April Art Exhibit...a success!

   Well the N.A.M.I  Art Exhibit and Reception last night was a tremendous success! Nearly two dozen artists exhibited some amazing work.   Exhibitors included painters, musicians, poets, crafters etc. To realize that many of these individuals struggle with  debilitating mental illnesses and still create is a testament to courage. Besides the symptoms of the illnesses causing challenges to daily living there are medication side effects that can play havoc and interrupt planned activities.
   The featured speaker was Dr. Frederick Frese a practitioner and advocate who also struggles with Schizophrenia. Dr. Frese was inspiring and funny.He encouraged fellow consumers, "We are different not deficient."
 Thank you to all who attended, supported and exhibited and thanks to the local N.A.M.I Affiliate of Delaware/Morrow Counties for your work hosting this event that continues to become more popular.   The butterfly painting in the photo below, was framed and presented to Dr. Frese in appreciation for his advocacy and support to our local N.A.M.I. His wife, Penny, on her way out the door later, took time to thank and assure me she had already selected a prominent place in her home to display the painting. I hope to post more photos of the evening activities as I receive them.
 

Art Exhibit in Delaware, Ohio

 The Art Exhibit on November 4th was well received. Thank you to all who visited and purchased art. It was really nice to see all of you. It was so confirming to realize that other people also enjoy what I have created.

The live musicians and entertainment was an enjoyable part  of the evening as well. Thank you to

 Lyn St. Clair of the Delaware Artist Showcase for hosting this beautiful cultural event.

 Read what others have said about JoEllen's Art Prints

 "Dear JoEllen......I am a counselor in Michigan and am doing a women's workshop in a couple weeks hoping to help women heal from woundedness, and was wondering if you would give me permission to use your drawing "Cocoon1" in powerpoint for my presentation? I am interested in your other art, also."


 Greetings of Peace.
I would like to ask permission to use "God's Comfort in Human Pain" as part of the instructional materials that I will use in a seminar-workshop on Handling Trauma in the Religious Formation Setting.

I am from the Philippines (Asia) and have been doing both formation work with the religous congregations and trauma work as a volunteer counselor. I am in the process of collecting materials which will be helpful for trauma survivor-formands using a holistic aproach, i.e., integrating the body-mind-spirit aspects in healing.

Thank you very much. I look forward to your positive response.
Sincerely yours,
----CARMEL

"I wanted to write to you and tell you how much we love your artwork  I was having a 'down' morning, and I went searching for some positive things on the Internet to give me a lift.  I found the art gallery  and saw the one called "Cocoon" (with the child cradled in hands). It is so gorgeous. I wanted to tell you that just seeing it helped me feel safer this morning.Thank you for sharing your gifts. You are very talented. When something like this touches me, I always want to let the person know about it. Thanks so much.

Peace and Happiness,
--"D" (name withheld for privacy)

Releasing the Pain

Releasing the Pain
http://www.cocooncreationsgallery-joellen.blogspot.com/

 This is my mixed-media piece, "Releasing the Pain".  The three figures represent the evolution of a person  through a painful experience. The first blue figure curled at the bottom is sad/blue. Her face is
hidden by a broken heart. The second red figure is able to express warm compassion toward her broken self and embrace the pain. Her face is no longer covered by a broken heart. The third yellow figure represents  lightness and freedom in releasing her pain. Her pain no longer defines her. All three figures have emerged from darkness as seen by the black background. This painting represents hope through pain, which seems to be a recurring theme expressed in my art.