You Are Not Alone
Created under the direction of
internationally renowned artist, Lenape, Professor of Art, Marietta
Dantonio-Fryer, Chairperson of the Humanities and Communications Arts
Department of Cheyeny University of Pennsylvania, founder of Totem Rhythms , and outreach coordinator for
Survivors Art Foundation worked in collaboration with Paul Boggia of the Main
Street Counseling Center with six children from the Dominick a. Lockwood child
and Adolescent treatment Center in
Stroudsburg, Pa. , The children worked with seven volunteers, Professor Fryer
and colleague Professor Keener in November 2008 to create a 6 foot plus by 6 foot plus sculptural turtle shaped mural. The
Turtle mural You Are Not Alone is covered with symbols and colors influenced
by Native American, African and Western colors and symbols depicting the
intense emotions of the children who expressed their deepest thoughts, fears
and love which added in their healing process. A Native American hand crafted
talking stick was used for communication and sharing while participants sat in
a sacred circle. The Medicine wheel assisted youth to find placement for their
chosen animals, shapes and colors which represented their personalities. The
turtle, a Native American symbol of the Americas and mother earth has 13
distinct shapes on it back which correlates to the 13 individuals who worked on
the mural. Following in the mission of the Main Street counseling Center, the
You Are Not Alone mural project helped lead youth on their path to self
esteem, self sufficiency and self love. Totem Rhythms, Inc, mission is to
recapture, restore and re tell traditional Indigenous stories inclusive of
Native American, onto wooden totem poles. TR has worked with various Indigenous
groups creating 20 totem poles preserving traditional stories and has exhibited
the finished totem poles at the United Nations for the Indigenous people s
exhibits.
Participants: Shane Taylor, Shannon Boyle, Paul Balog, Michelle Agular, Kaitlyn
Toledo, Zachery Warner Volunteers:
Director Paul Boggia, Art Director Professor Marietta Dantonio-Fryer, Professor
Joel T. Keener, Amir Campbell, Gloria Davis, Dane Bard, Portia Davidson, Pamela
Boggia, Nova Chan, Elizabeth Douglass, Snowflake Video- Lesyle Abby Sponsors: Cheyney University of
Pennsylvania, Kathy Lockwood, Snowflake Video, Survivors Art Foundation , C2F
Art Supply, Quinlin Studio, Frank Quinlin, Jan Supco, Brett Alexander, Roy Pape,
Portia Davidson, Pamela Boggia-Alba, Alexson Corporation, Professor Marietta
Dantonio-Fryer , Professor Joel Keener and J.D. Peterson ( music)
www.cheyney.edu www.totemrhythmsinc.org www.survivorsartfoundation.org www.snowflakevideo.com