Join Our Team: Be a Part of Something Big

What We Do

We create spaces where visitors feel personally cared for and validated. Our healing work has touched thousands of ArtPrize visitors—one person at a time (ArtPrize is a huge art event held in Grand Rapids, Michigan). Last year, 70,000 ArtPrize visitors participated with our soul healing artwork by writing Let Go notes.

Your Healing Stories

An ArtPrize visitor wrote: “I will be clean from crack cocaine sixteen years. Finally letting go!”

A mom wrote: “I want my son back. I feel like watching his internal battle is slowly killing me. I’m now choosing to let go of my lack of control. I need to take this step for my own emotional healing.”

A third grader wrote: “I am letting go of perfection because I want to be myself—the self that is not perfect!”

A son wrote: “Dad, you’re supposed to protect me from people like you. All I ever wanted was your love and approval. My heart longs for a real father.”

Our Next Challenge

This year’s interactive work will address bullying and school shootings by starting a Butterfly Effect—where one positive action impacts another positive action—to help better our world.

Make a Difference

We would love for you to be part of this journey. Since our art is very much collaborative and interactive, we would like to invite you to be part of our team for ArtPrize…and beyond. We would be so grateful for your help. Come join our team! Our healing art involves you—because you matter!

Let Go: Children Respond

Life’s ebb and flow eventually may bring us to a healing place. At times, we may feel like we’re drowning in the sea of despair, defeat, or disappointment. But transformation can occur if we are willing to accept change.

ArtPrize visitors were invited to write a couple of words on the vellum paper to identify their struggle—the thing that was weighing them down—like control, fear, unforgiveness, etc. Many discovered that just writing a few words helped activate the healing process. Even the children got involved. Don’t miss some of the funny, but profound, responses from these kids.

What is one thing that you need to Let Go of? Share your story #LetGo

To learn more, visit watercolorbypamela.com…

Our healing art involves you—because you matter!

Let Go: Releasing

Many participants wrote Let Go statements about difficult relationships. Interactive healing art invites honest reflection. And as a result, many ArtPrize visitors experienced a new level of freedom as they begin to Let Go of the things that weighed them down or dragged them under.

Here’s a peek into one woman’s story:

“I am letting go of all the hurt my husband has put me through. I know he doesn’t mean it. But it still makes my heart bleed. Signed, your wife”

What is your Let Go story? Share your story #LetGo

To learn more, visit watercolorbypamela.com…

Our healing art involves you—because you matter!

Join Our Team for ArtPrize Ten!

Butterfly paintings

Who We Are

We create spaces where visitors feel personally cared for and validated. Our healing work has touched thousands of ArtPrize visitors—one person at a time (ArtPrize is a huge art event held in Grand Rapids, Michigan). Last year, 70,000 ArtPrize visitors participated with our soul healing artwork by writing Let Go notes.

Your Healing Stories

An ArtPrize visitor wrote: “I will be clean from crack cocaine sixteen years. Finally letting go!”

A mom wrote: “I want my son back. I feel like watching his internal battle is slowly killing me. I’m now choosing to let go of my lack of control. I need to take this step for my own emotional healing.”

A third grader wrote: “I am letting go of perfection because I want to be myself—the self that is not perfect!”

A son wrote: “Dad, you’re supposed to protect me from people like you. All I ever wanted was your love and approval. My heart longs for a real father.”

Our Next Challenge

This year’s interactive work will address bullying and school shootings by starting a Butterfly Effect—where one positive action impacts another positive action—to help better our world.

Make a Difference

We would love for you to be part of this journey. Since our art is very much collaborative and interactive, we would like to invite you to be part of our team for ArtPrize…and beyond. We would be so grateful for your help. Come join our team! Our healing art involves you—because you matter!

Let Go and Refocus

My dad on hand written Let Go note

Mental illness is rarely discussed. Yet a couple of different Let Go submissions dealt with this seemingly taboo topic. Art invites honesty. Within the context of art, we can say things that may not be as acceptable in another arena.

I’m so thankful for the honesty of the participants at the Let Go installation. They have inspired the rest of us to persevere through the difficulties we all encounter. Tell us your story at #LetGo. We would love to hear from you.

Mental illness is a horribly debilitating thing. But I’m letting go of my focus on the disease, and I’m refocusing on my journey towards wellness.
Signed, Camilla

Note: One hundred twenty-six participants pre-submitted Let Go letters and sentences to be collaged into the painting. The names and some details have been changed to protect identities.

Let Go Thank You

Hand written statement to let go of hard to be softer and gentle

Let Go exhibit viewed from aboveThank you to the thousands of visitors for successfully helping us to complete our ninth year of ArtPrize. It has been an amazing journey! Over 70,000 Let Go notes were added to our interactive healing installation—an artist/visitor collaboration.

I would like to thank the one hundred twenty-six courageous individuals and third graders from Lone Pine Elementary School who pre-submitted Let Go letters and sentences. I would also like to thank over fifty exhibit volunteers, including the Girl Scouts, Young Life, and the Blue Star Mothers, for helping greet and serve our ArtPrize audience.

A special thank you to the following friends, co-workers, and businesses for helping make Let Go possible. You are fabulous!

Volunteer coordinator Jan VanderWal
Creative project manager Marijo Heemstra
Calvin College intern Melissa Burgess
Carpenter Mark Scholma
Install/uninstall team—Louie Vanderwal, Greg Shepherd, and Kelvin Kronemeyer
Exhibit supporter Patty Alexander
Encourager Kathy Pluymert
A committed group of financial supporters
PlexiCase Inc and Moonlight Graphics for generously donating supplies

A huge thank you to the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel for hosting my work for the sixth year. We also are grateful to all those who shared their Let Go notes during ArtPrize (#LetGo). And, lastly, I would like to thank Leon, my husband and life companion, for his faithful and loving support throughout the last nine years of ArtPrize. He’s my champion!

Photo credit: Tom DeVette

Note: One hundred twenty-six participants pre-submitted Let Go letters and sentences to be collaged into the painting. The names and some details have been changed to protect identities.

Let Go Promotes Healing

Close-up of hand written Let Go statements

It is surprising, in a way, how I could have written almost all of the one hundred twenty-six Let Go letters or sentences that were submitted. Though the details of our stories may differ, our struggles are often very similar. And these common experiences of pain and loss connect us like a dot-to-dot drawing.

Throughout ArtPrize Nine, new friendships have been formed and old friendships have deepened. The opportunity to support one another through interactive healing art continues to link us together and strengthens us to face the future. This letter about challenging relationships highlights yet another healing and hope-filled journey.

Dear Surrender,

My life is a mess. Over the past two years, I have hurt more than ever in all my life. I have felt so lost and lonely.

My heart says I need help, but logic says I need to protect myself from more hurt. Drink and eat more. Shut down. But the physical pain of overeating will not bring me peace. It only drives me towards more isolation and shame.

But it’s time to turn a corner. It’s time to reclaim my life. So here’s to surrender:

I am letting go of my perception of what a husband should do.
I’m letting go of a daughter’s choice to focus on sex and shallow relationships.
I’m letting go of self-judgment over my parenting.
I’m letting go of a dad who manipulates.
I’m letting go of a mother who has no clue.
I’m letting of a sister who stays silent.
I’m letting go of a brother who disappoints.
I’m letting go of a co-worker who has no right.
I’m letting go of insecurity and self-hate.
I’m letting go!

Sincerely,
Called to Surrender

Note: One hundred twenty-six participants pre-submitted Let Go letters and sentences to be collaged into the painting. The names and some details have been changed to protect identities.