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…
Thank 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…
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…
Let Go statements from the ArtPrize participants: I’m letting go of all the hate. I am letting go of my shame. I’m letting go of expectations. I’m letting go of regrets about things I’ve said. I’m letting go of the fear of never being enough. I’m letting go of my failure in a broken relationship.…
“Mrs. Alderman, your new-born baby’s heart rate is 300 beats per minute.” He explained that a baby’s heart rate should be around 120 beats per minute. But our son’s heart rate raced almost three times faster. I bit my lip and fought tears. Over the next several days, doctors or nurses surrounded our baby, Grant,…
The threads of past exhibits continue to be sewn in and out of my current artwork. During ArtPrize 2011, Metro Health Hospital invited me to portray Kara’s cancer story. So I created Braving the Wind which tells Kara’s remarkable story of determination and hope after her reoccurring battles with cancer. This letter from “Warrior of…