‘Love” 24×36 Acrylic, Ink on Canvas

Oprah Winfrey said “Create your highest, grandest vision possible for your life because you become what you believe.”  

I spent the afternoon with a group of Teenagers who attend a special school designed for the children labeled “Ground Zero”,  meaning these kids are already struggling with some form of addiction.  Most of us may reflect on our own growing pains during our teen years as the entrance of hormones, social pressure and the immature ego take center stage.   When one adds a death of a parent or sibling, physical & mental abuse, low self esteem, poverty into the equation which sometimes turns into a child finding relief through drugs and alcohol. A young life no longer focuses on getting the grades to attend college, prom dresses or what to do on Friday night but enters a world they may never find the door out.

Recovery Resource is a local organization with a mission to reduce drug and alcohol abuse and it’s stigma by providing guidance, education and services to children, adults and families.  This amazing organization now dreams of adding therapies through the experience created around Art and Music.

My work found me with 20 high school students who some may say are “unreachable.”  However, when I transform the gymnasium by Popping UP my studio and ask the hardened kids to become artist for the moment something mystical happened with these shadowed souls.  With the direction to paint their story through  expressing 2 emotions,  Fear & Love, these kids worked on the 2 canvas simultaneously while we explored the idea that every resource one needs to change their life story comes from within.  I asked the kids to allow themselves to know their dreams and if by accessing ones imagination life can changes with a clear vision.

“Fear” 24×36 Acrylic on Canvas

Seeing the shell of these children melt away as they expressed themselves with paint and canvas another clear vision was seen as a new dream for Recovery Resource. The Dream to raise the funds to produce a regular curriculum where we can reclaim our troubled youth was launched.   If you feel it aligns with what matters to you to be apart of telling this story every $500 pledge touches 20 children lives and will  produce a 24×36 original piece of art that will be your gift for your consideration.  I’m excited to partner with such an amazing organization and if you would like to get involved in the early stages of launching this type of curriculum into local schools become a partner of change for what these kids believe by giving them permission to have the highest grandest vision for themselves!

“L4” This Canvas will be used during Camp on Healthy Choices (Live, Learn, Laugh, Love) Make a charitable contribution of $500 for an original piece of art collaboration project.