Healing Hands - Press Release

I’d like to introduce you to an interesting art project that I was involved in just a few months ago. This is the press release that I sent out to the local newspapers… and I’m glad I did! I’ll share that story and photos from the event – next time…. This is already enuf for you to read!

HEALING HANDS
London Community Art Project

Press Release

Canadian artist Jim Kogelheide has always believed that it is the responsibility of artists to contribute to their local community in positive and creative ways. For over ten years Kogelheide has been doing just that, with donations of original art works hanging in schools, hospitals and libraries in Nova Scotia, Manitoba, British Columbia, Nunavut and, of course, here in London, Ontario. Last year, Kogelheide donated an original acrylic canvas depicting a scene inspired by the Temagami forestlands found in Northern Ontario, to the London Health Science Centre’s annual Country Classic Auction. This year, he has rather large plans for creating a brand new art work for the 2008 fundraising auction.

The canvas for the ‘Healing Hands’ project is actually a hollow core, slab door measuring over 3’-0” x 6’-0” in length. The image is of the Earth in space, surrounded by the bright lights of the aurora borealis. There are three children’s silhouettes reaching upwards as they lay their healing hands on the Earth.

The texture used for applying the paint is in the form of handprints. Kogelheide is asking London residents to help with this endeavour with a donation of ten minutes time to paint their healing hand on the canvas. Children with supervision are more than encouraged to participate!!!

The inspiration behind this project is to allow anyone and everyone the opportunity to participate in a small and creative way to a larger ideal.

Healing Hands has already received support from the London Arts Council; who granted funding for the materials and Kogelheide’s preparation time and the Covent Garden Market; who is providing the John Labatt Lounge for one week as the venue for this art project. Kogelheide is also donating his entire week to work on this project with the London community.

This community art project will be happening at the John Labatt Lounge (2nd floor), beginning Monday, January 14 through until Saturday, January 19. Lounge hours will be from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm for these six days.

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Let’s get 2008 off to an inspirational kick-off!

Jim

For the conclusion of this project link to:

http://bitsandpeaces08.blogspot.com/2008/07/healing-hands-conclusion.html