#scratchboard #mandala
What about this project spoke to you, led to your involvement?Margaret called me with this great idea and I always had this seed in my head about volunteering for our community. From there, we had this really cool snowball effect and we’ve been connecting with the community and many…
MURAL PROJECT HELPS CHRONICALLY ILL CHILDREN, BRINGS ART TO A PUBLIC SPACE
Volunteers aim to raise money to give children and Bay Area artists the tools to transform a blank wall into a vibrant street-side mural
When a child suffers chronic or terminal illness, artistic expression becomes a way to cope, heal and live beyond the walls of a hospital or the clinical confines of their ailment. CoachArt, a nonprofit that provides art lessons to pediatric patients, has teamed up with a group of volunteers to give sick children a chance to transform an empty concrete wall into a colorful work of public art.
The public, media, community leaders and volunteers are invited to offer monetary donations or show up on painting day in July to offer moral support, publicity or hands-on help.
Human-integration research scientist and San Jose resident Margaret Galeon approached CoachArt earlier this year about starting the Mural Project to commission the mural by this summer. She enlisted help from lead artist Michael Borja, project coordinators Christine Ha and Jennifer Vo and student artist Christine Deng.
To date, the effort has raised more than $4,000 to pay for site clean-up and supplies like brushes, paint, tarps, buckets, soap, tape, trash bags and scaffolding. The team will host a design workshop on June 2 to prep for painting in July.
The timing for the project couldn’t be better, says CoachArt’s Bay Area Volunteer Supervisor Lauren Banister.
“It’s been so incredible seeing the pieces fall so easily into place for this project,” she says. “Right as we were just learning about Hayward’s incredibly active mural arts program, Margaret reach out to us with a proposal for the Mural Project. We are so excited to develop and strengthen partnerships all over the Bay Area to make this project a reality. This will be an incredible collaboration of the students we serve, the City of Hayward and some incredible talents.”
Galeon’s experience in art therapy drew her to the cause, she says.
“I have seen firsthand the therapeutic effects of art as an art therapist intern for the oncology department at Stanford Hospital,” she says. “I think art is unique because it is universal–like math, except, for many people, a lot more fun. I wanted to start a community project that would involved the talents of those around me, whether artistic, literary or organizational.”
Giving kids stuck in hospitals all day an outlet to create is the most meaningful part of the effort, notes Galeon, adding that she look forward to learning about what these children envision for the project.
“Until this project is complete, I will continue dreaming about our finished masterpiece,” she says. “I can’t wait to see what we will pull out of these kids’ heads at our workshop on June 2.”
AT-A-GLANCE
WHAT: The Mural Project 2013
GOAL: To commission, design and execute a mural for the community to enjoy
WHO: Bay Area artists, CoachArt families and volunteers
WHERE: Hayward, Highland Boulevard
WHEN: July 13, 2013
WHY: CoachArt improves the quality of life for children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses and their siblings by providing free lessons in the arts and athletics. This unique program offers a creative outlet to distract patients from the pain, therapies and isolation often associated with chronic illness and provides a sense of normalcy. Through the arts and recreation, siblings and patients alike have increased hope and self-esteem.
INFO:
www.facebook.com/TheMuralProject2013
www.firstgiving.com/themuralproject2013
http://themuralproject2013.tumblr.com/
About CoachArt
CoachArt was founded in 2001 to offer free volunteer-led arts lessons to chronically ill youth and their siblings. We believe that chronically ill youth and their families should have acces to the healing power of the arts. CoachArt partners with pediatric hospitals to ensure that quality arts lessons reach patients in their homes or home communities. This unique hospital-to-community partnership is critical to form the continuity that is ideal to support the healing benefits of the arts.
@moderneden closing reception for “Spectra” and “Deconstruct” shows this Friday 6-9pm https://www.facebook.com/events/467415776665761/?group_id=0
“Nostalgia” Acrylic on Canvas © 2013 @MikeBorja for #Deconstruct
If you’re in San Francisco, go check out this group show that I’m a part of at Modern Eden Gallery. @moderneden
Here are more pictures of my painting and the group exhibition, http://www.moderneden.com/collections/deconstruct/products/nostalgia
Curated by John Wentz , he’s also having a solo exhibition titled, “Spectra.”
On view from April 13 through May 4, 2013
Holograms all day. #mmbdaychella didn’t know what to expect from coachella, I now have a new appreciation for music and visual arts.
