American LOVE Project_116
Item
- Title
- American LOVE Project_116
- Alternative Title
- American LOVE Project
- Creator
- Karen Blessen
- Date
- 2021-2022
- Description
- The image features a journal page containing a mix of handwritten text and colorful artwork. The page is largely white with some black-and-white printed text and colorful images laid out in a grid. The artworks are diverse, each featuring different designs, including abstract shapes, text, and heart motifs. At the center of the page is a large heart with an American flag design, integrating stars and stripes. The text sections include titles such as "BRAVE VOICES," "THE ARTISTS," and "TESTIMONIALS," with contributions from various locations in the United States. There are small blocks of handwritten notes, possibly annotations, scattered around the lower section of the page, which appears to be part of a folded poster.
- Identifier
- 2021_010621 to 2022 060222_The American LOVE Project Journal
- Dates Completed
- January 6, 2021 - June 2, 2022
- Keywords
- Insurrection; January 6; US Capitol; Texas freeze; Infrastructure fragility; Political instability; Power outage; Water disruption; Internet loss; Medical services disruption; Mail delay; Dallas weather; Lorraine Lienemann; Cancer; Grief; P. Nut; Sparky; Cat loss; 22-year-old cats; American LOVE Project; 29 Pieces; Violence response; National project; Art installation; Washington DC; Covid resurgence; Online gallery; Student art; Educator art; 24 states; Team collaboration; Project outcome; theamericanloveproject.org; Anne Frank; Diary takeaways; Lessons learned; Studio visit; Darryl Ratcliff; Journal viewing; Strategic shift
- Transcription
-
"Thank You
The Artists
Thank you for your beautiful messages of love, for your brave voices, your kindness, your artistry.
The Educators
You are rock stars. Thank you for the fourage to bring The American LOVE Project lesson to your students.
The 29 Pieces: American Love Project Team (in alphabetical order)
Karen Blessen, Ramir Camu, Adrienne Hamilton, Jennifer Hancock, Bridget Kessler, Tom Kessler, Mauricio Navarro, Maria Patino, Sarah Salazar, Bob Shema, Judy Stone-Nunneley, Poppy Sundeen, Lynda Transou, Josh Wood, Peter Wood. Photographers: Danny Fulgencio, Dylan Hollingsworth, John Katz. Financial Oversight: Cindy Quandt Guerra, Collective Strategies
Special thanks to Thomas Printworks and Region 10 Education Service Center
Exhibit Venues
Dallas Love Field Airport
The American Airlines Center
Downtown Dallas Inc.
Grand Prairie Library
Schools from coast to coast
The 29 Pieces Board of Directors
Karen Isbell, President
Sandra Cox, Vice-President
Diana O'Connor, Secretary
Dr. Barbara Miller, Founder
Karen Blessen, Founder
Kelley Nash
Funders
Two anonymous donors
The Rachel B. Williams Foundation
Christy Williams
Jane Johnson
Greg Colgan
The Randolph Querbes Terrell Trust
Texas Commission on the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts
Friends of 29 Pieces
Testimonials
"I think it's important to bring this subject to students and adults because we toss around a light-weight Valentine's Day kind of love, and to really stop, listen and feel it out to get a deeper connection... it's an amazing source of energy and spart during these very difficult times we are in right now. The American LOVE Project has been an honor to be part of." - Judy Stone-Nunneley, Artist in residence and visual arts coordinator, Grand Prarie, TX Public School District
"Thank you for creating meaningful work for us to do. I appreciate that it had real value and meaning. it is important to me to use our art space to talk about LOVE because the other classes can't always dive deep because of so many academic pressures." - Lauren Bomba, Art educator, Maury Elementary School, Washington DC
"Art - combined with a widespread commitment to our American ideals of justice and equality - can be the means by which we reimagine unity and renew our vision of what it possible when we do things with love." - Karen Isbell, Emmett J. Conrad Collegiate Academy, DAllas ISD
"When I heard about the American LOVE Projec, I was immediately drawn to the subject matter. Art has always been my primary outlet for creative expression. In this piece, I wanted to focus on how love drives away fear. It's my hope that the viewers will be inspired to engage in active expressions of love. There were so many incredible artworks submitted for this competition. I am humbled and honored to be the Adult Contest Winner." - Tiffany Clem, Adult Category 1st Place Winner, Russellville, Arkansas
"The purpose of art is profound conversation. Conversation connects us to each other and our humanity. Conversations about beauty and balance, nature and color can bring joy back into our wounded hearts. When it feels like our world is splintering, conversations about love can heal." - Shelley Thornton, Artist and Finalist, Adult Category, Lincoln Nebraska
"THANK YOU for creating this positive way for kids to feel like they can make a difference using their art! It was a balm to me as a teacher as well to feel we could talk about a difficult subject and do our part to counteract the negativism with LOVE :) I love the message to kids that you can use your art for good in this world! With Appreciation!" - Laurie Mclaughlin, Washington, DC Public Schools
"Thank you so much! It was a very meaningful experience! Cannot wait to do this again next year! Thank you again for all that you do for enlightening and inspiring us with your wonderful contributions!" - Felicia Shaw, Grand Prarie, TX Public Schools
"Awesome, thank you so much! Thank you for creating this wonderful project!" - Danny Hurley, The Winston School, Dallas, TX
"I think this is a remarkable project because it laid a foundation to the start of the school year that was all about love right from the get-go, and to have these conversations, and allow student (unintelligble)... I can't get over how great this has been for Atlanta... the smiles were rewarding." - Sarah Erickson, Atlanta, Georgia
"Thanks so much for involving us in this amazing project! It was a great way to kick off the year and was a constant reminder of brotherly love throughout." - Dr. Sara Womack, NBCT Fine and Performing Arts Coordinator, Atlanta, Georgia Public Schools
"The American LOVE Project builds on the work of the most important people in this country - teachers. LOVE transcends political partisanship - which has become so hard to listen to. We have families and kids and we want them to know that there is more to life than what they are hearing. There's LOVE, compassion, respect. The American Love Project gives people from around the country an opportunity to communicate with all of us. It will cut through the rhetoric and be a strong statement unto itself - about LOVE." - Peter Kohlmann, Parent, New York, NY
"I first came across the American LOVE project as I was looking for a curriculum to begin the school year. This was the perfect way to build the community I was looking for in my classroom. (Unintelligable)" - Denise Webb, Louisville, Kentucky
Website, where to find us - Rights
- To inquire about usage, please contact Archives and Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries.
- Is Part Of
- American Love Project
- Relation
- Image Gallery