Let Go Thank You

From the Heart

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 it Go!

From the Heart

Let it go!

“You hate your father,” he suddenly blurted out. I sat there stunned.

While having lunch with Larry Crab, a well-known counselor and author, I shared some of the deep hurt I had experienced when my father divorced my mother after 24 years of marriage, stripping me of my family.

After crying over those difficult words for the next several hours, I struggled through a sleepless night. Traumatic childhood memories resurfaced and plagued me. I longed to be freed.

Over the next several days, I wrote a letter to my father that I never intended to mail. I tried to list every single hurt, disappointment, and broken promise I could remember. After completing the letter, I crumpled it up and threw it into a blazing fire. As flames consumed it, I inched closer to freedom.

Several years later on one memorable day, my father phoned me. We laughed and chatted. When it came time to say “good-bye,” I struggled for a moment whether or not to say “I love you.”

In my mind, a battle ensued. But I said a quick prayer. Then I added, “Dad, I love you.” He responded, “Yeah, here too.” Four days later while I was cooking dinner, my brother called and simply said, ‘Pamela, Dad died.” I dropped to the floor in anguish. At 33, I had lost my dad.

Years later, I no longer remained the same woman that the author in the restaurant said I was; I had taken great strides towards healing. As I learned to let go of the resentment—whether I ever heard an apology or not—the wounds healed. Love had replaced the former hate.

At my father’s funeral, I shared my last four words to my father: “Dad, I love you.”

Bloomfield Hills School Joins ArtPrize

Behind the Artwork

Hand written letting go of anger statement

“I am letting go of anger because I don’t want anger to stop me.” Signed, CJ

Third grader CJ with other Lone Pine Elementary School classmates in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan participated in my ArtPrize Nine installation. Their assignment was to write Let Go sentences and choose an assumed name to protect the children’s identity. Their teacher said the students really enjoyed getting to make up their own fictitious names.

When the other third grade teachers heard about the opportunity, they didn’t want to miss out. So their classes wrote Let Go sentences too. Here is a sample of the third grade Let Go submissions:

I am letting go of lying because I lie to my mom and dad.
Signed, Jacqui

I am letting go of third grade because I’m graduating to fourth grade.
Signed, Riley

I am letting go of being scared of loud noises. I will face a fire drill.
Signed, Scarlett

I am letting go of not including everyone. I think that people will be sad.
Signed, Carly

I am letting go of perfection because I want to be myself—the self that is not perfect!
Signed, Dalila

I am letting go of insecurity because I am insecure going places and meeting new people!!
Signed, Ellen

I am letting go of a toxic person because they are really rude to me and slow me down in life.
Signed, Pearl

I am letting go of playing American football because you can get injured really easily, so I’m gonna play baseball instead.
Signed, Henrik

I am letting go of attitudes because I really want to be a great student and do my best and get good grades.
Sincerely, Stephanie

I am letting go of swimming in shallow water because I want to push myself to become a better swimmer.
Signed, Margo

Teacher

I am letting go of “easy,” because I want to do hard things that will challenge me to be the best ME.

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: Interactive Art Brings Healing

Behind the Artwork

ArtPrize Nine: Let Go in progress

One hundred twenty-six participants pre-submitted Let Go sentences that were collaged into my ArtPrize Nine painting. One letter stated: “I forgive you for the pain you caused, and I release you from any responsibility to heal me.”

After reading this profound statement, I contacted the writer to see if she would be willing to share her story. She agreed. The following vignette shows the healing progression from a wounded heart to extending forgiveness to finally letting go. In many cases, the journey towards healing can be difficult but not impossible.

Mom,

You said that I shouldn’t be affected by your decision to divorce my dad. What you didn’t realize was that you not only closed yourself off from Dad, but from me as well. When you would shut yourself away in your room and tell me not to bother you, I learned that I no longer had a mother to depend on; I had to fend for myself.

When I left for work one day, you changed the locks to prevent my dad from coming in. But you didn’t realize this: you shut me out too. Over and over, you chose your “freedom” and your “own” path, in exchange for me. Your choices cut a deep wound in my heart.

Then one day, I realized that you would probably never apologize, so I needed to forgive you or my bitterness would end up consuming me. I had to accept you for being you, instead of wishing you were some other mom.

Mom, I’m letting go of my expectations of what our relationship should look like. I forgive you for the pain you caused, and I release you from any responsibility to heal me.

Love,
Your daughter

Let Go and Keeping Hope Alive

Karen was sexually abused as a child. Although her parents ignored the situation at the time, she is now, as an adult, seeking the necessary professional help. Amazingly, interactive art has been part of her healing journey.

I am letting go of the emotional and physical abuse. I’m going for help. Letting go of the anger releases me from resentment and frustration. Just writing this helps me to understand how wrong the abuse is and that I do not need to own it.

Signed, Karen

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.

ArtPrize Nine: Let Go

Behind the Artwork

Let Go in the studio

ArtPrize Nine Let Go by artist and facilitator Pamela Alderman will be showcased at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel from September 20 through October 8, 2017. The 19 x 6 foot mixed media painting is made of acrylic, paper, and transparent fabric on five wood panels. One hundred twenty-six participants pre-submitted handwritten Let Go sentences and letters that are now collaged into the painting.

Like many of Pamela’s past ArtPrize installations, visitors can interact with the work by writing their own Let Go sentences. The artist statement below explains how individuals may respond at the Let Go installation. Here are a couple of examples of the Let Go statements from the ArtPrize audience:

I’m letting go of your need to let go.
Signed, your wife

I’m letting go of self-blame for my son’s autism diagnosis.
Signed, your mother

Several people have attested to the healing they experienced as they wrote their Let Go statements. One participant said, “While thinking about what to write, I realized that I hadn’t forgiven my dad.” The pent up anger had been festering inside of him—even though his dad had been dead for thirty years. So he wrote a Let Go letter and forgave him. In doing this, he experienced a new freedom and healing at an art exhibit.

Artist Statement

…it takes much more strength to know when to let go…
Ann Landers

Let Go in progressLife’s ebb and flow eventually may bring us to a healing place. At times, we feel like we’re drowning in the sea of despair, defeat, or disappointment. But transformation can occur if we are willing to accept change. Once we muster the courage to let go of whatever is dragging us under, a tiny lifeline of hope reaches back through the breakers to keep us afloat.

Invitation: Viewers Participate

Write a couple of words on the vellum paper to identify your struggle—the thing that is weighing you down—like control, fear, unforgiveness, etc. Just writing the words activates the healing process.

Next, crumple this paper. As you release the crumpled paper, it symbolically becomes one with the painting—mixing with the waves and being carried out to sea. Experience a new level of peace and soul healing as you begin to release the past or the present. So crumple the paper—and let go.

What are you letting go of?

Addictions
Anger
Anxiety
Bitterness
Control
Doubt
Expectations
Failure
Fear
Grudges
Guilt
Insecurity
Judgment
Lies
Memories
Misfortune
Mistakes
Pain
Perfection
Pride
Shame
Worry

 

A special thanks to PlexiCase Inc and Moonlight Graphics for their generous support!