Sometimes it sucks to be a human.
I get it. There’s a lot of horrible things happening out there. And sometimes reading about real-world tragedies is leaves us feeling overwhelmed and helpless. The list of atrocities seems endless and the list of solutions looks incomplete.
Here’s where art comes in. Art can offer visuals for a more compassionate world, provide examples of healing, and model community outreach. Whereas news articles tap into our intellect, art touches the spirit and builds a deeper connection.
A few examples to prove the point:
Cover art for Painting the Streets, from Rachel Wolfe-Goldsmith's mural "Our Movement"
IMG DESCR: Illustration of a woman dancing into her ancestral roots.
Painting the Streets, (Nomadic Press 2022)
From the cover: a woman dances from her modern self to her ancestral roots in seven phases in Rachel Wolfe-Goldsmith’s mural “Our Movement,” which graces the side of the Tribune Tower in Downtown Oakland. This stunning artwork is just one of over 100 murals featured in Painting the Streets (Nomadic Press, 2022), a collection of poetry, essays, and photo art of the murals that sprung up in Oakland from 2020 to present. (And yes, the mural to the Beloved that inspired my essay “Dancing on the Blade” is also featured.)
Nomadic Press is the champ when it comes to paying it forward and spreading the love. Net proceeds benefits visual arts programs for underfunded schools in Oakland and $1 from each copy goes to the Nomadic Press Black Writers Fund.
Order your copy of this gorgeous book here!
Cheryl Ring’s Heart Spirits
This collection of 1200 clay hearts was made by members of the community in workshops facilitated by Cheryl Ring. Each heart is created and named for a murdered or missing indigenous woman. In the artist’s words: “It is a whisper to listen intuitively to the voices of our lost sisters, to help them with their pain and to commit to moving forward with strength and wisdom.”
One hundred and seventy-five hearts are on display at the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport now through February 1, 2023. This sampling is accompanied by an audio of Elder Liz Settee reading the names of the murdered and missing. What I love about this exhibit is that each heart is made from the same clay. They are all uniform in size and yet, unique in their individual beauty. I love the intentional connection between the maker of the hearts and the woman each one represents.
You can read more about MMIWG here. Read more about Cheryl’s extraordinary community project here. This photograph of the Heart Spirits at MSP is reproduced with the permission of Cheryl Ring.
Detail, Cheryl Ring’s Heart Spirits, as seen at Humphrey Terminal, Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport
IMG DESCR: Glass case of clay hearts
Special Matching Donation Opportunity!
As some of you know, I recently received fiscal sponsorship from Fractured Atlas. This designation allows me to take donations and apply for grants as I write my novel. (You can read more about that here.)
Here’s the ask: Will you help me increase my chances of earning a $1000 grant from Fractured Atlas with a donation of $10?
Twenty projects will be chosen at random and will receive a $1000 grant to use as the artist sees fit. But here’s the catch: only projects that received one-time donations between May 2 – May 8 are eligible, and the more donations I receive, the better my chances are that my name could be drawn. The amount doesn’t matter. Five $10-donations = five entries. One $50 donation = one entry.
This spin on the traditional matching donation paradigm specifically benefits projects like mine. Small groups that aren’t in the habit of fundraising are encouraged to reach out to their networks. Friends and family might think that a token donation won’t go very far, but in this case, each drop in the bucket can make a big splash.
You can read more about this opportunity here or you can just skip fine print and donate today! Every little bit is appreciated!