10 August 2009   (5 Comments)

Bethany P. Haley

Medium: Photography

Continent: North America

Issue: Various

Organization: eXile International


In the several months since painting live at a Falling Whistles event here in Denver, I’ve made several connections across the country with fantastic individuals working to end the more than 20-year war going on in the Congo, and the devastating effects it’s had on its people. I met Beth Haley through Facebook, who contacted me to ask the meaning behind my “There is Freedom in Story” piece, and had the honor of sitting down to coffee with her a few months ago when she passed through town.

Beth Haley

Beth’s passions are evident. The instant connection and inspiration I felt in our conversation are sure to be the experience of all others who have the same privilege. Started over a year ago, Beth helped found an organization called eXile International, which “exists to instill hope, healing, and love to the trauma victims of Africa by providing trauma counseling, art therapy programs and by teaching peace, reconciliation and conflict resolutions skills.”

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27 July 2009   (0 Comments)

Chastity Roberts

Medium: Multi-media & Photography

Continent: North America

Issue: Domestic Violence

Organization: NewstART


A couple months ago, I found the Break the Silence Project, which seeks to “help create more awareness and dialogue on issues surrounding sexual abuse.” Through getting in touch with its founder, Dawn, I’ve been introduced to several fantastic artists, and this week’s feature is one of them. Chastity Roberts uses acrylics, multi-media and photography to help NewstART for the Family Justice Center. Chastity sent me the following story to let me in on a bit of what drives her art to help a greater cause.

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28 June 2009   (3 Comments)

Shana R. Goetsch

Medium: Watercolor / Printmaking

Continent: North America

Issue: Domestic Violence

Organization: Sojourner Family Peace Center


This week: more on art therapy! Shana R. Goetsch is an artist who found me through a connection I have to the Break the Silence Project. The Break the Silence Project is geared toward creating dialogue around issues of sexual abuse, and encourages the use of art as a means of expression. I recently stumbled on the project while doing research regarding human trafficking and have been so thrilled to connect with its creator, Dawn.

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24 May 2009   (3 Comments)

Julie Fordham

Medium: Various

Continent: North America

Issue: Various

Organization: Various


I continue to be amazed by all the stories that keep coming in from all of you. I hope you’ve all enjoyed hearing the stories of others using their art to affect some kind of positive change. This week, I’m featuring Julie Fordham, an artist that stumbled upon my blog recently and has been an incredible encouragement and has passed several other names along to me that I hope to feature in the future.

I encourage you to check out her blog, which can be found by clicking here, or taking a further look at some of her art, which is posted on her Deviant Art page. Julie considers herself a mixed media collage artist, and says, “I use whatever I can get my hands on.” (That’s the spirit…)

Julie says she’s passionate about so many things, but her art is focused on depression, suicide, self injury, and eating disorders. She’s got a great heart, and shared this story on her art with me:

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14 May 2009   (1 Comment)

Leah Wiedemer

Medium: Oil & Soft Pastels

Continent: North America

Issue: Human Trafficking

Organization: Born To Fly


I definitely have a heart for a great number of social justice causes, but I make no secrets about the fact that my true passion lies in ending human trafficking. In the future, I hope to create blog posts that have more of an article slant, informing you all about the issues behind the artists here, where I’ll be able to talk a bit more about my own thoughts and experiences, how they relate to art, and what you can do (as well as featuring guest bloggers who will do the same). My guess is that a good deal of that content will focus around human trafficking, because in my own research, and in my time wandering around social media sites, I’ve come across some major players in the battle to end modern-day slavery, and they have a lot to say.

A couple of those players happen to be Diana Scimone and her friend Leah Widemer. Diana passed some information along to me via Twitter (@DianaScimone) a couple weeks ago about a new project she’s working on with Leah, an artist located in Orlando, Florida, who’s helping her illustrate a new children’s book aimed at combating human trafficking. So, when I got in touch with Leah, she relayed this story to me:

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4 May 2009   (1 Comment)

Jeremy Asher Lynch

Medium: Acrylic

Continent: North America

Issue: Clean Water

Organization: Jedidiah USA


Just a quick update this week, as I’ve been working on a lot of design work for clients, but another amazing artist from Jedidiah USA I think you should definitely check out. Jeremy Asher Lynch does a lot of work relating to clean water.

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27 April 2009   (6 Comments)

Victor Huckabee
(Pope Saint Victor)

Medium: Various

Continent: North America

Issue: Various

Organization: Blood:Water Mission


A few years ago, when the beauty of social networking really began to take hold, I stumbled onto Virb. As I spent hours pouring through the countless numbers of photographers, artists, writers, and other brilliant minds on the site (when I most likely should have been working), I ran across someone by the name “Pope Saint Victor.” Around that same time, I’d seen an overwhelming amount creativity spilling out of (what I refer to as) “the incomparable” Nashville, Tennessee, and Victor Huckabee happened to be one of them. In the last few years, I’ve somewhat silently kept watch of his unique work, imaginative illustrative style, and warm photography, and really took notice when I found out he landed a job at Blood:Water Mission. That being said, he was one of the artists at the forefront of my mind when I started this site, not only for his social justice background and experience, but because he seemed to be pushing creativity forward in what used to be a blandly-designed non-profit world.

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20 April 2009   (1 Comment)

Lindsay Branham

Medium: Various

Continent: North America

Issue: Child Soldiers

Organization: Food For the Hungry & Discover the Journey


I was introduced to Lindsay Branham’s photogrphy at an event for Falling Whistles a few months ago when I painted a piece of artwork live at an event here in Denver. Lindsay’s work is nothing short of stunning.

Using photography, writing, and documentary film, Lindsay works with both Food for the Hungry and Discover the Journey, speaking out against the war in Congo and speaking on behalf of child soldiers.

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17 April 2009   (0 Comments)

Patrick Maxcy

Medium: Acrylic & Spray Paint

Continent: North America

Issue: Conservation

Organization: NWF & WCS


Let’s face it: there’s no lack of talent when it comes to Jedidiah USA’s artists. This time, I’m featuring Patrick Maxcy, a guy with a serious passion for conservation of land and animals. He supports the National Wildlife Federation and the Wildlife Conservation Society. Here’s what he’s got to say about the direction of his he(art):

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10 April 2009   (0 Comments)

Follow Friday: KK Intl

Medium: Apparel & Headwear

Continent: North America

Issue: poverty

Organization: Krochet Kids


In keeping with the theory behind Follow Friday on Twitter, I thought I’d start using the same idea to begin posting about human rights and social justice organizations here, in an effort to provide an avenue to represent not just individual artists, but those they often work for. That being said, you can look for a new organization to be posted here every Friday, and be updated via Twitter by following my blog here.

As my first “Follow Friday” organization, this week, I’m featuring Krochet Kids International, based in the United States, but hosting projects in northern Uganda.

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