The start of our college tour, a reading and discussion of a piece of our production at Manhattan College; hosted by The Multicultural Center and Dean of Students Office. [we will be recording it]

How can the arts help you heal from trauma, how do you use the arts to help heal yourself, the community,or others.

Can the arts be used to help prevent trauma, sexual assault, suicide.

Join in the conversation, share your thoughts, ideas, feelings, your art. Register on our RSVP page.

Join:

Dr. Diane Kaufman: Child Psychiatrist,Poet, Artist, Suicide Prevention Activist, and Founder/Director of The Arts and Healing Resiliency Center.

Amy Erickson: Documentarian, Director and Producer of Visceral:Transforming Trauma through Theatre

Coni Koepfinger: Creative Director of AIRPLay and a member of NPX, and creator/writer of the Therapist

Coni Ciongoli Koepfinger

Poet, Playwright, Librettist, Artist and Educator, Coni is the creative director and host of two international radio programs, AIRPLAY and DETERMINED WOMEN.  In addition to teaching at various universities, Koepfinger is an internationally published and produced playwright and librettist.  She also is a contributing writer for the Center of Conscious Creativity in LA; a board member of the International Center for Women Playwrights; on the Media Arts Advisory Board of the Lifeboat Foundation; a member of The Dramatists Guild of America, and the League of Professional Theatre Women.  She is currently working on THE EVE OF BELTANE, SCHOOLHOUSE and THY KINGDOM COME with her writing partner Joe Izen 

A partial performance of The Therapist by Coni Ciongoli Koepfinger ;Part of an anthology being published April 1, 2022, [about rape]

Performed by:

-Carrie Wesolowski, Theatre, Film, & Television Actor/Director/Host/Singer

A lifelong New Yorker born and raised in New York City, Carrie's a co-host of  the virtual weekly theatre program AirPlay and a regular contributor to AirPlay as Actor/Director. After graduating from CUNY and receiving a BA in Drama/Theatre, she completed a 2-year Acting Training Program with Phil Gushee and Joe Anania, dedicated to the teachings of The Neighborhood Playhouse. For Carrie, creating film and theatre is a catalyst for self-expression and societal change--creating beauty and light through transforming the pain of our experiences in recognizing our shared humanity. Recent acting/directing credits include the East Broadway Theatre Project, the opera The Bird Lady at The National Opera Center, Coni Koepfinger's Simon Says --a finalist in Playbill VTF Live and Manhattan Rep's Stories Film Festival, and Dermalogic at Theater for the New City. Carrie has been singing with the NYC-based community choir Peace of Heart Choir since 2013 and hosts their Cabaret Nights and is a member of their Steering Committee.

-Beth Griffith: performed with i.a. New Georges, Clubbed Thumb, The Flea Theater, New York City Opera, Paris Philharmonic, Johannes Wieland Dance Company. Recordings with: Largo, Sargasso, Tzadik, Winter&Winter, New World, and Unseen Worlds.  Upcoming: Cosmicomics with The New Stage Theatre, Five by Tenn with Out Of The Box Theater, S.U.N. by Michael Hagins at Broadway Bound Festival.

Foreward

As a practicing psychologist the plays in this anthology have dared to go into the fears and pain of a lot of people whose issues are generally dealt with in silence. This work gives a voice to all those feelings which are so difficult to express. And the greatest gift is as people experience these works they are reminded that they are not alone. Thank you for assisting therapists everywhere to help their patients open those deeply held issues in a safe place.

 Dr. Mike Dolan, Clinical Psychologist

DRAWING ON THE DIVINE • ACTUALISM • THE ART OF THE 21st CENTURY

©2017 by Coni Ciongoli Koepfinger

ISBN 9781794710702

All Artwork © 2015 by Michele Ciongoli Dryburgh

ALL RIGHTS RESERVE : INTRODUCTION by Robert Rhodes, Physicist & Artist

My first exchange with Coni Koepfinger was a three hour conversation when she asked me to be her science advisor for her plays which range from science fiction to romantic
musicals. Since then I have worked with her on a number of theater projects which demanded a high level of emotion. During the start of our collaborations, I witnessed the evocative poetry she often posts online. I suggested that she publish these poems, and this book is the result. But this text, Drawing on the Divine, is certainly far more than a compendium of poems. Coni and her sister, Mickey, spent decades working together on audio and visual experimental projects, and the imagery presented here, both Mickey's art and in Coni's poetic discourse, captures the heart of that collaboration beautifully. But I was totally unprepared for the emotional impact of this tome. I believe it is unprecedented in style combining Mickey’s visuals in a variety of mediums, from oils to ink, as well as graphic illustration combined Coni’s plays, poems, and preponderances on the theory of art in our changing modernity. One point of note I found interesting in the sketches that display graphic violence is her choice of colors, red vs. blue, in the first piece to initiate this series that carries the height of its tension in the metanarrative. It is said that powerful art speaks on a micro-level as well as a macro, so perhaps Mickey’s intuition was trying to inform us about the current struggle we are having nationally in our socio-political environment. That said, this meta- narrative speaks to us all. I have known many men and women who were abused and could not talk about it. This book dares to address the undercurrent of violence in our society today, and point the way out of the morass we find ourselves in and suggests that ART via ACTUALISM may guide us back to a more honest nature of being. It's time to tell the truth about how we live our lives... and to finally live then in the creative reality of our birthright. It's my hope that with this book, we will break through the deception that seems to pervade our lives today. “Actualism,” as Koepfinger coins the phrase, “is movement of art swinging back to revisit the natural creative power found in every human being. If we are not creative we will be destructive.” I can't begin to express myself properly about the ACTUALISM movement, but I know it needs to happen... now.

Martha Lluch is an artist and a survivor. Art is how she's taken control of her healing and of her life.
Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. I got my degree in Architecture in 2007 at the Universidad Simón Bolívar, and a Masters in Urban Design from the University of Miami in 2013.

I have over 12 years of experience working as an Architect, with a heavy focus on design, master planning and green building certification. My experience includes working on site in projects in Germany, the Middle East, China, Venezuela and South Florida. During these years, I’ve also had the opportunity to work in Branding for various commercial clients, like major Venezuelan grocery stores and telecommunication corporations like Telefónica.

During the last decade of my life, I’ve turned to yoga as a way to better navigate mental health and day-to-day challenges inside the office and out. In 2015, I graduated as a certified 200 HR Yoga Teacher at TRIO Studio in Miami.

Throughout the course of the years, it has become evident to me that the creative process, and how I approach new challenges in my career, translates directly into how I navigate life altogether. This is why I am currently exploring new ways to share the benefits of creativity and the design approach with others through art, yoga and my ongoing Workshop: The Art of Cultivating Joy.

 Aside from being passionate about creativity, I am a big advocate for mental health- the reason behind the Little Raging Warrior Project. If you are feeling curious, feel free to check it out by clicking on the button below on your left.

“Processing trauma can be difficult. Lluch does it through the canvas. When you go through trauma, one of the main things that happens is you cannot structure what happened to you," Lluch explained. "In art because there are no boundaries, there is no rules, no setting, it's really like the white canvas is the space where you can start to rearrange what has happened to you, process it, understand it."

Amanda Mendoza, a Post-Conviction Victim Advocate for the CT Alliance to End Sexual Violence. She provides notification and advocacy to survivors of sexual violence whose sexual assault cases are being supervised by either the probation or parole offices within the state. Outside of work, she is also an artist who creates work revolving around healing and spreading awareness on sexual violence.

Lori Armstrong;Nassau County Victim Advocate, Women’s Center of Jacksonville Fl. Lori will also talk about using the arts and creating exhibits of art by survivors such as the one that Martha Lluch participated in, in 2020.

The Breaking Down The Walls: Utilizing the arts in prevention through intervention for youth at risk is scheduled for today at 5:00 EST if anyone wants to join us.

Lois Saperstein is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Breaking Down The Walls

Time: Mar 10, 2022 05:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82331566582?pwd=SkthM1BDWmtOM0U3anJTOElTaXRVdz09

Meeting ID: 823 3156 6582

Passcode: 418707

POSTPONED: Join in the conversation on zoom, share your programs, ideas, thoughts. ‘According to one of the District Supervisors in the Juvenile Justice Dept. in Florida,”the traditional diversion programs are no longer impactful” They are looking for alternatives, for new ideas and will participate in the conversation.

Back in 2005, I created The Arts in Prevention Projects, a National Initiative. Given the public health pandemics which have led to a myriad of mental health and substance abuse issue maybe it is time to create a similar imitative. Read the original proposal and my article about our original youth empowerment projects on www.theartshouse.net/blog

Join programs such as Artistic Noise in NYC, Project ArtReach [a project of Artivate] in Maryland, The Arts For Healing and Justice Network in California and Project Alice in California.

UNITING US’ SPECTRUM OF THE ARTS & JIGGY Puzzles CELEBRATION: The City of Takoma Park and Uniting US invite you to join an interactive national Uniting US art panel discussion “Celebrating the Spectrum of the Arts”. Date: November 12, 2021 Time: 7:30 pm Where: Takoma Park Community Center at 7500 Maple Ave.

Online: Facebook Live Event and YouTube recording will be posted Admission: Free, family friendly event As part of the Uniting US Arts exhibition with the City of Takoma Park, a panel of distinguished experts and Uniting US artists discuss the healing, wellness, and community building aspects associated with art. The panel group spanning perspectives from arts used in medical treatment programs (Creative Art Therapies), Arts in Health programs, professional artists, community arts initiatives, and individual therapeutic art practices. Throughout the discussion, attendees are invited to participate in the discussion and offer insights on how to build understanding through the arts and the community impact of the City of Takoma Park extensive Arts and Humanities program.

Following the discussion, join in the celebration of the Jiggy Puzzles/Artshouse Collection, OperationArts: Women Who Serve art competition: Bethany Ryan, Breaking Out of Silence; Christina Polosky, Endowed By Her Creator; Maria Carrion, Sisters United. All three are women veterans and Uniting US artists (UnitingUs.org). Enjoy meeting Bethany, Christina, and Maria as well as other Uniting US artists and purchase a signed puzzle from the national competition based on the theme of Hope, Inspiration, Transformation, & Possibilities.

The Arts and Culture Canvas: 2021

A series of town hall conversations on the transformative powers of arts and culture.

We will cover various issues, hear from artists, educators, and innovators. Hear their stimulating and inspiring stories, learn about organizations and projects. Share ideas and possibilities.

We hope to inspire each other and hope these conversations will serve as a catalyst for continued conversations and/or action.

May 25th at 6:00 [EST]

We are continuing our conversation; Arts and Veterans with a May 25th introduction to CAVARTS, a program of Challenge America. CAVARTS is a national online veteran arts community. Challenge America launched in 2009 and built its veterans focused mission on a foundation of the arts.

Learn how your organization can partner with Challenge America to give your programs and initiatives greater exposure through CAVARTS to a national network of Veteran artists and art appreciators.

You will hear from Dallas Blaney, Executive Director and Maggie Tolan, Program Director.

Ask questions and network

Register onour RSVP page

Featuring: Tom Block, Founding Producer, The International Human Rights Art Festival; Author/Artist;Marissa Gutierriz-Vicario,ARTE [Art Resistance Through Education];Anthony Posada, Project Attica; Keefe Murren, Film Aid,Nicole Minyard, Poverty and The Arts

The Arts and Culture Canvas: 2020

A series of town hall conversations on the transformative powers of arts and culture.

We will cover various issues, hear from artists, educators, and innovators. Hear their stimulating and inspiring stories, learn about organizations and projects. Share ideas and possibilities.

We hope to inspire each other and hope these conversations will serve as a catalyst for continued conversations and/or action.

November 18th,4-6:00 PM [EST]: Arts and Veterans; Roman Baca, MFA, Artistic Director, Exit 12 Dance Company, 2019 Fulbright Association Selma Jeane Cohen Dance Lecture Awardee,2017-2018 US-UK Fulbright Postgraduate Award to the Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London, 2018 HillVet Nominee,2015 New York State Veterans’ Hall of Fame Inductee, New York, https://exit12danceco.org ; Nancy Smith Watson, Co-Founder of Feast of Crispian and The National Veterans Theatre Festival, Milwaukee WI,www.feastofcrispian.org; Richard Casper, Co-Founder and Executive Director CreatiVets: CreatiVets’ mission is to empower wounded veterans to heal through the arts and music. Grace Belizario, Program Manager of The Armed Services Arts Partnership

Arts and Culture Canvas 2021

Some of of our Invited Guests:

January 13, 5:00-7:00 [EST]: Arts and Human Rights; Tom Block, Founding Producer, The International Human Rights Art Festival, Author/Artist; Marissa Gutierrez-Vicario,Founder and Executive Director of ARTE [Art Resistence Through Education]; Mellisa Raman Molitor, Kids Create Change; Anthony Posada, Project Attica;David Hatkoff,NewFest, NYC’s largest LGBTQ Film and Media Org; Keefe Murren, FilmAid; Gilad Cohen, Human Rights Film Festival [Toronto];Carolina Rubio Macwright, immigration lawyer, artist, activist, her project is Touching Land; Annie Buckley,Director and Professor, School of Art and Design, San Diego State University;Curtis Young, Artistic Noise; Dave Serio, Arab American National Museum

Some Topics in 2021:

Art in Times of Crisis/Artists a First Responders

Climate Change and the Arts

The Arts in Health

Art for the Public/Art in Public Places

A conversation about new beginnings: we are at a crossroads and we need a new understanding of collaboration, we need to imagine or re-imagine a new vision of ‘unity’ for the coming arts landscape, we need to create our own destiny, we need to envision a new future for the arts.

What could or should the new arts landscape look like? How can we help one another? How can we work together? With a shared connection and conviction, comes power! We need to [build community], to create a revolution, together we can!

On Zoom,open to anyone who wants to participate in the conversation.Go to the RSVP page

This first event is by invitation only to discuss ideas on the mission and vision.

This event was planned with the help of Dr. Esmilda Abreu-Hornbostel, Associate VP of Student Affairs, Manhattan College; with expertise in Diversity & Inclusion,Leadership and Mentoring and Organizational Development and Kirsten Richert of Richert Innovation Consulting who will also be facilitating this think tank with expertise as an Innovation Catalyst,Author and Podcast Host and Organizational Change Educator.

This will be the first think tank with more to come. If you are interested in joining us, please contact me at lois@theartsdothepublicgood.com