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.

Interactive School Programs

General

School program with Open Hands project

Open Hands, a PowerPoint presentation with an interactive follow-up exercise, challenges students to make positive choices and rethink their responsibilities as global citizens. During the presentation, students learn about a fictional refugee character named Babette. Babette’s social status changes, after working years without pay, when she wins the lottery. Instead of choosing a new life of luxury, Babette gives away the entire jackpot to her community through the gift of hospitality.

Babette’s example gives students a chance to consider how they can share their resources with others. Following the presentation, students engage in a collaborative art project responding to this question: How can you help fix our broken world?

Contact Pamela to schedule your Interactive School Program.

Open Hands—inviting open dialogue and healing action—one hand at a time

Open Hands Invitation

General

Open Hands drawings

Do you know the fictional story “Babette’s Feast” by Isak Dinesen? Babette, once a famous chef, is a refugee, who escapes the French civil war and resettles in Norway. For the next twelve years, she cooks for two devoutly religious sisters—without pay. One day, Babette’s financial position changes, so she decides to prepare a lavish feast for the sisters and their neighbors. Overwhelmed by Babette’s generous hospitality, the meal helps heal the broken community.

Like Babette, what is one way you could sacrifice for another? To symbolize giving to others, trace your hand on a piece of paper. Then jot a note or a single word on how you can specifically become a healing agent in your broken family or fractured community.

Open Hands—inviting open dialogue and healing action—one hand at a time

Pop Up Art on the Golden Gate

Behind the Artwork

Pamela's Open Hands project on the Golden Gate Bridge

Where in the world is Open Hands now? While creatively traversing the country, we’ve been randomly engaging people on the streets with this question: “How would you help heal our broken world?”

Self Care Open Hands drawingOpen Hands, inspired by Babette’s Feast on stage, first debuted on the streets of New York City in March of 2018. This mobile work continued in Denver area schools and, then in 2019, the spontaneous work showed up on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

Where will Open Hands pop up next? Follow us on Instagram to find out and help us reach our first goal of one thousand handprints. Imagine the potential of this healing work; each response turned into action could transform a culture that thrives and flourishes.

Open Hands—inviting open dialogue and healing action—one hand at a time

Artist Journal: Time for Creative Rest

From the Heart8 Comments

Snow covered mountain cabin retreat

Over the last decade after creating large healing art installations for ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, Michigan, serving tens of thousands of visitors, managing around fifty volunteers a year, figuring out how to financially sustain my art business, struggling to secure a venue to host my work, and buying over 335,000 interactive supplies for the ArtPrize audience, I needed time for solitude and creative rest.

The whole idea started while meeting a new friend for coffee at Union Station in Denver. While discussing all my exciting adventures in helping tons of people experience healing art over the last ten years, my friend, Laurie, simply said, “Pamela, I think you need to take time for rest and recharging.”

I admit I was tired. In fact, I was worn thin. I had worked really hard for a decade. For an artist, the creative journey is often uphill. I’m not whining here; I’m just making a statement about the typical artist’s way.

Laurie proceeded to offer me a week of solitude at her guest cabin on her ranch in the mountains. Wow! How could I turn down such an unusual and generous gift?!

So, this January with great anticipation, I packed my heavy snow clothes, boots with Yaktrax, journal, pens, and a few carefully selected books—and headed west. Before reaching Denver, I had arranged rides to my mountain retreat and back. Of course, my week of solitude was carless. I mean Ernest Shackleton didn’t have a car on his arctic expedition, right?

After driving into the mountains, a quaint, snow-covered cabin, my home for the next several days, came into view. Then a new and unexpected feeling prickled through me: anxiety. A week…alone and carless? I almost started crying as I watched my ride disappear back down the slope. But the discomfort passed within a few moments when I sat down to plan my schedule—and unplugged from social media.

Here’s a quick glimpse at my week: Life becomes very simple with no car and no Internet.

Day One: Put away my paintbrushes for a bit and fell back into the deep snow to stare at the big blue sky.

Day Two: Made a gratitude list.

Day Three: Watched a herd of elk disappear over the ridge and went snowshoeing later in the day—following the elk tracks.

Day Four: Read and reflected.

Day Five: Set goals and evaluated my art direction.

Day Six: Packed my suitcase and headed back to Denver with a renewed spirit—ready to create new art!

Elk, snowshoes, and tracks

My friend had given me a valuable spiritual retreat. Although art had opened the door for many exciting adventures and many special new friends, I had needed something else. I had needed rest. As I headed back down to routine and busyness, I whispered a prayer of thanksgiving.