is a go at Potter Park Zoo in Lansing, Michigan!
It is official - I got the grant I applied for back in January. Thanks to the Arts Council of Greater Lansing
for believing in me and my project.
There were 2 categories of grants; emerging artist and established artist. I actually fall into a category
of re-emerging artist but that wasn't a choice so after looking over my resume,
publications and awards the director decided I would fit in the established artist category.
The day the letter came telling me of my award my grandson
became ill and was rushed to the hospital.
It is with a heavy and broken heart that I tell of his passing. I read the letter in his hospital room and one hour later he took his last breath! I
will continue on, for and because of Ethan, but this is going to be very hard as
I have lost the love of my life! Ethan
would have loved to be at the zoo with me and all the kids around us. His room was full of animals - stuffed and
painted.
As I said before my project will be an Artist in Residence
at the Potter Park Zoo. I will be
demonstrating acrylic painting techniques to the public during "Tourist in
your own town" day on June 1st.
Then again on July 19th and August 17th.
I hope to encourage young and old (and those in between) to pick up a
brush and apply paint to a canvas. I
will be providing paint, brushes and small canvases with help from the grant. Just picking up a brush and applying paint to
a canvas is a big step for some. I will
enjoy sharing the awesome feeling I get everytime I pick up my brushes to paint.
It can be relaxing and/or therapeutic, it can be an escape or an embrace. You can tell stories with your art or just
paint something because it is pretty or interesting. I hope to help many take the first step to
picking up a brush and putting paint on a canvas. I hope it will be the beginning of many journeys
for me and them!
Made possible by:
