Outreach Projects
About Our Outreach Programs
At theSurvivors Art Foundation we believe in utilizing all of the survivor/members that we can for our programs. We are also happy to include professional arts therapists in our healing outreach work. The Foundation considers Outreach Programs to be one of our most crucial and beneficial activities. Our mission mandate clearly states advocacy though the arts. In addition to teaching various mediums of art, we attempt to encourage enjoyment and appreciation of the arts.
Some of the facilities that we work in are local libraries, schools, shelters, treatment centers and retreats, reaching varied groups of the trauma survivor community. To participate in one of these Outreach Programs, or if you know of a site that is in need of our services, please contact: [email protected]
March 2004: African Bushman Art Outreach Project
(Ongoing Outreach project, see Exhibitions page to view current online shows)
Survivors Art Foundation in collaboration with the Indigenous Heritage Organization will assist and enable African Bushman artists and their artwork to come to the U.S., to raise funds for them and public awareness of their plight. Through SAF and other organizations, Susan and Andrew Bailey have traveled to Africa to work directly with the African Bushman. The work produced has been recently exhibited at the UN’s Indigenous Peoples Exhibition, May 2002.
The Bushman or San people of southern Africa are the living descendants of the “First People of Africa”, who once inhabited much of the continent, long before the arrival of the black Bantu tribes and more recently the white settlers. They are believed to be humanity’s oldest living genetic stock. Recent discoveries of artifacts and rock art near Cape Town have been dated to 77,000 BCE. There are a few surviving groups of San in and around the Kalahari desert, which straddles Namibia, Bostwana, Angola and South Africa. The San have been systematically dispossessed of their former territories. They have been persecuted to the brink of extinction. The survivors now face cultural extinction as a result of enforced sedentism, and have lost their independent hunter-gatherer livelihood. Much of their remarkable knowledge, language, arts and music have been lost. The project is to undertake a mission to the Kalahari to document the current status of the San, to report on what the San people themselves say they need to survive and reverse the conditions of despair and alcoholism in which they now find themselves.
2002-2003: National Council for Women of the United States
Survivors Art Foundation visa via Candyce Brokaw, Executive Director was asked to sit on the Executive Committee of the National Council of Women of the United States. Additionally Dr. Susan Stutman, SAF Advisory Board President served as the NCW/US ‘s Board President 2002 -2003. The National Council of Women of the United States, Inc., is a coalition of organizations and individuals representing all races, creeds and traditions, dedicated to the realization of full participation by women in every aspect of society. The NCWUS is the oldest non-sectarian women 5 voluntary organization in America. in 1848, some of the leaders of NCW/US worked to abolish slavery. Thereafter, NCW/US members gave priority of the end of child labor, conditions in the workplace and women’s suffrage. NCW/US works for the education, participation and advancement of women to make equality for women a national obligation. Through its members it serves as a forum to promote progressive ideas, extend program potential and serve as the united voice for women’s issues. In cooperation with the NCW, Survivors Art Foundation and Dr. Stutman and Ms Brokaw worked towards mutual goals and educational awareness for Women and survivors through out the world.
February 28 -March 1, 2002: MS Foundation conference on Child Sexual Abuse
Survivors Art Foundation visa via Candyce Brokaw, Executive Director was asked to participate in the MS Foundation’s fact-finding meeting and follow-up programming to educate the public about preventing child abuse, and increase awareness through a variety of programs. Another purpose of the panel was for the creation of an educational document based on the discussions for dissemination to donors, practitioners, and others who are interested in the issue of preventing child sexual abuse. The meeting was held at the Roosevelt Hotel located at 45th Street in NYC, February 28 and Friday; March 1, 2002. The Ms. Foundation for Women has been concerned about the problem of child sexual abuse and incest. Child sexual abuse in the U.S. is of epidemic proportions. While survivors, practitioners, service providers, activists and advocates have worked diligently to address the trauma of child sexual abuse, a cohesive, broad-based movement to prevent child sexual abuse has yet to coalesce. The MS foundation and Survivors Art Foundation hoped to help support and be part of efforts to change that. To that end, a two-day roundtable meeting to discuss what it would take to stimulate grassroots activism against child sexual abuse took place. The
meeting was geared to provide an opportunity for activists and practitioners to share ideas and work collaboratively on issues of child sexual abuse. Ms. Brokaw is an expert in the area of child sexual abuse, along with SAF and other individuals involved at this roundtable conference. From the core of this work addressing the prevention of child sexual abuse, The MS Foundation produced a follow-up report to share these ideas more widely.
March 2002: Native American Silk Paintings
SAF Outreach Coordinators, Rik and Marietta Dantonio -Fryer conducted a SAF Outreach project on the weekend of March 17. Produced at this workshop were many beautiful handpainted Silk banners by Native Americans. These participants were dealing with over coming poverty, sexual abuse, domestic violence, and alcoholism and drug abuse. The completed banners from this workshop were exhibited at the Indigenous Peoples Celebration at The United Nations in NY in May 2002. (Please see Indigenous Peoples Exhibition 2002, Exhibitions page)
November 26, 2001: NYU Medical Center; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Forum and Art Exhibition
Survivors Art Foundation participated by providing an art exhibition for the PostTraumatic Stress Forum at NYU Medical Center, November 26, 2001. Due to September 11 and the World Trade Center disaster, trauma organizations came together to provide educational information and resources to the public in NYC. Exhibit.
September 2001: The United Nations Conference, Durban South Africa
The “Breaking the Walls of Bias” silk paintings created at a variety of SAF outreach projects. Including working with Women with AIDS, Native Americans, At-Risk Youth, Survivors of trauma and mental illness.
Also exhibited was mounted photography of the Totem Rhythms Pole Project.
June 2001: Outreach Program; Operation Healing Art, U.S.A.
“United We Stand as Artists, Unifying Spirits through Art”
Artists who wanted to use the power of Art as a healing tool created and designed American flags composed of individual squares reflecting the emotions of the people.Libertas Creare” (Freedom To Create) copyright Marietta Dantonio-Fryer and Joel T. Keener. View this project online
Ongoing Outreach Project: “Pixel Art” Online Challenge – Afghanistan & RAWA
An online digital “cartoon doll” artist’s page dedicated to RAWA (Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan) where the author invites other doll makers to cover their own dolls in burqa (a form of full face and body covering) and write their experiences after reading the story of the Afghanistan women, and to write how they felt as they covered up their own artwork. View this project online.
May 2001: “The Art of Recovery: Your Freedom to Choose” Conference
SAF provided the 8th Annual Bi-County Consumer/Survivor Empowerment Conference with an expressive dance therapy workshop conducted by Director of Dance Linni Deihl, and motivational talk and presentation delivered by Executive Director Candyce Brokaw. The conference took place on May 18, 2001 at the Marriott Hotel in Melville, LI, NY. View exerpts of the conference online.
“Wings of Love” Mural
“Wings of Love ” was created under the direction of artist, art therapist, Outreach Coordinator of SAF, Marietta Dantonio-Fryer. The powerful, 8-foot mural “Wings of Love” was created by women at Baylor Correctional Center. These women are all living with AIDS. It is an inspirational painting about their trials, their pain of their past, and their hope for the future. There are blue images of women standing back to back in the painting which are the participants. They depict the idea that if women can stand together, they will stand tall and be the hope for our children in the future. The background is done in a crackling technique to show that drugs and abuse causes fracturing of the family and the self. There are symbols of life, courage, accountability, responsibility, and love flowing freely to their children. The center is a symbol of birth, and the fire within their hearts going outwards towards the children of the world. “Within these walls a spirit blooms.” It is a passionate portrayal of women joined in a common cause. To heal the wounds within and to protect the children. Marietta says: “I salute you: Andrea, Anita, Headie, Lori, Tammy, Yvette, Tanya, and Tysheik.” This project was a collaborative effort of Survivors Art Foundation, Delaware Center for Justice, and Baylor Correctional Center. Click here to view the “Wings of Love” project.
“Seasons of Change” Silk Painting
Facilitated by Marietta Dantonio-Fryer, SAF Outreach Coordinator, the “Seasons of Change” project is a silk painting mounted onto a wooden, butterfly-shaped frame. Young students collaborated with senior adults to promote greater awareness of the issues facing the elderly. Adults shared the wisdom gained from living long fruitful lives, and lessons were transmitted through silk biographies. The center of the butterfly is the tree of life, whith computer-scanned photos of each participant printed onto silk. Click here to view “Seasons of Change” image.
November 2000: “Guardian Mural”
Marietta Dantonio-Fryer, SAF Outreach Coordinator, just completed the “Guardian Mural” Outreach Project at the Elwyn facility, PA. This Outreach project is with a group of adolescents who are mentally challenged and some who are also physical and sexual abuse survivors. The mural weighs over 1,000 pounds and includes plaster death masks of the children’s faces. The children themselves requested this, and it was an act of trust in having them sit while the masks hardened. Then children selected another child as a guardian, to look over and protect them during the process, fostering trust. Then the children (teenagers) asked to have mirrors embedded into the eyes of the masks. Their reason was so when people looked into their eyes they would see reflections of themselves. Because as the children put it, “society fears them but has created them.” The Guardian mural will be on exhibit in Southampton in March 2001. View the mural online.
November 2000: “Stand By Me and Be Free”
“Stand By Me and Be Free Mural Exhibition” an Art Outreach Project conducted with male inmates from Delaware Correctional Center with AIDS. This project was created by Marietta Dantonio-Fryer SAF Outreach Project Coordinator. The title came about because the men feel like lepers and just want to be held by another human being. The next AIDs Outreach project with female prisoners started in November. These women all have many children, and would like to convey an educational message to the public about AIDS Awareness and Prevention, as well as breaking the Bias towards those with AIDS. Both murals are eight foot octagons and are embedded with real healing gemstones. View the mural online.
November 2000: Totem Rhythms
The “Totem Rhythms” Outreach Project with Native Americans from various Native Nations across the US has just begun this November (November is Native American Month). Three Totem poles with be constructed per Nation with at-risk youth and adult survivors. The first Nation that participated was the Thunder Mountain Clan of PA, November 2000. One totem to stay with the Nation, one totem to tour with the traveling exhibition, and the third totem to be presented at the end of this project to the National Native American Museum, ALA Vietnam Wall to honor our Nations first Holocaust Survivors. The website for the Totem Rhythms Project is http://www.totemrhythms.org
Elan Kumankw Native American Mural
This display consists of 6 wooden panels. “Elan Kumankw” or “We Are All Related,” an original mural depiction of area Native American history and symbolism. The Walum Olum, a pictographic chronicle of the Delaware Indians is featured on the panels along with original artwork from over seventy-five artists — from a twelve year old girl’s panel (with many children contributing to it), to the creation story of the Eastern Deleware Nation, and other topics. Marietta Dantonio-Fryer, Deleware’s 1998 Art Educator of the Year recipient, has worked with members of the Eastern Deleware Nation, especially Chief Mike Medicine Shield of PA, to bring the mural to public awareness. Click above image to view entire mural.
August 1999: Lilith Fairs
The Lilith Fair Concert Tour, August,1999: Hartford CT, Jones Beach NY, Denver CO
SAF conducted an interactive arts project with the patrons of the Lilith Fair, in various concert sites across the country. The “Hands and Hearts Tapestry” will be digitally photographed and shown on the Lilith and SAF web sites. The completed Tapestry mural will then tour nationally with the SAF Multi-Media Art Exhibitions. View the “Hands and Hearts” project online.
June-July 1999: Kosovo Refugess Art Project
SAF conducted an Art Program with the Kosovo refugees, June 28 -July 1, 1999, at Fort Dix, NJ. The project was collaboration with SAF, the United States Army, Department of Human Services and The American Red Cross. SAF worked with different age groups of refugees ranging from small children to adults. The event produced a 38-piece children’s mobile and 10 silk masterpieces created by young adults. The project consists of hand painted images of the survivor’s own impressions on silk. View the “Hands and Hearts” project online.
Safe Kids Children and Adolescent Online Art Gallery
http://SAFeKids.survivorsartfoundation.org
Dance Arts Outreach Projects: Linni Deihl, Director
Annual two week Dance Therapy Intensive Course, instructed by Linni Deihl to an International group of dance therapy students and health professional in Westhampton, NY–June 1998 and June 1999
Westhampton Presbyterian Youth Liturgical Dance Troupe, on going training and choreography by Linni Deihl. Touring the New York State Churches, Synagogues and Multi-Media Art Exhibitions–Ongoing outreach performances
Dance Movement Therapy at the Child Development Center of East Hampton with pre-school children age three to five years of age. This population includes Autism, Downs Syndrome and a spectrum of normal to severely learning disabled children–1999
Breast Cancer Support Group incorporating arts therapy, East End Long Island, NY–Ongoing monthly outreach project
Westhampton Senior Care Center Dance Therapy Out-Reach to in-patient geriatric population and filed placement training for dance therapy course students, and Westhampton Beach High School Students–June 1999 and ongoing outreach to seniors
Dance Education including dance therapy and Effort/Shape Movement Analysis at Westhampton Beach High School–Ongoing 1998/1999
Westhampton Care Center Facility for Senior Citizens — Dance Therapy Outreach Project for in-patient geriatric population, June 2000. Click here to see this Outreach Program
Outreach Programs On Tour
- The Totem Rhythms Outreach Project was exhibited at Cheyney University on Feb. 16th, 2001.
- The Totem Rhythms Outreach Project was exhibited at Lycoming College at the May 2001 graduation ceremonies.
- The Totem Rhythms Outreach Project was exhibited for Diversity Day at the Sullivan County Courthouse, PA, May 19 -20, 2001.
- The “Journey into Healing” Outreach Project was exhibited at Widener University, March 2001. Marietta Dantonio- Fryer SAF Out-Reach Coordinator, and Project Designer delivered a motivational talk and presentation.
- Also the two AIDS murals, “Stand By Me and Be Free,” and “Wings of Love,” and also “Seasons of Change” were on exhibit for the graduation reception at Cheyney University in May, 2001.