Volume 4 Issue 2 March 2012

“Building a Healthier Community through Personal and Professional Example” Peer Recovery Art Project is our continuous campaign to end stigma, revitalize downtown areas, while implementing new strategies for an all-inclusive and, therefore, healthier community.

peerrecoveryart@yahoo.com www.peerrecoveryartproject.org

Home of the Arts for Freedom program

Renaissance

EXECUTIVE OFFICER NOTES

Thank you all for the warm welcome to downtown Modesto’s vibrant art scene! Peer Recovery Art Project, home of the Arts for Freedom program and gallery, recently opened in our newly remodeled 1222 J Street location. Lots of good people are dropping by to check us out, see the art, or just say kind words to us for the learning project we have embarked upon.

A very innovative idea? Yes, to say the least. Our organization has won both local and national awards for mentoring people of all ages in a variety of ways and for our intensive community outreach. Art is such a basic necessity for everyone in Stanislaus County, from poor to elite, and for the very young as well as those of us in that rapidly growing segment of our community’s “aging” population.

How do you measure Innovation? What if we, like many art organizations, simply say artists themselves are the innovators and the artworks, the artists’ creations, are the measurement? Not so easy since artwork is defined much like beauty which, as they say, “is in the eye of the beholder.”

We believe there are three questions to answer in order to justify our existence and to keep Peer Recovery Art Project fiscally responsive to its funders. Question one: How much do we do? Question two: How well do we do it? Finally, the one we are most interested in, Question three: Is anyone better off?

Peer Recovery Art Project’s Arts for Freedom program, our partners now and partners to come believe we can paint a clear picture that will answer those three pertinent questions. Please join us in this effort. Drop by with any comments or suggestions. Hope to see you there! ~ John Black, CEO

Our community already has the resources we need for change. We are rich in our beliefs and we are overstocked in our ability to be cre-ative and, last but not least, we are overflow-ing with people of all ages, from many ethnic backgrounds, a vari-ety of sexual identities, economically diverse

beautiful folk who, despite our current situations, know we can bring about the changes we want to see. Good news and bad news! The good news is there is a solu-tion to our community problems. The bad news is that together we are it! So let’s hang out!

DEDICATION TO DERRICK IVEY

On Friday, February 24, Derrick Ivey’s parents and older brother joined staff in a private memorial and dedication of the gallery’s Social and Meditation lobby area. The family donated several of Derrick’s works to be hung in the gallery and was presented with a thank you plaque.

peerrecoveryart@yahoo.com www.peerrecoveryartproject.org

Peer Recovery Art Project Renaissance

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Cesar Chavez Day Celebration will take place Friday, March 30, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call to Artists to show. 10 a.m. set up between I & J on 12th Street. Contest for best Cesar Chavez themed art work. Call or text Peer Recovery Art Project at 209 581-1695

This event is open to the public, so come on down!

CALL TO ARTISTS TO SHOW AT CESAR CHAVEZ DAY CELEBRATION

Pictured above, members of Modesto Artists Meetup who conducted their February 15 meeting at the Arts for Free-dom Gallery.

ArtOne of the causes of social exclusion and discrimination associated with mental illnesses is a misperception that people who have mental illnesses lack the same interests and abilities as everyone else. Art, including the visual and performing arts, can be a powerful force in correcting this misperception. Using music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, theater, and more, people with mental illnesses can demonstrate their creativity, insightfulness and intelligence. Through art, they send the message that “I work, live, and play, just like you” which can lead individuals to question and ultimately reject stigmatizing myths. Also, the confidence-building and peer support that can be found in arts programs can be powerful forces in recovery from mental illnesses.

The Web page http://promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/topic/art/default.aspx provides information and research about how the arts help to address mental health issues, promote recovery from mental illnesses, and increase social inclusion and reduce discrimination.

peerrecoveryart@yahoo.com www.peerrecoveryartproject.org

March 2012

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Arts for Freedom is sponsored by Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors and Stanislaus Behavioral Health and Recovery Services

Peer Recovery Art Project, home of the ARTS FOR FREEDOM GALLERY is located at:

1222 J Street, Modesto CA

Email, call or text:

Peerrecoveryart@yahoo.com

(209) 581-1695

Open Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; 3rd Thursday Art Walk nights, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Find us at the intersection of 13th and J Streets between the State Theatre and Crow Trading; right next door to the Camera Center.

WOMEN IN THE ARTS FOR HEALTHY HEARTSFebruary’s 3rd Thursday Art Walk was also a celebration of American Heart Association’s Healthy Heart Month. Twenty-four different artists displayed their work at Barkin’ Dog Grill and the Arts for Freedom gallery. Shown here are handmade fabric design pieces exhibited by (left) Barbara Bixby, (center) Debra Delash, and (right) Danielle Tamez. Insert, below right, Linda Hornsby-Black and Monica Silva, pleased with the exhibits.

THANK YOU!

Peer Recovery Art Project sincerely thanks Jordi Camps of Picasso’s Art & Deli for the beautifully painted desktop and his dedicated support of our program! Below is one of Jordi’s paintings, on dis-play in the Arts for Freedom gallery.

Portraits of the Artists: A Qualitative Study of Art-ists with Mental Illness is a recent study that looks at art-ists’ own perceptions of what motivates them to do art. The study was conducted with nine of thirty-one consumer art-ists who had participated in a statewide art exhibit (1990) at Boston University. Questions asked included, “What moti-vates you to create art?” and, “What are your creative pro-cesses?” The findings indicat-ed artists created art because it was healing and brought them closer to wellness. It did not show that mental illness drove artists to do their work, but rather art became a means of communication that gave them a sense of well-being. (from Reaching Across the Arts, a Self-Help Manual for Mental Health Consumers)

peerrecoveryart@yahoo.com www.peerrecoveryartproject.org

Peer Recovery Art Project Renaissance

PEER RECOVERY ART PROJECT, INC.EXECUTIVE BOARD AND TEAM MEMBERS

John Black, CEO, Arts for Freedom Administrator,Operations Manager

Ken McCall, Chief Financial OfficerPacific Media Group

Carol Jo Hargreaves, Corporate Secretary, Editor

Jodi McClure, Bookkeeper

Team Members:Michael Anderson, Art Director

Betty Barnes, Arts for Freedom Program Coordinator, Fundraising, Special Projects

Linda Hornsby-Black, Special Projects, CEO’s Assistant Omer Njajou, Statistical Support

Keena Wells, Artist

Send your TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS to:Peer Recovery Art Project Incorporated

PO Box 5354, Modesto, CA 95352Drop us a line or send your request to be

included on our list of supporters.

1209 McHenry AveModesto, CA(209) 522-1003www.skipsmusic.com

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SPONSOR A VISUAL ARTIST

The Arts for Freedom Program’s first fundraiser was kicked off February 24, 2012, to benefit 48 local artists. This project encourages friends, fam-ily and community members to sponsor a known artist or an artist whose name is selected from the fundraising bulletin board, at the 1222 J Street gal-lery in Modesto.

There are four age groups of artists you may spon-sor: Child/Youth (ages 1-13), Youth (ages 14-22), Adult (ages 23-58), and Older Adult (age 59 & up).

The artist will receive an art tote bag, art supplies to complete their artwork and display materials needed for hanging in the gallery.

Donations may be made in the form of a gift card at a local art supply business for supplies or at a hardware store for framing, or, if more convenient, in cash with which the gallery Fundraising Com-mittee will purchase the chosen artist’s art sup-plies. All donations must be submitted by Satur-day, March 31.

Each artist will be required to complete their art-work by Thursday, May 31, and return it to the Peer Recovery Art Project Arts for Freedom Gallery by Saturday, June 2. The artwork will be displayed in the gallery throughout the month of June. Each artist may choose to keep or sell their artwork.

Estimated cost per artist: $25 per artwork and $25 maximum for framing. More than one person may sponsor the same artist, donating as little as $5.

We invite you to join Peer Recovery Art Project’s campaign to end stigma, revitalize downtown ar-eas, and create an all-inclusive and healthier com-munity by making a tax-deductible donation to this fundraiser. If you have any questions or need more information, stop by and visit the Arts for Freedom gallery, or call or e-mail us at peerrecoveryart@yahoo.com. Thank you for your participation and support!!