Spirits were high last Tuesday, July 8th as
members of the Bread of Life community propped a large white canvas up against the wall. Though for the moment it was blank, it would soon be covered with the beginnings of a beautiful mural. After six weeks of painting, the completed
mural will be hung in City Hall this fall. The project is being led by Houston based artists, Abbie Preston.

The first session started with a brainstorming
session. The BoL members huddled around an inspiration board filled with ideas people have written down for what they want the mural to communicate. Each phrase and thought written down centers around the main message of the mural:
the experiences of the homeless community.

The inspiration board contained words like “pain” and “help,” but it also had phrases like “new start” and “peace in
my heart.” After deliberating, the men and women picked up their paintbrushes and completed the background of the mural: a dark gray on the bottom that gets lighter towards the top. As the grays they painted got lighter and lighter, so did the mood of the room, and hopefully so will the hearts of everyone who sees
the final product.

Photos and Reflection by Josh Hundl (St. John's Downtown Summer Intern)

The Art Project class went to the Station Museum today! CALL IT STREET ART, CALL IT FINE ART, CALL IT WHAT YOU KNOW is the exhibition currently showing at the museum featuring several of Houston's talented artists. It is showing May 25, 2013 - August 25, 2013. To learn more information click the following link:
Station Museum

Monday, June 17, kicked off an 11-week mural project journey for TAPH Artists partners, Connect2Art Project and The Art Project, Houston a project of the Bread of Life.  

Since the project was founded in 2010, Connect2Art Project, founded by Sheri Hammonds, has engaged men and women who are homeless, near homeless or in life crisis situations in healing art programs. One of the goals of Connect2Art is to create a series of murals with homeless individuals for exhibition in public spaces.

Three murals have been created and exhibited at Houston’s City Hall in partnership with the Star of Hope's Transitional Living Center and the Men's Development Center. The fourth mural will be a collaborative effort with The Art Project, Houston a project of the Bread of Life.  For 11-weeks the artists will meet 2-hours each week to create this masterpiece as a team. A lead artist will work with homeless individuals to design and paint the mural expressing homelessness and its challenges. 

The mural program provides a nurturing environment for recipients, helping them to reconnect to their inner creativity and renew their optimism and faith in themselves and their community. Recipients expressed greater self awareness, increased self confidence and a stronger sense of self worth as they engage in small groups of eight to ten individuals to paint together under the skillful and compassionate guidance of their volunteer facilitators.
 
Here are some of the students’ comments after completion of one of their 8-week programs:

“I enjoy art because it clears my mind and it takes me to another zone. I’m able to express myself with the mind and soul.”

“Art has taught me to express myself and release frustration and anger in a healing way.”

 “The art class serves as a coping mechanism to help me deal with stress.  It also allows me to get in touch with my inner artist.” 

“I am very grateful for the class and I hope many others will benefit from it just as I have.”

The goal of creating these large murals is to increase public awareness about the plight of homeless people by exhibiting their artwork in public spaces.

Homeless students in this program learn important team building skills and the power of collaborating together toward a goal. The process begins with a discussion about what it is that the students would like to express, which leads to sketches and rough drafts of the mural. Under the guidance of a professional mural artist, students are then shown all the steps to complete the mural and make it a meaningful piece of art. Knowing that the mural will be placed in a public space gives students a great sense of purpose and accomplishment. 

The estimated date of completion of the mural with Bread of Life is August 30, 2013.  The mural will culminate with an installation at Houston City Hall, with members of City Hall staff in attendance at the unveiling.  
 
It is our great pleasure that we bring Houston this meaningful piece of art. We are excited about this partnership and look forward to sharing the art with The City of Houston this fall.

We cannot do this work with the support of people who are choosing to believe with us.
If you are interested in investing in this project with The Art Project, Houston that we may continue to empower our artists partners as the tranistion into a re-imagined life, you can do so by clicking 
                                                                              The Art Project, Houston

I  am originally from Los Angeles, California. I came to Houston in May of 2011, after marrying my then wife who was from Rhode Island. After suffering through 6 months of a tumultuous marriage where I endured both physical & emotional abuse, I finally just packed a few of my things and left on the 22nd of May 2012. This is how I became homeless.

How can I describe how survival on the streets is for someone who has never experienced this ordeal before? Life on the streets of Houston was literally Hell! No family to turn to, no friends to depend on, no knowledge of where anything is that will give you can get a HAND-UP and not a HAND-OUT. 

Everyday waking up to try to find some form of work to care for yourself while at the same time trying to find a secure place to hide your belongings, only to come back after spending all day searching for work to discover that your things were stolen by some other person who has a drug or alcohol addiction. My things were stolen on three different occasions since I’ve been on the streets, including having my identification & work credentials stolen the very first time my things were taken. This is what caused me to be on the streets for so long.

Even through all of that turmoil I’d have to say that the worst experience of life on the streets were the winter months. Having to sleep under bridges, in parks, or in the doorway of some building when it is cold or raining or both is the worst feeling ever. Even worst is to have someone who has a nice warm house to go to every night tell you, “don’t give up, it’s going to get better” yet they do nothing to help ease your condition. Its like being on fire and someone standing there with a bucket of water but not throwing it on you to dowse the flames.

I came upon the Bread of Life a few days after I first became homeless, and met Pastor Lanecia during one of the After Dark Art programs she was teaching that day. It was an art contest to paint something using the theme “HOPE”. I’d never held a paintbrush in my hand to create anything until that day and really didn’t want to participate, but she encouraged me to do so.

I ended up winning the contest with a painting that I titled “My Dad’s Not Missing”, and sold the painting at an art exhibit a few weeks later. That experience ignited a desire to create and I’ve since sold numerous paintings at other exhibits that Pastor Lanecia has taken me to. 

The Art Project, Houston was the stepping stone that I was searching for to help me get my life back on track. It gave me a safe and constructive way to vent the stresses and frustrations that life was weighing on my shoulders without me doing anything illegal that would get me into trouble with the law. Through The Art Project, Houston I was able to meet a number of influential people including, but not limited to, Reginald Adams (an artist and Co-Founder of the Museum Of Cultural Arts, Houston).

I have since gotten a job working at the Port of Houston as a roustabout, and an apartment on Houston’s Southeast side. I can honestly say that none of this would have been possible without my experiences and opportunities through TAPH. This is why it is very important for programs such as TAPH to continue to thrive. Because for every 3 people you run into on these streets full of games, there is one who is sincerely striving to make a way to live a better life…and that one is worth all the effort! 
When did you realize you were an artist?
I’ve been drawing with pencil since my youth, but I never realized I was a painter until Pastor Lanecia put a paintbrush in my hand.

Who or what inspires you? What motivates you to create?
Life!
I look at things as I go throughout my day and something gives me ideas about what to paint or create.

Why did you decide to partner with The Art Project, Houston?
The reason was twofold. It gave me a positive outlet to vent, and helped me out financially in a time when I really needed it.

What is the coolest art project you have worked on with TAPH?
That’s a tough one, because there are actually two projects that stand out to me. Working with TAPH & M.O.C.A.H. at the Starbucks convention last September, and working on the Mural project for the side of the Bread Of Life, again with M.O.C.A.H.

This past art class rotation included many unique workshops, powerful times of sharing, and delicious lunches.  The TAPH artist participants fully invested their talents and encouraged one another to explore new creative ideas.  I have seen the power of vulnerability about our struggles, as well as our rejoicing in our celebrations. 

The class began as a group of people and ended as a family.
Some of the common themes expressed in the student’s work included joy, love and life, possibility, and faith.  The class participated in multiple life-giving workshops including watercolor with Joe Synan, collage with Robert Hodge, adornments from recycled objects at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, and silk painting with guest artist Deb Gavron.  The artist participants described their experience as  “great, enriching, and magical”

Here are some quotes from the TAPH artist participants...

 “I thoroughly enjoyed the watercolor class. I was intimidated at first because I had never really painted before. Mr. Joe was very understanding.  He showed us different techniques.  He let us explore our own personal creativity.  After making several paintings I felt more comfortable about the creative process.  I really would like to do another watercolor workshop in the future.  I hope that others will appreciate my paintings but more importantly, I enjoyed the process and I loved my work!”
-K.B. (Watercolor Workshop with Joe Synan)

“Today has been a wonderful and blessed day for me.  A day of light and creativity. It felt so good as a therapeutic release. I just love this class. I am so excited about being in it. God has opened a new door for me! I had been praying for doors of opportunity to be opened, he did more than I asked! (Ephesians 3:20)  I am so blessed and encouraged by this church, and the path and journey I am on. Praise God. Everyday becomes better and more blessed.”
-P.J. (Watercolor Workshop with Joe Synan)

 “I enjoyed myself, it was my first time going and I thought it was going to be boring but I was amazed. I liked the cups exchange exhibit, that was neat. (Artist Michael Strand accepted “misfit cups” from visitors in exchange for his handmade cups as a part of his “Misfit Cup Liberation Project”)  I love that we came here and I loved making arts and crafts. I love my wind chime that I made.”
-A. (Visit to Houston Center for Contemporary Craft)

“The collage workshop was very revealing.  I was very intimidated by the large piece of paper.  I fought through the fear.  I had to overcome my own rigidity and resistance to trying new things.  I seemed to be more concerned about doing the project right than allowing the process to unfold naturally.  I felt that I used too many faces and words rather than images and symbols.  I felt like my collage screamed rather than evoking something subtle and thoughtful.  It was instructive in that it is a study in my own psychology and emotional life.  I feel less fearful about the process and all of the work to cut out and organize the images but it was rewarding.  I would definitely enjoy doing another collage class.  The next time I would be more relaxed and playful.  I would try to flow rather than force it.  I wouldn’t barrel through it like a rodeo bull but cascade over the page like water.  I would enjoy doing collage work again.” 
-K.B. (Collage Workshop with Robert Hodge)

 “I enjoyed meeting the instructor and hearing about her talent and experience working with silk colors/designs.”
- T.D. (Silk Painting Workshop with Deb Gavron)

Blog Reflection by Cynthia Javaras, Mission Year Intern with The Art Project, Houston

“Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of the soul” - Plato

The Art Project, Houston (TAPH) a project of the Bread of Life, Inc. provides a diversity of opportunities throughout the week for the men and women we serve through the After Dark Shelter to encounter art and tap into their creativity.

We believe that in these encounters people receive healing, joy and are empowered in ways that only creating and being supported in community can bring. Everyone deserves access to the beauty, inspiration and life that interacting with great art can bring, and we are dedicated to providing these encounters for the men and women we serve.

Thursday, September 27, at 6:30 pm, to celebrate the opening of there 25th Anniversary Season, Da Camera of Houston, led by Artistic and General Director, Sarah Rothenberg will brought a free performance to the men and women we serve at The Bread of Life. Sarah led the ensemble made up of three generations of artists, including an artist who performed on Da Camera's first season and several of his current and former students. 

They performed J.S. Bach's Keyboard Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, BWV 1052.  This was a great introduction to classical music for any listener, as well as a wonderful concert for classical music lovers.  In appreciation of the work that the Bread of Life does for the city of Houston, the musicians agreed to donate their services for this performance. 

It was a beautiful!  Over 100 men and women being served dinner by the Bread of Life filled the sanctuary of St. John's Downtown for the concert. The concert was a total of 20-minutes and after each piece the community affirmed the art and asked for an "encoure!"  Throughout the show you could feel a since of peace and aliveness with each beautiful note played.  The music was soothing and offered hope, as Da Camera of Houston offered our community their best.  

Below are a few quotes from attendees as they exited the concert:

"I have always wanted to go to a symphony. Ever since I was a kid. There is probably nothing like being in a symphony hall, but it was so good to finally hear some of a symphony." 

"Thank you. That was really nice, really nice."  (big smile on her face)

"Thank you. That was off the hook! It was medicine. Thank you."

We exist within the Bread of Life, Inc. to provide art encounters and experiences that facilitate the mental healing and empowerment of men and women of the downtown Houston homeless community. We are thankful for artists and organizations in the community who join us in living out this mission.  We hope, with Da Camera of Houston, that last night was the first collaboration of many.

During our training week for Mission year we had the privilege of
hearing from Lanecia about her personal story and how The Art Project Houston
(TAPH) came to life.  I instantly was thrilled to have the opportunity to serve alongside an amazing staff with a vision to empower the homeless community through the arts!  

My first week included meeting new people, organizing supplies, preparing for the Prescription: Paint 2012 event, and visiting the Museum of Contemporary Craft Houston.  I enjoyed spending time with the art students and seeing them come to life during studio time, classes, and our visit to the art museum.  During our visit, we experienced the artwork and interacted with the artists within their own studio setting.  

Upon returning to the Bread of Life, the students engaged in a profound discussion on the artwork they saw and how the pieces inspired them in their own work. A class favorite seemed to be a series of threaded composition notebooks because of the creativity and the length of time needed to complete them (over 10 years).  To me the notebooks displayed in the art museum showed the incredible power of someone’s life story. The staff team here is dedicated to restoring the value of everyone’s story through meeting their felt, spiritual, emotional, and
creative needs.  In these past few days, I have experienced how this place truly is the Bread of Life.

Prescription: Paint 2012 is an interactive paint party FUNdraiser of the Bread of Life, Inc. to support our therapeutic art and empowerment program, The Art Project, Houston.  It will be a memorable morning filled with food, fun and creative expression.

Come dressed to create and leave with your own masterpiece!

Become a Prescription: Paint 2012 Sponsor or Purchase Your Ticket today.

Thanks in advance for your support.