A few weeks ago, Malichia joined a group of artists from "The Art Project, Houston" a project of the Bread of Life, on a visit to MOCHA studios. He was inspired by the three-dimensional art that filled the space and returned to the art studio at the Bread of Life, Inc. ready to create some three-dimensional art pieces.  He has created a number of pieces since that visit. Some he has gifted to people in his community and others he has offered to be exhibited in upcoming shows for The Art Project, Houston. 

One of his first three-dimensional creations is a spectacular piece titled, "Sunset Over the Sea." He created it out of reused and found objects he collected as he walked the streets of Houston. "Sunset Over the Sea" was first exhibited at Cups for Change, and was purchased this past weekend at ArtFest 2012.  It was an exciting moment for Malichia and TAPH team.

When the studio doors opened today, one of "The Art Project, Houston" participants walked through the door with a surprise cake of support and love for the new joy Malichia has found in the medium of three-dimensional mixed media art. Needless to say the room was filled with many smiles and lots of joy feasting on this treat.

Friday and Saturday (September 14 & 15) The Art Project, Houston (TAPH) a project of the Bread of Life, Inc. participated in ArtFest 2012 at John Wesley UMC. We exhibited a number of pieces of art created by participants from the Bread of Life, as well as clay Bread of Life coasters created & donated by the youth of Faithbridge UMC who volunteered at the Bread of Life, Inc. over the summer. It was a great show and opportunity to share with another Houston community The Art Project, Houston story and have fun in the process.

We celebrate with all of the TAPH artists who had work exhibited at ArtFest 2012. The work was beautiful and was affirmed by many who stopped by to view. We want to congratulate Larry and Malichia who both had art pieces purchased at the show. 

We look forward to our next exhibition during the month of October at The Doshi House in Third Ward (3419 Dowling Street, Houston, Texas 77004). We will be exhibiting and selling a number of charcoal art expressions created by TAPH participants and artist friends of The Art Project, Houston.

Online gallery of the art created by participants in The Art Project, Houston coming soon. 
If you are interested in having The Art Project, Houston participate in an art show or exhibition you are hosting, please contact Lanecia Rouse, Project Manager, at:
lrouse@breadoflifeinc.org
713-659-3237

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Together WE will make a difference!

We have started another class rotation of pottery at the Bread of Life. The class has started a bit slow, but it never ceases to amaze me how many people began to walk over to see what we are doing. I hear so many responses. Many are waiting for an invitation to come and make a cup, quickly jumping at the opportunity once asked. Some look as though they have gone back to their days in elementary school, when creating a crooked pot was highest priority. Others are reluctant to begin the process, exclaiming, “I don’t know how,” but with a little encouragement they begin to feel the dirt between their fingers and a smile emerges.

Within the past few years of working with clay, I have seen how this medium is able to bring people together. I believe this is one of the reasons I love working with it so much. From my experience, there is usually a story that goes along with pottery making. Whether it was done as a child in school, watching a grandmother throw on the wheel, or simply having a favorite mug to drink a hot beverage from, clay is able to translate well to all walks of life.

Working with students at TAPH this year I have seen this become an important part of what we do. We want to be a place of creativity for those to come, whatever place they may be in their life and find purpose, to find healing. Through this hands-on-experience, students are able to put their hands to the clay and make something from beginning to end. Today we rarely get to see and enjoy the whole process. When asked to one of the students what their favorite part of making the cups was, she replied, “It’s in the process, the making of the whole cup.” What satisfaction to stand back and know that the cup sitting on your table would not have existed if you had not created it.

Abbie Preston
Is the newest member of the Bread of Life, Inc. staff working with The Art Project, Houston
Abbie served with the Bread of Life as a Mission Year Intern from September 2011-July 2012. After her year of service she decided to come back and join the team.
Abbie graduated from Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia in December 2009 with a studio art degree concentrating in ceramics, drawing and painting.  She has been working with clay for the past four years while in school and then moving to Atlanta to teach and serve as an artist in residence at Mudfire Clayworks.
www.abbiepreston.com

The After Dark Art Paint Contest for August 20-23, concluded last night with one 1st Place winner and four 2nd Place winners! The theme for the week was "Expressions of JOY". Five pieces were selected out of 28 entries for guest of the Bread of Life After Dark Shelter to vote for their favorite.

Though one piece received the most votes, all of the art was affirmed by the community. Many of the guest said to Lanecia Rouse, the Project Manager of TAPH, that all five artists were winners and should receive a prize.

So listening to the community, all of the artists in the top five entries received affirmation for their work and received a price. When it was announced we had one 1st Place winner and that the other artists would also receive a prize for their entries, the Bread of Life was filled with claps and cheers of affirmation.  Joy filled the room along with the beautiful cardboard art that had been created during the week.

Life changing, life giving...ART used in therapeutic measures! This is what The Art Project Houston Class is all about. No one leaves this class the way they come in, myself included.  It has been over a year now and to see so many lives changed, so much life given, so many relationships made, so many hearts healed.  I feel honored to be the teacher of this really wonderful experience. We are all healing together, together as friends, companions on the way.  

Art used in therapeutic ways includes colors, pastels, self-portraits, paints, prayer bead making, affirmations, filling sketchbooks with many different self creations, creating "safe places" with art, or just having some fun creating whatever we feel like that day! Writing what we call our "morning pages" always in the presence of silence with beautiful instrumental music filling the room. I would have to say what this class experiences each time we meet is peace and gain the tools necessary to keep this peace.   

I'm a very grateful teacher. I share this wonderful experience with a wonderful friend and also teacher in our class, Roz Grimes. May we all work together in bringing the fullness of art into people's lives, into all our lives.                                       

By: Marie Noack
Marie is the The Art Project, Houston (TAPH ) Art Project class instructor. Since our first rotation in May 2011, Marie has led TAPH student artists through an experience of affirmation and tapping into their creativity.