In 2022 we asked all of our artist members from the three galleries: Featured Artists, Artist Showcase, and Associate Artists, in what ways do you share your artistic talent locally or internationally to help bring positive change to the world? Here are their 80-word statements that we received from all of those who participated. I know their missions, pursuits and humanitarian activities will inspire you.
The artists’ names will take you to their pages where you can view more of their art, read more about them and their art career accomplishments and find links to their websites and social media pages. Please contact them directly to purchase their art and also to help them with their admirable efforts to bring positive change through their art.
Christine Ilewski
I founded Faces Not Forgotten, www.facesnotforgotten.org to give comfort to families of young gun violence victims with a hand painted portrait in 2010 after a personal loss compounding a deep loss. We then raise awareness of this horrific loss to our society through FNF national exhibitions. To date, we have created over 300 portraits in 19 states and counting.
Rajul Shah
I recently co-founded Purple Octopus Art, LLC™. Its mission: To provide a platform for art and expressive writing that address human and environmental ailments. Art works and writing will be published online and in books to offer inspiration to sufferers/families/caregivers. Our first book will be “The Cancer Feminine, Art, Inspiration and Truth”. The call for art will involve artist-patients, family members or caregivers involved with female cancers. Portions of profits will be donated to charities specific to each ailment. This initiative encapsulates everything I love across my first 20-year career in healthcare; and my second career as an artist.
Paula Borsetti
My dear friends’ son was diagnosed with ALS in 2014 (at age 26). Ever since then I have been using my art to raise funds and awareness. In 2020, when Covid halted in-person fundraising, I created an online fundraiser, “Hearts for Bobby”. For Valentine’s Day I asked people to make a donation to Bobby’s medical care. In exchange, a small original painting would be sent to their “Valentine”. As added incentive, I offered an original painting to the most generous donor. Each painting included a card with a print and a thank you along with information about Bobby and ALS.
Nanette Fluhr
I am very grateful for my career and aim to use my talent to contribute to bringing positive change to the world. I endeavor to give back through my work at the easel through my involvement with Smile Train, the largest worldwide organization committed to repairing cleft palates. For every commission I receive I donate a portion of my fees to Smile Train for a cleft palate surgery. My work brings a smile to my clients faces. Knowing the joy I have in my heart for that, I wanted to help other people be able to smile.
Leanne Fink
On the international level, my work is on display with our US Department of State’s Art in Embassies Program. AIE is designed to foster cross-cultural dialogue through the visual arts. What an honor to participate in our nation’s public diplomacy mission. Locally, my art is part of the wonderful healing environment of Inova Schar Cancer Institute. So happy to uplift the spirits of those who visit. As a member of the Franklin Park Arts Center Art Advisory Board, our mission is to nurture the developing artist as well as cultivate community connections to the arts.
Peter N. Van Giesen
Every other year I donate a significant artwork to the Canadian Institute for the Blind. An extended family member, an professional artist himself, lost his eye sight and artist career due to diabetes. As one of the early recipients of life saving Insulin he lived well into his eighties and benefited from CNIB services. I feel by supporting their programs I am helping others in a small way.
Sandra Duran Wilson
When Covid hit and shut down everything I knew people would suffer if they didn’t have a creative outlet. I had already been filming online classes based on my book, Awakening Your Creative Soul, and I decided to put together a series of free YouTube videos. I worked with a videographer and produced over fifty videos and the channel has grown to almost 10,000 subscribers. The stories of gratitude and healing I hear from viewers and the amazing art they are making fills my soul with joy and love.
Nancy Calef
Recently, I had the honor to be a panelist at two global conferences produced by the international organization: Horasis, which brings together heads of states, business and social innovators to discuss and implement sustainable, principled leadership and efficient community. By sharing my socio-political paintings, addressing the complexity of the human condition, and discussing issues of equality in the arts and the creative approaches to leadership, I was gifted with the opportunity to serve humanity through my vision and life’s work.
Ruth Soller
I’m honored to help in healing by creating art that speaks emotionally to others. One collector said, “I’m so lucky your painting was in the lobby and led me to you. I love walking in and seeing it each day and then coming home to our Longs Peak view that has lit up our living room!” Another collector shared, “I was reading your blog that you have fibromyalgia. I have struggled with Fibromyalgia and Lupus for over 20 years now and I never decided on the painting before because of health problems consuming our life. I found that ironic you have the same health problem and respect your work even more because I know how it feels to try to accomplish things with little energy.”
Anne Morrison Rabe
I have always been an enthusiastic supporter for various philanthropic causes, donating my work to help raise money for everything from local homeless services to a friend’s wonderful enterprise, Families Without Borders, which provides pay-it-forward educational opportunities to young people in Sierra Leone. My art itself is created to bring a bit of joy, light and color into every day life.
Andrea Robinson
I share my work as widely as possible so that I can try and touch people in a way that they feel connected and respond to my work. My aim is to connect people with nature – our gardens and bush as well as to our oceans, and wildlife that are so fragile and beautiful. My paintings celebrate nature and give a voice to environmental issues. Art can be a catalyst for change, and I hope that the beauty and symbolism in my work can inspire action, bring communities together, and bring hope and healing to our planet.
Barbara Brown
I share my work as far & wide as I can. Internationally I am active on the internet and social media, through online galleries, groups and movements I belong to. Locally I show at our annual regional Culture Tour and other community gatherings. I have published a book of my artwork. I want as many people as possible to see my work and have it speak to them. I hope that viewing a painting will elicit feelings of reverence for the beauty of nature, and that viewers will experience the healing magic of the forest that I so love to paint.
Joe Stavec
I share my artwork in fine art galleries and online. To me, art is not an end in itself. It is a method of creating awareness of the marvelous. It is an ability to bathe everyday reality in a magic light. I am a surrealist painter that explores the realm of dream. My artwork welcomes the viewer to enter a slightly different world…a chance to invent their own narrative about the people, places and creatures they see. I hope my paintings encourage others to take quiet time to enjoy hidden surprises as one’s mind is motivated to wander freely.
Marilyn Fox
Living in a small town, with artist friends scattered throughout the community, there are limited places to show and sell our art. We’ve become frustrated with this, and I felt compelled to stop grumbling and do something. Therefore, I have invited guest artists to participate in my Studio Sales from now until through the holiday season. The artists were thrilled, as am I. It is certainly an experiment and has been very successful!
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