New Home for ArtPrize 2013 Wing and a Prayer

From the Heart

Wings of LifeWing and a PrayerWings of HopeWings of Love

Since ArtPrize, I have been diligently searching for an amazing location for my ArtPrize Wing and a Prayer installation. A friend suggested that I check with D.A. Blodgett – St John’s Home, a place for troubled youth, to see if they had any interest.

The morning before meeting the director, I spoke to an eleven-year-old from the St John’s home while he was waiting for a school bus. His eyes lit up when he saw some of the work that I had brought. Although our interaction was brief, I suddenly knew that St John’s Home was the right place for Wing and a Prayer.

St John's Home

The young boy has probably weathered a lot of turbulent winds. But if Wing and a Prayer could help rekindle his wonder and hope, then all the blood, sweat, and tears that went into work was worth it. And maybe in a small way, Wing and a Prayer could help bring hope and healing to some of the other children with broken wings.

As I left St John’s, this Emily Dickinson poem came to mind:

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.

Many thanks for your support. I’m so grateful. We plan to hang the work in the next couple of weeks. But because of the fire code, the 4,000 paper birds won’t be part of the installation. The Wing and a Prayer series, however, found an amazing location—and hopefully will continue to give hope flight.

Watercolor by Pamela and Ronald McDonald House

General

Wing and a Prayer Wings of Life

Giclée reproductions of Wing and a Prayer and Wings of Life will be joining the permanent collection at Ronald McDonald House in Milwaukee in 2014. The Milwaukee Ronald McDonald House provides lodging for families with children being treated at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

Look for next week’s announcement for the permanent home for ArtPrize 2013 Wing and a Prayer installation.

ArtPrize 2013 Visitor’s Notes: “Touching to the Soul”

Behind the Artwork

Notes in guestbook at ArtPrize 2013

This is awesome, beautiful work, brings my emotions alive.

I love how each year you address real issues with such beautiful work. You weave struggle into such beauty! You have a definite gift for looking within and showing the world.

This has such heart and beauty to it. Denise

Thank you for sharing the stories of strength, compassion, struggle, and love.

The stories paired with the paintings bring your beautiful message and characters in the paintings to life! This made me smile so big. Good job in capturing a child’s heart!

Thank you for seeing the hope….

Thank you for bringing these children and the autistic story to the public in such a powerful way!

You did this with so much love. CW

This art exhibit is lovely. I love the music and the way the room is designed But most of all, your work. Great facial definitions. MS

There is hope when you witness something so profound—origami complexity and simplicity together.

It’s magical!

You are not only artistically talented, but have a gift from God in inspiring us all.

So heartwarming and insightful. Thank you for the experience. DM

When I walked in here, my heart got big.

This was stunning and touched my heart. Bless you. S

Your vision is filled with love and hope for those who aren’t understood in this life. Thank you.

I wish I could stay in this room a very long time or return to it regularly. It gave me peace.

Good job using your art for “caring about people.” SB

I like the wall of wishes and prayers.

I love your art. It makes me want to live here. Paige

Thank you for giving a voice to those who don’t have one.

This is beautiful and amazing, touching to the soul. Zayle

Families with Children on the Autism Spectrum Respond

Behind the Artwork

Here are a few more responses to Wing and a Prayer from families with children on the autism spectrum:

As a parent of a daughter with autism, I find this a beautiful tribute through art. I love the stories.

As we entered the room, it felt “safe” for us and our son.

As a parent with an autistic child, thanks so much for this. It’s wonderful to see so much love and feeling in this room!!

Moved to tears…have an autistic nephew. Most moving piece I’ve seen. Monica

This is the first display of art that has brought me to tears. I am a therapist and work with people with disabilities.

My son has aspergers. Beautiful!

Thank you for taking the time to educate the public. We have a daughter with special needs.

I have an 18-year-old autistic daughter and these paintings are so touching. Thank you for being able to express this kid’s feelings!

Nearly 20,000!!!

Behind the Artwork

Wall of Hope with over 20,000 notesBusiness card note being hung after wall was full

ArtPrize visitors have added nearly 20,000 wishes and prayers to the Wall of Hope. With only two days left of the nineteen-day exhibition, my paper was completely gone. But that didn’t dissuade ArtPrize visitors.

When I left my gallery room on Friday evening, I knew my paper supply would be gone by morning. But when I arrived on Saturday morning, what I found astounded me. Several of my business cards were hanging on the wall. I stepped closer to look. A wish or a prayer was written on each card.

Determined visitors had found a way to add their wishes and prayers. Employing their own creativity, the visitors had poked holes through my cards with ornament hooks. Fifty of my business cards now hung on the Wall of Hope.

Thomas, an Amway Grand Plaza Hotel bellman, gave me a paper punch and additional pens. I spent the morning punching holes in the rest of my business cards. Without skipping a beat, visitors continued to hang the new cards.

Wing and a Prayer had taken a new flight path of its own. By combining a Wall of Hope with nearly 20,000 wishes and prayers and almost four thousand paper birds that swoop 32-feet across the ceiling, I thought I had created imagery that portrayed an overwhelming force of hope. But—spontaneously—ArtPrize visitors created an even greater message of hope.