Healing in Arts Archives - Page 2 of 25 - Artist and Facilitator Pamela Alderman

HEALING IN ARTS – MEET RHONDA ANDERSON

Healing In ArtsBy Pamela Alderman October 5, 2023

I first met Pamela Alderman, the founder of Healing in Arts, at our church six years ago. Being a left-brained individual, and not acquainted with the artistic process, I was curious, fascinated, intrigued. Pamela’s creativity is mind boggling to me! Her energy and passion for reaching the under-served is unmatched. It makes me weary just thinking about all the activity she does each week, at a time in her life when most of us would be winding down toward retirement.

As our friendship grew, I had opportunities to assist with various Healing in Arts projects behind the scenes, which included tearing paper, sewing shapes, cutting fabric, and stuffing envelopes. Recently, when Healing in Arts officially became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Pamela invited me to serve on the board. What an honor! The two of us frequently spend hours brainstorming, problem solving, planning, and reviewing various aspects of Healing in Arts. We balance each other perfectly, coming from different perspectives—Pamela the visionary and I the integrator. We are both women of faith who seek to serve others through creative opportunities.

As a nurse and musician living with chronic pain, I have personally experienced and witnessed how music can help to soothe those in physical pain, those who are anxious, and those who are grieving. I would occasionally sing to my suffering patients; the gentle melodies eased their struggle nearly every time. Art can also be cathartic, helping to refocus minds, to soothe deep hurts, and to provide a creative outlet for expressing invisible wounds. I couldn’t be more proud to be Pamela’s friend and a part of the Healing in Arts team. God is using this remarkable ministry to touch many people around the world

We create interactive art experiences to build hope, care, and connections.

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The Mosaic Within with Mel Trotter Ministries!

Healing In ArtsBy Pamela Alderman October 4, 2023

The Mosaic Within project, by Healing in Arts in collaboration with Mel Trotter Ministries, offered a wonderful and impactful way to engage the community. The healing project brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds to create art while fostering a sense of belonging. This interactive work involved more than 40 individuals and demonstrated a commitment to unify local communities through art. Such initiatives can break down social barriers and create new connections with people from different walks of life.

The summer workshops, where participants painted Plexiglas tiles with acrylic paint, provided a creative outlet. Engaging in artistic activities can be therapeutic and empowering, especially for those facing challenging life situations. Keeping the final design a secret until the unveiling ceremony added an element of excitement. The mystery of the project heightened the sense of anticipation and engagement among both participants and the community.

The resulting mosaic, created through collective efforts, inspired healing and hope. Art has the power to evoke emotions and provide solace, making it a valuable tool for bringing awareness to issues like homelessness and hunger. Art projects like The Mosaic Within can bridge the gap between people from various backgrounds. The creative work creates a stronger, more interconnected community by encouraging understanding and empathy among participants.

We acknowledge and appreciate everyone involved in this meaningful endeavor. The efforts of participants and volunteers added to the success of this project. Generous financial gifts from our donors help provide future community-oriented projects.

The Mosaic Within project represents a fun example of how art and collaboration can be used to address social issues, build community, and inspire positive change. Thank you to all who contributed to this impactful endeavor!

We create interactive art experiences to build hope, care, and connections.

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The Mosaic Within Project: A Healing in Arts Collaboration with Mel Trotter Ministries

Healing In ArtsBy Pamela Alderman September 5, 2023

The Mosaic Within project, a community-based work, brought together people from all walks of life to form a display of colorful patterns, unity, and hope. Throughout the summer, we hosted art workshops at multiple locations with local community members and the individuals served by Mel Trotter Ministries. Participants hand-painted small Plexiglas tiles to be added to the mystery artwork.

The final mosaic design of 324 uniquely painted tiles will be revealed at The B.O.B. on Sunday, September 17, 2023 and displayed for the rest of September in the lower-level brewery. In October, the work will be donated to Mel Trotter Ministries, a local mission committed to helping individuals who are experiencing hunger and homelessness.

Healing in Arts creates art experiences to build hope, care, and connection in under-served communities, including special needs kids, incarcerated teens, sex trafficked youth, veterans with PTSD, and the elderly.

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CREATIVITY FOR CHILDREN IN MEXICO AND UKRAINE

Healing In ArtsBy Pamela Alderman August 2, 2023

Healing in Arts successfully reached our international goal for 2023! Two special donors—a 20-year-old working a part-time, minimum wage job and his grandparents—each funded half of the project. Because of their generosity, we sent 1,000 art kits to children in Mexico and Ukraine in partnership with Erika Plunkett with Ama International in Mexico and George de Vuyst with Resonate Global Missions in Ukraine.

We would also like to thank Kathy Pluymert and her family for all their hard work assembling the 1,000 drawstring backpacks filled with a tissue paper art project and my childhood story of hope translated into Spanish and Ukrainian. Their generosity enabled us to give the gift of color to kids living in challenging circumstances.

Recently, while looking at our impact over the years, we discovered that Healing in Arts had given over 6,500 art kits worldwide. It’s amazing to see the power of a committed team with a common purpose to build hope, care, and connection in under-served communities through art. We would like to thank everyone who has helped us reach children in need across the globe.

Why do we do what we do? Because healing art has the power to inspire creativity, joy, and redemption.

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Healing in Arts by Guest Writer Christie Unakalamba

From the HeartBy Pamela Alderman July 7, 2023

Healing can take many forms. Physical relief can be found in medical intervention, chiropractic services, or massage. But healing can also come in the form of art.

Navigating the world, navigating personal life crises, and navigating dynamic changes that impact us can create a physical, mental or even social isolation traceable to certain ailments. As such, understanding the diverse nature of humans, life, and making sense of the world around us can sometimes leave us feeling
deserted—lost in a world of our own.

This is where art can become a leverage for connection and resilience. We are not to walk life alone without a shoulder to lean on. The use of arts—music, dance, painting, poetry, and drama—provide a healing dimension. Art engagement in the context of community aids self-development, but it also plays a key role in our health, perseverance, and sustenance.

Healing in Arts seamlessly forges a connection between the mind and body. Participants also experience a level of healing that often goes deep beyond the physical to the mental and even to the spiritual via contact with other humans while engaging with various art forms. For instance, where exercise works mainly on the body, art, in the form of dance, clears the mind, accessing both mind and body to promote healing. Every time you sit down to write a song or paint a picture, you’re using mental processes in a physically engaging activity.

Healing in Arts workshop project

Personally, as a young woman who is navigating a new culture, dealing with changes, and facing the new stages in life, I am open to experience how art can cause a deeper sense of healing and wholesomeness. Art can provide a healthy release from the pain, vulnerabilities, and isolation I sometimes feel. Interactive art touches the deepest parts of our minds, bodies, and spirits—and heals.

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We Drew a Circle

Behind the ArtworkBy Pamela Alderman July 6, 2023

A Pamela Alderman Art Collaboration

We Drew a Circle project

We Drew a Circle invites inclusion and healing. For this creative care workshop, each participant painted repeating circular patterns on wooden tiles with warm and cool colors to form a larger design. This mosaic art form soothes and alleviates stress through the radiating circle motif. Inspired by a line from an Edwin Markham poem I memorized as a child, “We drew a circle that took him in,” the final collage blends the round images painted by various people into one piece. The 9×5½ foot colorful collage highlights our need for acceptance, understanding, and support.

Families Dealing With Homicide

One mother, unsure of whether to participate or not, finally sat down to create an art piece. While gluing colorful paper onto the wooden panel, the woman talked about losing her son to gun violence. At the end of the workshop, I asked, “What did you like most about the workshop?” She responded, “Somehow making the art made me happy.” For this woman, and others, the creative process is a sacred journey. We Drew a Circle emphasizes the importance of encircling each individual within a compassionate community in our collective journey towards healing.

Client Feedback

We are thankful for the vision and talents of Pamela Alderman, who guided our staff, community members, and those touched by crime in this healing art experience. The piece now hangs in our main office in hopes of inspiring those we serve during their healing journey.

Angelica Ferrer, Victim Witness Coordinator, Kent County Prosecutor’s Office

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Healing in Arts Team Spotlight: Meet Kameko Madere

Behind the ArtworkBy Pamela Alderman June 8, 2023

Red pants with black lettering hung from the wall. The red against the white walls intrigued me to walk closer. I approached the pants to discover I could actually read them. I realized I was reading someone’s true story. It touched my heart, as if I heard the voice speaking from the pants. I walked away telling myself, “I have to meet the artist behind this project.” It was Pamela Alderman at the beginning of her MFA program. Today, I am a board member working alongside Pamela with Healing in Arts. It has been a pleasure planning behind the scenes and watching projects, plans, and goals come to fruition. I am overjoyed to see what Healing in Arts provides for others locally and internationally. I believe the world without art is just, BLAH. Kameko Madere

More Red Jeans Needed

We are still collecting jeans for the Red Jeans Redemption project. If you would like to express your story of sexual abuse anonymously by decorating a pair of red jeans, contact us. The decorated jeans will become part of an awareness art exhibit that educates the public and promotes restoration and hope for survivors. Art can be part of the healing process, for both artist and viewer.

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