Pamela is an asset in our community! Thank you for sharing your vision and leadership!
Tara McCrackin
President
Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University.
It was a true pleasure to have Pamela Alderman guide our students through a creative art experience. Noorthoek Academy supports 96 students who are lifelong learners with intellectual disabilities. Initially, some students were hesitant about having paint applied to their arms for our Under the Surface art mural. However, Pamela and her vibrant Healing in Arts team have a remarkable ability to transform new experiences into enjoyable and engaging activities, which encourages everyone to join in.
Lyn VanTol
Executive Director
Noorthoek Academy
Pamela is a long-time ArtPrize artist, impacting the community with her popular interactive installations, and the ArtPrize innovator and curator of the Voices project at Veterans Memorial Park. Pamela Alderman helped develop a new ArtPrize venue (Veterans Memorial Park) and coaches twenty-one veterans yearly in the creation and exhibition of their art pieces. Her curation and pieces have placed in the Top 20 and won 3rd place. I would not hesitate to work with Pamela and her team again.
Craig Searer
Executive Director of ArtPrize
I love that Pamela is bold and lives out her convictions. I believe one of the highest forms of communication in our culture is beauty through art. In a tech-driven, busy society, Pamela’s calling to produce and promote beauty is refreshing and healing. And to have Makoto Fujimura as a mentor?! What an endorsement!
Laurie Bolthouse
Producer “Trade of Innocents”
Pamela joined our team in the summer of 2021 as a Co-Facilitator for the Michigan Veteran Entrepreneur-Lab, and since then has become an integral part of the team. Her contribution and genuine care for the veteran community is considerable. Pamela has a way of connecting with people that is both an art and a science. She has an incredible ability to connect with people on a personal level, all because of her genuine care to know people and listen to them. The program has a lot of intricacies, details and deadlines, and Pamela has always communicated effectively and clearly. She is very thoughtful, approachable and engaging. Her work and dedication to the veteran community is remarkable and continues to influence and impact veteran entrepreneurs in Michigan.
Shorouq Almallah
Director Richard M. and Helen DeVos Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Seidman College of Business
Pamela spoke with my university psychology majors, demonstrating such passion for the hurting and broken parts of all human beings, as embodied in her ArtPrize work, Broken Wings. Sometimes, when hurts cut deep, mere words don’t suffice but colors, shapes, and artistic images provide a way to express those deepest experiences and hurts and move us a bit toward healing. Pamela powerfully uses creative ways of engaging people to focus on love, grace, kindness, and the common threads of the human experience. My college students and I were very inspired by Pamela as she lives out what it means to love, inspire, and transform pain into opportunities for growth and wellness. Pamela’s creativity and social justice perspective call each and every one of us to seek and find our part in the individual and collective healing.
Dr. Nicole McDonald
Professor of Psychology
Cornerstone University, Child and Adolescent Services/Psychology Program
Pamela is a joy to work with. She considered the specifics of what we were hoping to accomplish with our project, created a vision, and brought it to fruition. The healing nature of Pamela’s work was evident throughout the workshops she facilitated as well as in the final project. I am thankful for Pamela’s passion, dedication, and creativity.
Angelica Ferrer
Victim Witness Coordinator
Kent County Prosecutor’s Office
I have had the pleasure of watching the talents of Artist Pamela Alderman for the last 10 years. Pamela has been an annual guest on several of my WGVU public media formats, including The Morning Show and Art Unfiltered. Both formats put the spotlight on Pamela, where she eloquently shared her artistic adventures, including her award winning ArtPrize works. Of course, her art is admirable…but the tie in with her personal “causes” also is inspiring—a beautiful pairing leading to her continued outstanding community gift.
Shelley Irwin
Host/Producer
WGVU Morning Show
Without hesitation, I endorse Pamela’s work as an artist and advocate for the Veteran community in Michigan. I have been lucky to work with Pamela through the Michigan Veteran’s Entrepreneurship (MVE) Lab, where I have seen her impact on individuals and families working hard to realize their potential and build community. In addition, Pamela is a passionate contributor to the arts community, both through public exhibition and workshops with Veterans. We are lucky to have Pamela in our community!
Erik Daly,
Attorney
Miller Johnson
It was a pleasure working with Pamela! The completed Broken Wings No. 2 project was a pure masterpiece! The girls and I learned so much through this project. Pamela truly has a gift!
Marcela Moralez-Morris
Supervisor
Juvenile Probation and Girls Court of Michigan
Pamela walked us through the process to create unique and beautiful pieces of art that we will enjoy for years to come. Pamela’s tender, caring heart brought out the best in everyone as she facilitated a wonderful intergenerational experience.
LeeAnn Legree
Evergreen Terrace Assisted Living
Holland Home had the unique opportunity to partner with Pamela for an incredible art engagement project. This project included residents from every level of care: Independent Living, Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing. Pamela is truly gifted in utilizing art to deeply connect with older adults and help them express themselves. She instilled confidence in those that didn’t consider themselves artists and brought out some powerful memories and connections with the residents during this process. We are forever grateful for Pamela’s creativity and how the opportunity both elevated our programming and enriched so many lives.
Marenta Klinger
Director of Resident Life
Holland Home
Pamela worked with the children to create their own artwork inspired by her piece Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind. This workshop was the perfect way to have an open conversation about what we can do as individuals and as a community to be kind to others. The love and kindness that emulates from Pamela’s work now shine brightly through our school!
Ann Pilzner
Head of School, The Montessori School
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Pamela has a very unique gift for connecting deeply with people through her artwork. There is something in her work that is deeply magnetic and brings out the vulnerability in all of us. It has been our privilege to partner with her in her efforts to help women find healing and companionship. Thanks again.
Randall L Zylstra, LMSW
CEO/President
Wedgewood Christian Services
The Department was thrilled to be able to host the Reflections of Generosity and the Hometown Hero II exhibit for Suicide Prevention Month 2016. This exhibit brings awareness that art may help increase the ability to cope and help decrease stress through artistic expression to Service members, their families, and DoD Civilians.
Wendy Lakso
Director, Outreach and Education
Defense Suicide Prevention Office
Thank you for showcasing Red Jeans Redemption and being a part of curating a space for beauty and healing as we were honest about the pain and exploitation.
Rachel Verwys
SEE: Solutions to End Exploitation
Pamela Alderman is a very talented artist, but she is much more than that. She is a woman concerned about a greater artistic endeavor—the protection, welfare, freedom, dignity and worth of all women. Her exhibit “The Scarlet Cord,” masterfully opens the eyes of the public to the sad and destructive world of human trafficking. She exposes the dark side, but is always ready to show the path to redemption and healing.
Michael Cook
Manager of Programs
Acton Institute
Pamela put together a powerful program at GVSU. Her exhibit was evocative and emotional, and the event she coordinated brought home the reality of sex trafficking with people who have experienced first-hand the terrible frequency of it in West Michigan. Overall, though, the message was one of hope—the hope that those trafficked can heal, the hope that our actions can mitigate this scourge, and the hope that humanity can triumph over evil.
Dr. Jeff Chamberlain
Director, Frederik Meijer Honors College
Grand Valley State University
Pamela Alderman’s installation, The Scarlet Cord, helped thousands of visitors to ArtPrize 2014 in Grand Rapids, Michigan experience the anguish of the human trafficking of children. But like all good art, it also did more. Experiencing The Scarlet Cord was not just about the communication of horrific facts; it also was the invitation of communion between co-sufferers. People were invited into a space where they could feel not only the pain of others, but their own hurts and trauma. Now a short documentary about that experience has been made. Combining music, dance, fine art, and interviews with those experiencing the installation, this documentary is a moving testimony to the power of art to touch lives—even to heal. Highly recommended.
Robert K. Johnston
Professor of Theology and Culture, Fuller Theological Seminary
Author of Reel Spirituality (Baker) and God’s Wider Presence (Baker)
Pamela’s art acknowledges #MeToo anger and responds by offering women a space to experience healing and peace.
Maria Fee, Ph.D.
Candidate and Adjunct Professor of Theology and Culture
Fuller Theological Seminary
The Scarlet Cord is an important film that gives voice and compassion to human trafficking and sexual exploitation. These issues become more complex and more prevalent in our communities with each passing generation as new waves of technology increase access to pornography. This should be mandatory viewing for all citizens concerned about the welfare of children.
Judge Patricia Gardner
Kent County Circuit Court, Family Division
The Scarlet Cord really moves you as it delves into the issue. While most people don’t like to think about under-aged girls being sexually exploited, this horrific injustice is happening in our own backyard. I am proud to share The Scarlet Cord with others in the Valley.
Lea Benson
President and CEO of StreetLightUSA
Even before I met Pamela in person, I knew I would like her and all that she represents! Pamela is one powerful and insightful woman! I’m thankful that Pamela shared her vision and talents and The Scarlet Cord with our college community.
Cameron Brunet-Koch, Ph.D.
President
North Central Michigan College
It was a pleasure to have Pamela Alderman do two interest-raising presentations at Calvin College: one for the Calvin Academy for Lifelong Learning (C.A.L.L.) Noontime Series in which she showed highlights from her eight-year ArtPrize journey and a short video filmed in Phoenix during the 2015 Super Bowl at her sex trafficking art installation. At the CALL luncheon she gave an overview of her ArtPrize work and created a finger-painting work of art on the spot. An appreciative audience found that Alderman’s artistic vision invites transformation and inspires hope.
Henry Baron
Writer and Professor of English Emeritus
Calvin College
Pamela Alderman worked with my students on creating artwork to accompany our unit for the novel Sold, a fictional story about a young girl being sold into sex trafficking. Pamela played a significant role in showing students that, although fictional, this young girl’s story is a harsh reality for many people throughout the world. She allowed students to process what they had been learning and express it through their art to allow us to continue our mission of spreading awareness. She was patient and helpful throughout the entire process. It was a very meaningful and powerful experience for many of my students.
Waleska Mendoza
English Teacher
Empire High School
Amazing how Ms Pamela’s presentation made such an impression with even our youngest students! I heard stories from parents how their children at home were talking about kindness and how you should be kind especially to “enemies” or those you don’t like. The interactive piece of Ms Pamela’s presentation seems to make the message “stick” which is just what we want when trying to build healthy school relationships!
Deborah Guess
M.S.Ed.
Taylor Elementary School
Pamela has a heart for working with students and helped our students create a sex-trafficking exhibit. With Pamela’s input, the students learned how to continue the dialogue for those who are held in sexual bondage—through art. The project expanded students’ social awareness and challenged them to find their own voice for the victims of human trafficking.
Melissa Goodell
Art Teacher, Saugatuck High School
Saugatuck, Michigan
Pamela was extremely fun, professional, and extremely engaging with my students. Her story and father’s legacy are so much of her story, and it comes to life with her activities! It has been so fun to build on what we learned artistically, emotionally, and environmentally from Pamela! She is truly a gift and joy to have with students!
Christina Otten
3rd Grade Teacher, Kentwood Public Schools
Kentwood, Michigan
Pamela Alderman’s installation, “Courage Ablaze: The Women and Children of Congo,” brought to the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities’ LookOut! Art Gallery at Michigan State University an exceptional opportunity to learn about and connect with the struggles and strength of the Congolese people. Through both gentle portraits and the tacit violence of children’s rape dresses and a charred tree, the wars of half-a-world away are made as immediate as the Congo minerals that power the cell phones in our pockets and that fuel these wars. By raising awareness, starting conversations, and building partnerships, Pamela’s artworks aim to foster social change.
Dr. Carolyn Loeb
Associate Professor, Art and Architectural History
Residential College in the Arts and Humanities
Michigan State University
Pamela did an outstanding job connecting and speaking to our students in a chapel setting. She has a story to tell. She tells it well and students were both challenged and encouraged by it. Later she led several students in a “Let it Go” art workshop. It was equally engaging. Our campus was blessed by her faith in Christ and where that faith intersected with her art! It was a joy to have her!
Kurt Caddy
Director of Universities Ministries
Southwest Baptist University
It is rare that one comes across artistic talent that addresses difficult social realities in such a powerful and engaging manner, but this is what Pamela was able to do when she presented her interactive healing art at this Miss Michigan Pageant. She touched the hearts and minds of the audience, as evidence by their engagement and emotional reactions to her pieces. Her message is strong, hopeful, and empowering for everyone. It was a pleasure to work with Pamela and we look forward to doing so in the future!
Lakeshore Human Trafficking Task Force
The Public Museum School’s Lyceum program supports the integration of academic learning and student-directed meaningful experiences. Lyceum students had the privilege of walking through the steps of art making with ArtPrize artist Pamela Alderman. The middle school students collected household items to create a mock-up exhibit on world hunger and helped shoot a short video documenting the learning process. Alderman’s creative talent and passion inspired students to serve others through interactive healing art. Her Lyceum class was a powerful learning experience for students who participated.
Christopher Hanks
Principal, Grand Rapids Public Museum School
Grand Rapids Public Schools
Pamela Alderman paints Congolese refugee women who have experienced rape, war, and death. Yet surprisingly, her watercolors are beautiful. They inspire us to appreciate the women’s strength and dignity. They make us more human. They connect us. They give us hope.
Paola Gianturco
American photojournalist
Author, Grandmother Power: A Global Phenomenon
Over the years I’ve had the privilege of experiencing Pamela’s work though ArtPrize. I’m impressed how she captures and conveys personal topics with truthful integrity. Her artistic style connects sometimes difficult subject matter with audiences through raw relational emotion in a voice of hope, triumph, and inspiration.
Chad LeRoux
Executive Corporate Director of Marketing
Amway Hotel Corporation
I have worked with Pamela a lot. The Amway Grand Plaza hosted her work a number of times during my six years coordinating the ArtPrize show there. She was a pleasure to work with, represented our show well, and provided opportunities for visitors to engage with her work in a meaningful way. I highly recommend her!
Carrie Kolehouse
Senior Marketing Manager
Amway Hotel Corporation
Pamela Alderman has an exceptional ability to engage with her audience. Through her art, passion, and stories of how she came to paint the Courage Ablaze collection—depicting African women and children refugees, Pamela was able to connect with the audience on a very personal level. I would highly recommend her for future speaking engagements.
Kristin W. Barrington
Special Events Coordinator
Grand Rapids Public Museum
Pamela is always a joy to work with. Her art is so interactive and heartfelt. I am always wondering what she will do next to tug on my emotions and start the process of healing.
Jim Ackerman
Director of Events
Grand Rapids Public Museum
I was struck by Pamela’s incredible talent and honesty with her work with the Congolese women. A consummate professional artist she is light-years ahead in humanitarian efforts to bring the plight of families in war torn countries to the general public. Pamela exudes contagious vitality, integrity, and professionalism.
Linda Arnold Schuhardt
Community Relations Manager
Barnes & Noble
Thank you very much for the opportunity to be your intern this year! ArtPrize was a great learning experience! Being a part of something so impactful for those who have trouble expressing difficulties was beautiful. The message that your art conveys is redemptive, healing, and encouraging all at once; it speaks to the power that positive art can have on a person. The heart you have for others is reflective in your work, and I am honored to have been a part of it!
Alex Perry
Student, Cornerstone University
I have had the opportunity to work with Pamela twice. In 2010, she displayed a copy of her ArtPrize entry portraying a heart disease survivor at Macy’s in collaboration with our Go Red For Women partnership. Pamela was kind enough to share her 2011 ArtPrize entry of a cancer survivor. I commend Pamela on using her gift to advance awareness of woman’s health issues and generously reaching out to the community to share her work.
Ron Zeiger
Vice-President/Store Manager
Macy’s in Grandville, Michigan
While Pamela’s work is disturbing, it is beautiful. She touches your heart and soul and tells a story that needs to be told. I teared as I admired Pamela’s work Courage Ablaze. We are always honored to have some of her display incorporated into our annual Women’s Expo. Her continuous work of passion for the voiceless is a must see.
Denise Kohler
Owner
Kohler Expos, Inc.