COMPASSIONATE ARTS IN ACTION …
… uses compassion to bring awareness to mental health, environmental and social issues through the arts as a tool to educate, and to empower children, families and communities.
CURRENT CAMPAIGNS
HEALTH & WELLNESS
We create art, books, videos, and workshops using relaxing breathing, and imagination with visualization to help improve mental and physical health for kids, families and communities.
SUMMARY
This work includes 4-6 events a year and participation in collaborative efforts with groups like the San Diego Visual Arts Network, Mental Wellness for Artists (San Diego); CHILL Sacramento; Art and Healing (Dr. Jennifer Colby/Luna Gallery & Art Studio); Posts For Peace and Justice/The Arts on Purpose Atlanta; Art to Change the World, Minn.
COMPASSIONATE ARTS HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROJECTS INCLUDE:
- A 6-month Youth leaders Mental Health Series of panel discussions with therapists, medical and community adult mentors. Recorded online in entirely and with interviews
- Four Mental Health painted Posts on the topics of Depression/Loneliness; Anxiety/Worry; Autism/Connections to Health; Diversity/Affects on Mental Health. Partnership with: Compassionate San Diego, The CA Education Network, Compassionate California, POINT Interfaith and 100 participants on Zoom during COVID. (Partner: www.PostsForPeaceAndJustice.org) Videos on our Compassionate Arts YOUTUBE Channel
- The painted 8 foot Posts continue to be exhibited and part of our events and community partnerships. Videos continue to be recorded and uploaded on our Compassionate Arts in Action YouTube Channel and on our Wellness for Children Project Channel
- The Wellness for Children Project is a partnership with Kira Carrillo Corser’s videos, books and workshops to help children and families learn creative techniques and relaxing breathing for coping with stress and illness.
- UPCOMING! 8 Empowerment Posts sponsored by the CHEERS FOUNDATION, to bring awareness and improve the health of women and girls and a DreamPillow workshop for foster youth a partnership with CASA and supported by
ENVIRONMENTAL
We work in partnership, and often as a coalition, with communities and groups to bring awareness and healthy choices concerning environmental issues. Our artists have exhibited, performed, given university presentations, taught workshops and classes, and created mixed media installations in The California Center for the Arts and the Sunset Cultural Center, Marjorie Evans Gallery, CA.
OUR ACTIONS:
- Fragile Planet – Art, Music and Poetry Performances, audience participation activities, and presentations by Pulitzer Prize Journalist Jonathan Freedman. We continue to expand this ongoing project.
- Sea Changes: ACT – Protecting Our Oceans Through Art and Science, a collaborative project with scientists, artists and citizens concerned about changes destroying our oceans. We especially have focused on Climate Change, Plastic Pollution and other environmental issues affecting families and communities.
- When Black and Brown Go Green – Was a Compassionate Arts Campaign started by co-founder Fe Love. It is now continued separately by a team from Compassionate Arts led by Christ Welch, Heather Hillyard Bonds, Lora O’Connor and others.
- Climate Change/Mother Earth – is an evolving performance with community participation written and led by Compassionate Arts Leader Sylvia Holmes.
ABOUT US
OUR VISION: We build resilience, health and hope using art experiences and partnerships to communicate and educate compassionate solutions promoting wellness for humans and the environment.
WHAT WE DO: Compassionate Arts listens to the needs of clients and then coaches and consults on how the ARTS can aid in empowering and building leadership skills, while also mentoring youth. When divisive or complex situations occur, imagination is contagious and motivates action and interest. We work with civic leaders, educators, nonprofits and communities to design and produce meaningful events and projects, to bridge diverse voices for discussions that build Compassionate Cities/Counties/States and Nations.
WHO ARE WE: We are a collaborative group of artists, working with community and youth to design intergenerational creative projects to promote civic engagement, compassion, justice and equity.
Our collaborations can include: Consulting, coaching, research, planning events, recording stories, performance, visual art making and exhibitions. This collaborative combination does 3 things: (1) educates in innovative ways encouraging compassionate solutions (2) facilitates “compassionate conversations” to heal and reduce trauma and (3) builds empathy, resilience and hope.
HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT: We invite you to partner with us to sponsor, host, or volunteer. We want to support you in solving your needs. For example, we formed a partnership in Pasadena with Council-member Tyron Hampton and his office, bringing local “Compassionate Cops,” coming together with youth, a gang interventionist, drum circles, yoga studios, Flintridge Center, legal rights specialists, educators, policy makers, artists, and community leaders to help repair and heal their beautiful community.
CAIA often functions as a coalition. The following are a few people who have been very involved with Compassionate Arts in Action:
- Aldonia R. Bailey – Painter, Teacher, Musician, Poet
- Deanne Salleh – Artist, Coordinator
- Maria Kostelas – Musician, Author, Workshop leader
- Heather Hillard Bonds – Painter, Teacher, Singer, Poet
- Jean Wells – Writer, Artist
- Lisa Parsons – Artist, Musician, Teacher, Co-founder Posts for Peace & Justice
- Sylvia Holmes – Environmental Performance Artist, Activist
- Lora O’Connor – Compassionate Arts Youth Programs Coordinator
- Renee, Ted and Theo Scott-Femenella
- Tara King Haagen – Creative Strategist for Compassionate Arts
Compassionate Arts in Action Youth Ambassadors: Madison Ross, Alex Saltzman, Chris Welch, Johna Rivers, Marisa O’Connor Iglesias, London Ross, Daniela Cervantes, George Combs
UPDATES & ACTIONS
“Nourished” Spring Artist 2019 Side Street Projects
“Nourished” was inspired by “Our Garden of Dreams” Dominique Moody’s fall artist project and the themes that came out of our fall community survey. In “Our Garden of Dreams”, Dominique Moody created a mobile community garden to join SSP’s fleet of mobile classrooms...
Life Doesn’t Frighten Me
Fallbrook Library March Exhibition Titled Life Doesn't Frighten Me: Hope Inspired Through Art Life Doesn't Frighten Me, is an exhibition and book promoting conversations (through Art) about Life and Hope. Our first showing was in the Fallbrook Ca. Library from...
Compassionate Conversations in Minneapolis with Youth, Artists & Police
Compassionate ARTS in Action, in partnership with PostsForPeaceAndJustice.org (P4PJ), Art to Change the World (ACW) and South High School students, Minneapolis Police Officer Chard (who works at the school,) artists and teachers - all participated in a...
Proposed Video Production
This film is part of our plan for a documentary. It includes a sample of images from 3 of the communities participating in art, all striving to believe in the American Dream. (M.L.King Dream)
We are raising funds to complete INTERVIEWS AND EDITING with 3 diverse communities in California – INDIGENOUS WEAVERS FROM MEXICO NOW LIVING IN GREENFIELD; REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT KIDS LIVING IN EL CAJON AND FALLBROOK; AND BLACK YOUTH WITH LOS ANGELES POLICE, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS.
Using 6-8 foot vinyl posts made in workshops, “posted” in social media, and “hosted” in a variety of physical settings in an effort to raise awareness and stimulate thought and conversation leading to raising consciousness and taking action to resolve injustices. Posts are generally made as a collaborative effort with everyone adding something to the completion of the post. We encourage diversity in participants to embrace multiple perspectives and greater universal understanding of the issues. Every post has at least one professional artist who aids in development, design, application, final touches, and relaying principles of effective art techniques and principles. Posts generally will include powerful, inspirational quotes: informational, eye-opening facts: visual stories: meaningful symbols; hand-prints of those involved in making or supporting the ideas on the post. Lesson plans, workshop suggestions and templates, and educational videos will be available soon. If you would like to be involved please contact us!
In Memory Of …
It is with great sorrow and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Felecia Lenee Williams, affectionately known as Fe Love. She was a beautiful, compassionate activist, who touched the lives of everyone she met. Please keep the family in your prayers! … READ MORE …
Videos
Sacramento, State Conference “California Vision 2020 Youth Speak with Compassionate ARTS in the Culture Lab and on stage
Minneapolis, Minn. Art to Change the World, Compassionate ARTS, Police and South High School took part in art workshop, Compassionate Conversations with Police and students, and completed writing contest and an 8-foot painted post installed at the school on Safety and Justice.
Pasadena Compassionate ARTS in the Park with City Councilmember response to KNOW YOUR RIGHTS art workshop/yoga/compassionate conversations
CHECK US OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA
