Broken Wings: Legacy Journey

Behind the Artwork

Broken Wings No. 4 in progress

Broken Wings No. 4 – Legacy Journey

3 x 3 foot Mixed Media

A collaborative work with Breton and Raybrook Assisted Living Facilities and artist Pamela Alderman

A Monarch butterflies takes about five generations to migrate from Canada to Mexico and back again. Scientists believe the butterflies have some sort of internal mechanism that guides them tothe Sierra Madre Mountains in Mexico. Some butterflies even return to the exact fir trees as their ancestors—where they safely roost to survive the winter.

Like the butterflies, an internal moral compass exists within each of us. Grandparents can help strengthen that moral compass for the next generations—through a legacy of faith and hope. The following generations can learn to safely navigate life’s storms by following their example.

For Broken Wings No. 4, residents and staff were invited to write legacy words on marbled paper, handmade paper with colorful swirls of paint. Words that represent who they were and what they stood for. Words about their favorite memories, songs, family stories, or values. The participants wrote healing words for their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren to help guide them.

One resident talked about her difficult cancer journey as she picked up a pen. “After chemo therapy treatment, I couldn’t write at all for several months. But I was able to write on this butterfly!” Her emotional well-being took flight as this grandmother joyfully participated. After filling a couple of sheets of paper with precious words, she expressed deep gratitude for the chance to write her creative thoughts—a gift lost and then found again. Her bright smile and unwavering heart, reflected through a pen, helps align the moral compass for the next generation’s migration.

Contact Pamela to schedule your Interactive Event Art.

Broken Wings: Patterns of Resiliency

Behind the Artwork

Broken Wings No. 3 in progress

Broken Wings No. 3 – Patterns of Resiliency

3 x 3 foot Mixed Media

A collaborative work with Breton and Raybrook Assisted Living Facilities and artist Pamela Alderman

Monarch butterflies migrate from Canada to Mexico every autumn. Somehow, millions of delicate butterflies complete the dangerous 3,000-mile journey in spite of severe weather, pesticides, and habitat loss. Like the Monarch, the Greatest Generation has shown us how to push through many treacherous obstacles—such as World War II and the Great Depression—for survival.

Staff members, the artist, and this generation, known for their work ethic and resiliency, tediously painted 324 plexiglass tiles. But no one could imagine the outcome because the thin blue film protecting the front side of the tiles wouldn’t be removed until the last class. So, during this stage of the artistic journey, our mosaic butterfly painting was secretly developing within the creative chrysalis.

From the onset, we discussed the word “survivor.” One senior felt prompted to portray her World War II experiences on the two-inch tiles. She said, “The blue and green stripes on the first tile represents the Allies flying over the Netherlands. The second tile depicts the time after the war when we were allowed to fly the red, white, and blue Dutch flag again.” Her example demonstrates how hardships and stress can strengthen us.

When the final tiles were glued into place, the residents gathered to witness the emergence of our Monarch butterfly. Their excitement grew as they eagerly located the tiles they had personally painted. Collectively, we celebrated the Greatest Generation and produced an elegant butterfly, giving subsequent generations a flight pattern—of faith, resiliency, and hope—to weather life’s uncertainties.

Contact Pamela to schedule your Interactive Event Art.

Participatory Art for Grandparents

Behind the Artwork

Breton Woods and Raybrook residents participate in Broken Wings projects

The Breton Woods and Raybrook Assisted Living Facilities commissioned ArtPrize Top 20 artist Pamela Alderman to help guide residents through art engagement projects. For seven weeks under the direction Pamela, residents from all levels of care created six interactive healing pieces. The final work will be showcased during Holland Home’s Long-Term Care Week.

Breton Woods and Raybrook residents participate in Broken Wings projects

One resident’s son said this:

My mom had a great time in your art class. You truly encouraged and challenged her by helping her to be part of your art. Thanks for all you do for those with their own broken wings. Mark

Breton Woods and Raybrook residents participate in Broken Wings projects

Contact Pamela to schedule your Interactive Event Art.

Grandmother Was an Artist

From the Heart2 Comments

Example of grandmother's knitting

My elegant grandmother, the middle of ten children, was born in 1903. Her father had to clear the land in northern Michigan before he could farm. So, like others from her generation, she needed to quit school after the ninth grade to work the farm. Her favorite subject was math.

As a young adult known for her mouthwatering pies, she moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan to work as a cook for a doctor. At 30, she moved back home and married my grandfather, a small businessman, who owned a confectionery shop, ran a creamery delivery service, and worked as a barber. My grandmother skillfully sewed her clothes by hand and also worked on the side as a seamstress.

Years later after returning back to Grand Rapids, she started knitting mittens to sell at bazaars. These mittens were for a special purpose. Grandma sold them to help children needing mental health services. As a child, I remember seeing a kaleidoscope of colorful balls of yarn in her basket—while delicious smells wafted from her oven. Sometimes she had several knitting and crocheting projects in process. I loved running my fingers over her colorful floral afghans or delicate crochet stitches that swirled into amazing patterns.

While quietly creating these beautiful works, my grandmother often prayed for me. Her faithful prayers carried me through my tumultuous childhood and my parents’ subsequent divorce. Somehow my grandmother’s art and prayers bolstered my creative spirit. And like my grandmother, I later discovered my own artistic spark coupled with the desire to help others.

After being widowed for twenty years, my grandmother finally succumbed to breast cancer, but I still hold her memory dear. Her intricate textiles, artfully displayed in my home, remind me of an industrious woman who served others through the works of her hands. My grandmother was an artist, and her art brought warmth, love, and comfort to many in need.

Open Hands: Compassionate Action

Behind the Artwork

Open Hands line drawing with Create message

“How would you help heal our broken world?”

As an artist, I was delighted when one person responded to my question with the word “create.” This traveling art project purposes to start a movement of healing through interactive and collaborative art. To participate, individuals are invited to trace their hand on a piece of map and write a personal response to the question.

The map, representing our world, helped people to see their compassionate actions have the potential to affect many lives and make a global impact. I created Open Hands to inspire us to be a healing catalyst in our families, our communities—and our world. The redemptive work encourages personal application as a way to make a difference.

Open Hands line drawing with Caring message

A child nailed it when he wrote: “I would make everything peaceful.” I loved this simple response. An interactive art exercise turned into a child’s prayer.

Open Hands line drawing with Peaceful message

Another young man wrote “Caring” on his handprint. If this thoughtful response turned into action, it would transform our culture into one where we thrived and flourished. In other words, if all of us demonstrated a caring attitude to the people around us, even to those we disagree with, collective healing would flow from one hand to the next.

Open Hands is my peaceful and creative response to the culture war of shifting values raging within our nation. Every issue in our family or nation may not be resolved in the way that we would like. But together, if we choose to be a healing agent, we can make a difference by attempting to reconcile our broken relationships and fractured communities, demonstrating respect for those who think different from us, and restoring a culture of hope.

Where will Open Hands pop up next?

Follow us on Instagram to find out where and to help us reach our first goal of one thousand handprints for a future exhibit.

Open Hands—healing dialogue and compassionate action—one hand at a time.

Open Hands: Healing Dialogue Part 2

Behind the Artwork2 Comments

A young woman creating an Open Hands line drawing in NYC

Over the past year, I’ve been engaging people on the sidewalks from New York to San Francisco with this question: “How would you help heal our broken world?” Random people have been pausing to write well-thought-out answers on pieces of maps. Their unique responses, which included a tracing of their hand, have sparked the following interactions.

Woman creating her Open Hands line drawing with Patience message

A young woman, who had been watching me engage others, invited me to join her at a nearby sidewalk restaurant. After sitting down and ordering a salad, I explained the purpose of this traveling art called Open Hands. Enthusiastically, the woman picked up a Sharpie pen, traced her hand, and wrote her answer on a piece of map. A few moments later, the woman thanked me for the opportunity to participate. She said, “The art engagement has helped me to relax and feel good.” Then she left the restaurant, smiling.

German man creating an Open Hands line drawing

A German man creatively responded by writing these words—“love,” “respect,” “smile,” “nature,” and “kindness” on each finger in his drawing. I loved his artful expression—using each finger. What would be the result if all of us intentionally used each of our fingers to show compassion to a hurting world?

I really enjoy engaging people through collaborative art. Open Hands participants also appreciated a chance to voice their ideas; the art provided an opportunity for them to be heard.

Where will Open Hands pop up next?

Follow us on Instagram to find out where and to help us reach our first goal of one thousand handprints for a future exhibit.

Open Hands—healing dialogue and compassionate action—one hand at a time.

Open Hands: Healing Dialogue Part 1

Behind the Artwork

Open Hands line drawing with Teach message in NYC

While creatively traversing the country from New York to San Francisco, I’ve been asking random people on the streets or in coffee shops this question: “How would you help heal our broken world?” In response, individuals are invited to trace their hand on a piece of map, representing our world, and record their answer. This traveling art called Open Hands represents a commitment to start a movement of hope and healing in an age of culture wars—by taking personal action.

Many of the participants, while thinking about how to respond, want to talk about all kinds of interesting subjects like women’s rights, bullying, refugees, and sexting. The following vignettes are a sample of some of the Open Hands interactions.

Open Hands line drawing with Respect message

One woman shared her story of being bullied as a young teen. She described how an older male student pressured her into texting a nude image of herself. While tracing her hand, the woman shared the results from seeking peer approval in a risky way. The consequences of playing emotional “Russian Roulette”—when she pulled the trigger by tapping “send”—lasted for weeks as her image spread across the internet. As our conversation ended, the young woman wrote “Respect” on her handprint.

Open Hands line drawing with Kindness message

A student with a unique hand wrote “Kindness.” At first, I thought she had made a “Hang Loose” gesture and then traced her hand. But after catching a glimpse of her hand, I realized that most of her fingers were missing except for a thumb and a partial pinky finger. So, her drawing actually portrayed her own beautiful handprint. With the word “kindness” written across her tracing, the artwork communicated a profound message.

Open Hands has sparked many spontaneous discussions about important issues. Although we may not always agree on how to solve our culture’s challenging problems or personal dilemmas—this interactive art helps connect individuals through mutual understanding and respect—and facilitates healing.

Where will Open Hands pop up next?

Follow us on Instagram to find out where and to help us reach our first goal of one thousand handprints for a future exhibit.

Open Hands—healing dialogue and compassionate action—one hand at a time.