Fall 2016 MOUTH & FOOT PAINTING ARTISTS OVER 50 YEARS OF SELF-HELP A Moving Art Story Chicago-based artist, Mariam Paré, embarked on a one month long tour of museums and galleries across North America during September and October 2015. The tour was themed ‘A Moving Art Story’ and comprised a number of ‘artist in residence’ events where Mariam provided inspirational mouth painting demonstrations and talked to the visiting public about her background story and her work with the MFPA. Mariam was also supported by a number of fellow artists, who joined her at events that were held at locations in their home cities. At each event, media interviews were conducted by all of the participating artists. The launch of the tour began at the Children’s Museum of Art in New York City, where many of the children were invited to participate in painting lessons with Mariam. The artist then appeared on the Today Show and during her interview she presented Hoda and Kathie Lee with a portrait she had created of the two hosts. In Chicago, Mariam was joined by fellow artist Antonio Davis, when they featured at the Hyde Park Arts Center. Then on to the next leg, at Kidspace in Los Angeles where Mariam was joined by local Californian artist Cindi Bernhardt and a host of local children. Bernhardt said, “It was such fun to watch the kids participating in mouth painting and to share with them, what it is like to be a disabled artist”. Mariam followed this with two appearances in Florida. First stop was an ‘artist in residence’ day at the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Art, where she featured with local artist, Christopher Kuster, and then on to another engagement at the Orlando Museum of Art. The tour also took in major Canadian cities, which are covered later in the newsletter. Mariam with Hoda and Kathie Lee on the Today Show Antonio at Hyde Park Arts Center, Chicago Cindi at Kidspace, Los Angeles
Transcript
Fall 2016
M O U T H & F O OT PA I N T I N G A R T I S T S O V E R 5 0 Y E A R S O F S E L F - H E L P
A Moving Art StoryChicago-based artist, Mariam Paré, embarked on a one month long tour of museums and galleries across North America during September and October 2015.
The tour was themed ‘A Moving Art Story’ and comprised a number
of ‘artist in residence’ events where Mariam provided inspirational
mouth painting demonstrations and talked to the visiting public about
her background story and her work with the MFPA. Mariam was also
supported by a number of fellow artists, who joined her at events
that were held at locations in their home cities. At each event, media
interviews were conducted by all of the participating artists.
The launch of the tour began at the Children’s Museum of Art in New
York City, where many of the children were invited to participate in
painting lessons with Mariam. The artist then appeared on the Today
Show and during her interview she presented Hoda and Kathie Lee
with a portrait she had created of the two hosts.
In Chicago, Mariam was joined by fellow artist Antonio Davis, when
they featured at the Hyde Park Arts Center. Then on to the next leg, at Kidspace in Los Angeles where Mariam was joined by local Californian artist Cindi Bernhardt and a host of local children. Bernhardt said, “It was such fun to watch the kids participating in mouth painting and to share with them, what it is like to be a disabled artist”.
Mariam followed this with two appearances in Florida. First stop was an ‘artist in residence’ day at the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Art, where she featured with local artist, Christopher Kuster, and then on to another engagement at the Orlando Museum of Art. The tour also took in major Canadian cities, which are covered later in the newsletter.
MFPA Products Now Available to Buy Online!At our new format website you can discover more about the goods we offer and the artists who painted the original images from which they are reproduced.
You will also see the complete range of our latest products including Christmas cards, calendars and much, much more.
Importantly you can now purchase all of our goods online using most major credit cards.
Visit us at www.mfpausa.com
To purchase any items or for further information on the MFPA, its members, their paintings or exhibitions, please contact:
USA Artists
Mouth and Foot Painting Artists 2070 Peachtree Court
M O U T H & F O OT PA I N T I N G A R T I S T S O V E R 5 0 Y E A R S O F S E L F - H E L P
ARTIST LIGHTS UP NEW YORKThe world-famous, electronic billboard site in Times Square, New York, displayed a mega-sized message about the MFPA and an image of artist, Mariam Paré, presenting Hollywood star, Pierce Brosnan, with a portrait she created of him in a famous James Bond pose.
Mariam was recently promoted to Associate member artist by the MFPA, in acknowledgement of her artistic achievements and hard work in promoting the organization.
The billboard in Times Square displaying the message about Mariam’s portrait of Pierce Brosnan as James Bond
Artist Letisha Wexstten was asked to participate in a television commercial to promote the Paralympics in Rio, that aired on the Channel 4 national television station in the UK, prior to the Games.
The focus of the commercial was primarily on the paralympians but also featured people with disabilities living normal, everyday lives.
Letisha also presented a painting to raise money for Nubability, which helps to coach limb-different athletes to reach the next level in mainstream sport. Her husband Jerod also coaches track and advises athletes with prosthesis problems.
Supporting The Paralympics
Letisha as she appeared in the UK Channel 4 commercial
M O U T H & F O OT PA I N T I N G A R T I S T S O V E R 5 0 Y E A R S O F S E L F - H E L P
An example of the great impression artist Susie Matthias makes on the young people she meets across Ontario
Susie Goes NationalLondon, Ontario based mouth painter Susie Matthias featured on a CBC TV station ‘National’ news package which aired in December 2015.
The filming for the news package was produced in stages, across a couple of months. The first footage was filmed at an artists in residence public event, when Susie appeared with fellow US artist, Mariam Paré, at the First Canadian Place venue in Toronto, in September 2015. The themed event, ‘A Moving Art Story’, was also attended by the Ontario Lieutenant Governor, Ms. Elizabeth Dowdeswell, who was presented with a framed painting titled ‘Early Autumn in Springbank Park’ created by Susie.
Cody Meets GovernorCody Tresierra from Vancouver, met with the British Columbia Lieutenant Governor, Judith Guichon OBC, when she visited an MFPA event at the Museum of Vancouver, in October 2015.
Cody gave a special demonstration of his painting skills and talked with the Governor about his life and his work with the MFPA. The event was an important leg of a multi-city, North American tour titled ‘A Moving Art Story’ that was spearheaded by US mouth artist, Mariam Paré.
As well as giving mouth painting demonstrations, both artists were happy to talk about their lives and their work with members of the public who visited the show. The event also gained major media coverage in the Vancouver area.
Susie with Elizabeth Dowdeswell
Cody with Judith Guichon OBC
Visit the new MFPA website Products reproduced from the artists’ original paintings include greetings card, calendars and a wide range of gift items.
Importantly, purchases can now be made with most major credit cards. To purchase, or for further information about the MFPA, visit our website at www.mfpacanada.comMouth and Foot Painting Artists183 St. Clair, Avenue WestToronto, Ontario M4V 1P1Phone Toll Free: [email protected]
M O U T H & F O OT PA I N T I N G A R T I S T S O V E R 5 0 Y E A R S O F S E L F - H E L P
In MemoriamWe are deeply saddened to announce the deaths of four of our artists: Onix Flores, IL; Kort Kohler, TX; Shirley Patton, VT and Sharon Scarbrough, AR.
They will all be greatly missed.
New StudentsMoses Hamilton, HI, began sketching at a young age, but when he was 26 years old, a car accident rendered him quadriplegic. He was then introduced to mouth painting at rehab where he realized it could be a new vehicle for his creativity. Moses’ unique style expresses the culture of the Hawaiian Islands and its people and he hopes his work inspires others facing adversity.
He was recently awarded an MFPA art scholarship.
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Peter Soby, CA, always remembers art being a big part of his life. He was also a high achiever at college, with a bright future ahead following his graduation. Then he dove into a lake that was too shallow and severed his spinal cord.
But Peter never lost his love of art and his other passion, music. No longer able to play piano, he even learned to play harmonica by using a special brace to hold the instrument in place. He was introduced to the MFPA by a mouth painter and friend, Mariam Paré. He now paints by mouth and was recently awarded an art scholarship by the organization.
Artists in Brief Nancy Hall, NY, featured in a television news program that highlighted her life and her work, which aired on WIVB television in August 2016.
Antonio Davis, IL, appeared at the Art in Motion exhibition with Mariam Paré, which was staged at the Rehab. Institute of Chicago in Spring 2016. Antonio was also invited to demonstrate mouth painting and to speak at the Richard Daly College of Art, Chicago.
Jared Dunton, TX, (below), was commissioned to paint two large works for permanent display in the lobby of the Institute of Rehabilitation and Research in Houston.
Richard Masters, NY, (below), along with his mom, Lynn, got to meet
country music star, Toby Keith and his wife Tricia, at the Darien Lakes, NY concert in July 2016. Richard presented Toby with a portrait he created of the singer.
Michael Monaco, NJ, held an exhibition of his work at the Reynolds Gallery, part of the A&M University, that commenced in December 2015.
Chris Hartwick, SC, (right), held a solo exhibition of his work at the Artists Guild Gallery of Greenville, in June 2016.
