I would like to congratulate and encourage everyone who entered. Each artist's work showed uniqueness in style and voice. My selections made me think, made me smile, made me wonder, in other words, they reflected “Positive Art that Uplifts the Spirit”. The collection made an impression on me based on the individuality of the work and on how successful each artist was at conveying his or her message.

Transformation of materials no matter the medium to evoke feeling, is no easy task. I believe the work chosen for this exhibit exemplifies the projected emotion of 'spirit'.

About Joanie San Chirico
She is an outstanding artist whose work is in many public spaces. It is about preservation: By combining paint, photography and hand stitching she portrays natural surfaces using imagery of this planet's fragile beauty.

She is a Signature Artist Member of the Noyes Museum of Art, Oceanville, NJ and is represented by several galleries. In addition to having numerous commissions and exhibitions she is a frequent judge, juror and an independent curator.

She is also founder of pfAn Professional Fine Art Network, a networking index for fine artists and consultants working in the hospitality, healthcare, corporate and public art sectors.

To view her art work visit www.joaniesanchirico.com

I want to thank all Artists who entered this current Healing Power of Art juried exhibition. We received entries from every continent! The entries were a pleasure to view and it was very challenging to make the final choices.

I am delighted that the overall exhibition is one of creative diversity. It is sure to elicit visceral responses in addition to an appreciation for the artists' technical prowess. As this exhibition clearly proves there are many different ways one's spirit can be lifted. In the imaginative minds and gifted hands the interpretations are endless.

Please note, even if your art was not chosen for this online exhibition you will be considered for the Healing Power of Art website and blog and my Artrepreneur Coach blog (find links below) and my ongoing series of articles on Art and Healing for Manhattan Arts ezine and Art Calendar magazine, plus a future book about artists who inspire.

Warmest regards,
Renee Phillips
Director of Manhattan Arts International
Founder of The Healing Power of Art website www.healingpowerofart.org
Editor of The Healing Power of Art blog http://healingpowerofart.blogspot.com
Editor of The Artrepreneur Coach blog http://reneephillips.blogspot.com

Renée Phillips, New York, NY, is founder and Director of Manhattan Arts International. She has curated more than 50 exhibitions in NYC including several Art and Healing related exhibitions.

She is an author of several art business related books, a frequent writer for Art Calendar magazine and member of the International Association of Art Critics. Her current book project is about Artists Who Inspire, Transform and Heal through Art.

She is also a motivational speaker, having presented talks in major art and educational institutions. Known as The Artrepreneur Coach, she inspires and leads artists on the path to attain their highest potential.

About Manhattan Arts International
Our mission is to help Artists turn their passion into prosperity. We are service-oriented, accessible, proactive, artists' advocates helping to build relationships among artists, art enthusiasts and members of the art business community.

Located in Manhattan, we have a 29-year history led by Renée Phillips, artists advocate, author, curator, artist career consultant and lecturer who has made many contributions to the arts.

About The Healing Power of Art

Purpose and Premise
This is Manhattan Arts International's 6th Healing Power of ART competition. Our online exhibitions are aimed at giving exceptional artists from around the world the recognition they deserve.

We believe that when Artists create healing Art they not only experience a healing process within themselves, their Art also has a healing impact on viewers and the planet.

In the midst of so much art today that expresses angst and negativity, we choose another path ~ one of hope and inspiration. For this competition we asked for Positive Art that Uplifts the Spirit.

JURYING PROCESS
We accepted Jpegs by email and CDs by regular mail. To insure fairness in the judging process the jurors judged the entries without knowledge of the artists' names.

AWARDS & PROMOTION
SALES COMMISSIONS
Manhattan Arts International will not charge any commissions on work sold as a result of this exhibition. Artists' contact information will be supplied along side the art work for those interested in exhibiting or purchasing the artists' work.