meditate and there is no planning or thinking, no judgment and no expectations." After experiencing a series of traumas and challenges, she finally found the joy in art that she once knew as a child. In this article she … [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...]
Barbara Rachko’s Life and Art After 9/11
Barbara Rachko, barbararachko.art, is an internationally exhibited American contemporary artist best known for her pastel-on-sandpaper paintings that are inspired by Mexican and Guatemalan cultural objects. She is also the author of “From Pilot to Painter,” (available on Amazon.com), and maintains a popular art blog “Barbara Rachko’s Colored Dust” which has more than 28,000 … [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...]
An Experience With Digital Art in Pain and Illness Management
By Dr. Shanali Perera MBBS, MRCP Editor's note: A few days ago Dr. Shanali Perera shanaliperera.wixsite.com/digitalart from the U.K. sent me an email and expressed her interest in sharing her story with The Healing Power of ART community. It's a pleasure to present her article "My Experience With Digital Art in Pain and Illness Management". Dr. Perera's message is personal and … [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...]
Corrina Thurston Transforms Her Life Through Drawing
Corrina Thurston is a professional wildlife artist specializing in detailed, vibrant colored pencil drawings. In this inspirational article she shares her story about how drawing helped her gain a new perspective on life. After becoming chronically ill and having to medically withdraw from college she taught herself how to draw from her bed. What began as a therapeutic outlet … [Read more...]
Using Art to Help Individuals with Mental Illness
Has mental illness affected anyone you know? If so, you know the impact can be devastating for the sufferer and their loved ones. You may also know that art helps individuals with mental illness. Through the efforts of numerous non-profit organizations that incorporate art programs people battling psychological disorders have hope and ways to cope with their struggles. … [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...]
Talking Colors: Seeing Words/Hearing Images
In Sandra Indig's book titled Talking Colors: Seeing Words/Hearing Images, there is no division between painting and poem. Line, color, and form are alchemized through language. These lyrical visual and written works explore the artist's family history in Eastern Europe and in ancient and modern Israel. Indig constructs her powerful images and poems out of a deeply felt … [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
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 York to London, Toronto to … [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
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 confidence grows and their ability to excel in other educational … [Read more...]
Robert Rauschenberg Artist as Activist Fellowship
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 program designed to support independent artists and artist collectives who tackle important social challenges through their creative practice. Ten Fellows were recently selected to receive … [Read more...]