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)

Mr. Yates was one of the participants at our first Get Creative with TAPH on February 22. He has been apart of The Art Project, Houston since October 2013.  We invited him to write a reflection about his experience with The Art Project, Houston and Get Creative with TAPH. 
Here is his reflection...

Saturday, the 22nd of February 2014, I was fortunate enough to attend 2 classes of The Art Project at St. John's Church Downtown from 10am until 2pm.  These workshops were taught by 2 brilliant local creative artist.  This experience opened my mind up to the reality that there are numerous things in this life I can attempt to learn.  If no more than the principles or theories of how things operate. (How did they do that.)

The participating hands on in the creative work process show me that if, I focused my mental abilities in a structured and controlled environment my potential is unlimited. There is always a different angle to look at what you are going through.  I learned that God is healing me and it is a process. 

The Art Project has been a stabilizing factor in my life. I am coming out of homelessness. These workshops have allowed me to maintain my sanity through its various creative projects. This was exactly what I needed at this stage in my life. 

The Art Project and St. John's Church has exposed my mind to a whole new world out there.

Rutherford Yates, TAPH Artist Partner & Participant 


For registration details for our next Get Creative with TAPH CLICK HERE.

Ask me a question and I’ll have to think for just a moment to find the proper words to answer your inquiry. Place an art media before me and my thoughts and my hands will immediately begin to work to create something…taking me to another place. 

The Art Project, Houston allows me that space and guidance to come together with like energies to explore…and it gives me life. I love it when I have one vision of how the piece is to come out, I make a mistake and it turns out to be the best imperfection that makes the piece unique…such as life.  And to watch the process of other masterpieces in the making is inspiring and life giving in itself.  It feeds my spirit.

Amanda Emmons was 1 of 31 participants at our first Get Creative with The Art Project, Houston day on Saturday, February 22. Get Creative with TAPH was a day of creative workshops offered by professional Houston based artists, helping each participant tap into their creativity, learn new art practices and create masterpieces to take with them. Each participant got to select 2 out of 6 workshops offered for their donation.  
Our next Get Creative with TAPH will be held on Saturday, May 2 (10am-2pm) at St. John's Downtown. Hope to see you then! For registration details click HERE.

Art has a number of therapeutic benefits. Here are a list of the benefits provided by Joan French MA NCC LCPC

As part of my offerings – I include Art Therapy. Many clients I encounter haven’t heard of it, and are unfamiliar as to how it might be able to help. I felt it was important to highlight the benefits of using art in therapy, so I’ve composed this, ‘Art Therapy – Top 10 Benefits’ list:

1. Art Therapy can provide a forum to express strengths and genuineness.
2. Through viewing one’s own creation – one can improve the skill of self-observation.
3. What cannot be said with words – may be more easily expressed through the art.
4. Metaphors and stories emerge through the art – which can provide a ‘voice’ for material which may be difficult to express.
5. Art Therapy is active & physical, fun, and stimulating.
6. Emotions and art are closely connected; making art can aid in uplifting one’s mood.
7. Making art activates the whole brain and can foster integration of emotional, cognitive, and sensory processes.
8. Emerging and recurrent symbols expressed in the art can help to make unconscious material conscious.
9. Art can make the hidden – visible in an external & tangible way.
10. Art making provides an experience which is stress & anxiety reducing, relaxing, and decreases worry.

If you are interested in finding out more information about Art Therapy, please visit these websites: American Art Therapy Association and Art Therapy Blog.

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

Join us in Celebrating!

Four members of The Art Project, Houston community:

Kelly Brown, TAPH Artist Partner
Gary Jackson, TAPH Artist Partner and The Path to Freedom Ministry Member
Rosalyn Grimes, TAPH Volunteer
Lanecia A. Rouse , TAPH Project Manager

have writings and photography published in the July/August 2013 of Alive Now Magazine on Creativity!

Get your copy today at: http://alivenow.upperroom.org/

“I love watercolor class.  
I just love it!  
Today I made paintings.  I made art badly but bravely.  I wasn’t in love with the pictures but I didn’t give up on the process.  I am so thankful for Mr. Joe’s instruction, compassion, motivation, and encouragement. He taught me that you don’t reject and stop loving your child (your painting/ your creation) just because your child (your painting/your creation) is ugly! You love all of your children (your paintings) unconditionally.  At some point, you will look upon them and find the beauty in them.  You learn to keep painting as your skills develop and evolve! 
Keep on painting!”

-Kelly B., TAPH Artist Partner
Kelly will have a piece on Creativity published in the July/August Issue of Alive Now (www.alivenow.upperroom.org). Alive Now is an Upper Room Ministries Publication.