Stories

Collaborative Art: Learning by Doing

“I’m in an artistic rut. I’d like to do something different, Wendy,” exclaimed Jason. “I don’t have a vision, I just want to do something different.” “You don’t have to start with a clear vision, Jason. Most artists don’t,” Wendy suggested. “Perhaps you could hold off on drawing lines. How about painting a background today? The line work could come later. That would be different for you.” Continue reading Collaborative Art: Learning by Doing

Freedom Through Flight

Actor and Activist Christopher Reeve (a.k.a., Superman) died on October 10, 2004. Harry Grimm rolled into the studio two days later and said, “Superman died. Superman died.” He was inspired to draw a picture of Superman surrounded by his wife and two children. Harry first positioned Superman in a wheelchair, and proudly showed the scene to other artists and sadly exclaimed time and again, “Superman died.” Continue reading Freedom Through Flight

Passion Works

No doubt influenced by public conversations about the death of former President Reagan, Harry Grimm was inspired to draw a picture of Ronald and Nancy, holding hands and holding a jump rope that also connected them. In the corner of the drawing was the presidential desk. The top left corner of the drawing remained sparse. Wendy, a staff artist asked Harry if he wanted to draw a sky and clouds in the corner. He said no. He told Wendy and Deb what he wanted to draw – they didnít understand him at first. Continue reading Passion Works

Collaborative Art: Cultivating Connections Between Self and Other

On the floor of Siegfried Hall, six monk-artists from the Drepung Gomang Monastery were kneeled on pillows and working on a “Medicine Buddha Mandala for Healing,” a painting made from sand and soulfulness. “Teach me, teach me,” exclaimed Harry, an artist from Passion Works. A few minutes later, Tenzin, a bi-lingual resident artist of Drepung, translated an invitation from the Monks for Harry and David to participate in the craft of sand art. “See what happens, Harry, when you ask to learn something — magic“… Continue reading Collaborative Art: Cultivating Connections Between Self and Other