Artful Causes-Community, Healing and Opportunity Creation

Perhaps things come into our lives when we need them most. After a relative dry spell from exposure to or involvement in the arts, two different programs have recently made their way into my life. The interesting thing is, although these two different initiatives are not formally related at all, the spirit of the efforts are quite similar-both view art as a medium for connection, healing and opportunity.

First, The Opportunity Shop founded by Amanda Englert and Laura Shaeffer. The Opportunity Shop is "a transitory, experimental space for new art in Hyde Park" and will consist of temporary gallery and performance spaces within vacant urban buildings in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. Although there is much about the Op Shop that is growing, developing and transforming, I believe an important aspect of the effort is utilizing art as a medium to bring the community together.

Also, to provide an opportunity to artists who may not have had ample opportunity to show their works. Information and performance schedules can be found at www.theopshop.org.



(Top) Window of the Op Shop's current location--1613 East 55th Street, Chicago
(Bottom) Shot of part of the space--11/28/09



(Top) Some of The Op Shop's many truly wonderful and interesting pieces
(Bottom) Amanda Englert and in the background Mary King. Amanda is one of the founders of The Op Shop and Mary is an exhibiting artist.


The second program that has recently come to the forefront of my awareness is the Global Alliance for Africa's Therapeutic Arts Program. The purpose of this program is to provide art therapy programs for at risk children within African communities. Currently, numerous art therapy professionals are providing extensive support and training to the communities within which they are operating. Ultimately, the goal is for the program to be self-sustaining and perhaps for there to be a trade craft element which would provide economic opportunity for the communities.

On December 5, 2009 a house concert and soup night was held at the home of Cathy and Bruce Moon to raise money for the cause. Cathy Moon is the Director of the Therapeutic Arts Program at the Art Institute of Chicago. She will be returning to Africa this summer.

More information about this program can be found at www.globalallianceafrica.org.



(Top) Jim Cubit, Mark Wilson and Bruce Moon--house concert to raise money for the Global Alliance for Africa's Therapeutic Arts Program.
(Bottom)East African artwork for sale at the event



(Top) Cathy Moon and Laurie Cubit
(Bottom) Global Alliance for Africa's Therapeutic Arts Program participants