I asked our artist members from the galleries: Featured Artists and Artist Showcase, 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 I 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.
Banner image: Detail of Painting by Peter N. Van Giesen
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.
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. Shown here is “Sunset Blissful Peace”, acrylic on canvas, 24″ x 30″.
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. Shown here is “The Place Between”, mixed media, 24 inch diameter
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. Shown above is “Push and Pull of Evolution”, oil on canvas, 30″ x 30″
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. Shown here is Carp River Peony, photography, 20″ x 20″
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.
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