Ohmigosh everyone — remember when I said there were exciting things happening around here? I wasn’t kidding. I’m going to have my first art show! Check it out:
So here’s the deal: there’s this absolutely fabulous organization in Richmond called Health Brigade. (People who have lived in Richmond for a while remember it by its former name, Fan Free Clinic.) Health Brigade was formed in 1968 as the first free clinic in Virginia, patterned after similar efforts in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood in San Francisco. Over the decades, this amazing organization has responded to contemporary health challenges, from women’s health and the prevention of transmissible diseases, to HIV/AIDS, to current issues in access to affordable health care. Its mission is to provide quality health services, especially to those least served, in a compassionate and non-judgmental environment. I simply can’t stress enough my admiration for Health Brigade and the dedicated people I’ve met there.
So last year, Health Brigade began a new initiative called Art Brigade. The idea is to have art on display in the clinic as a way to promote healing for patients, as well as to allow clients, volunteers, staff and the public to experience community-born art. Art Brigade’s first show, featuring the gorgeous mixed-media work of Jill Powell, opened in November and will run through the rest of this week. My show will open next Thursday, March 23 and remain until May 31. It will include not only my art dolls, but also a fair amount of my past work on paper: graphite, colored pencil, watercolor, and collage. The truth is, I’m a little overwhelmed by the whole thing, but I’m absolutely thrilled to be able to share my work with the community! And the best part of all — a portion of any work sold during the show will go to Health Brigade. All of my dolls, except for Bernard and the Toymaker, will be for sale.
So . . . . that’s the latest news from FineHandLand darlings! Isn’t this just the best year ever? Until next time, ta-ta!
