No Recession for Fusionart

Well, Spring is here and a lot has been going on already this year. In January one of my paintings, Creation, was featured as part of the spiritual talk show, Bridging Heaven and Earth, seen on cable television and also uploaded to youtube.com and google.com. The show is #236, and it can be seen on their web site, http://www.heaventoearth.com/. Check it out. The painting, which was inspired by and created for this project, can also be seen at their online art gallery, http://www.heaventoearthart.com/. (You can find me under "R" for Rickey.) We were invited to attend the taping in Santa Barbara, and the high energy in the room was quite palpable. It was a real joy to be able to connect again with Alan, producer/host of the show, and Bianca. They are an amazing couple, and their commitment to producing this wonderful program and contributing to the healing of the planet is truly a labor of love.

From March 13-15, I had the opportunity to exhibit my work and demonstrate painting at the Quantum Leap 2012 Conference in Burbank, California, along with more than a dozen of my fellow Fusionartists. The Conference was a gathering of speakers, workshops and vendors united in the intention to bring greater spiritual awareness, healing energy and peaceful cooperation to our planet. 2012 refers to the end of the Mayan calendar when some believe great changes will take place. Our Fusionart founder, Rassouli, was one of the featured speakers and delivered an inspiring multimedia presentation of his incredible work that transported the audience. I know it transported me. In addition to exhibiting our works, throughout the Conference we took turns demonstrating at our easels set up in a large room adjacent to the main hall. The people who wandered into our Fusionart "play room" were invited to create art too at a table in the center of the room supplied with paint and paper. Sometimes people would say, "But I can't draw," and I had to laugh when I remembered I had uttered the same words back in 1985. The point we wanted to make is that we are all artists if we allow ourselves to be, and we can bring our creativity into all aspects of our daily lives at any moment when we choose to do so. "Life is what you make it," is one of my favorite sayings. Many children of all ages joined our creativity fest and quickly became engrossed in the process once they let go of self-judgement. We even got some free publicity on the front page of a local newspaper. I was pleased with the small painting that came to me while I was demonstrating(see below). The title is, guess what, Quantum Leap.

I demonstrated Fusionart again this year for Art Night at the Amelia Earhart Elementary School in our La Quinta neighborhood. I thoroughly enjoyed doing this last year. Color often evokes a natural excitement in children, and their interest and enthusiasm is most rewarding. Art Night was March 26th.

Speaking of art for children, the Hollywood Arts Council recently contacted me. The Council is holding its 23rd annual "Charlie Chaplin Awards" evening on April 19th at the Hollywood Palladium. The "Charlies" are presented by Hollywood celebrities to honor outstanding merit in Hollywood and its arts. I was asked if I would donate a painting for the silent auction, which is part of the event. The money raised helps to fund an after school art program for "at risk" grade school kids. Since I believe passionately in the value of developing children's creativity and appreciation of art, I gladly accepted. In addition to supporting a worthy cause, the event is well attended and affords an opportunity for some good exposure. Below is the painting I donated, Branches (recently re-titled).


Ignoring the doom and gloom of the news, I continue to paint for the love of painting, as do my fellow Fusionartists. A group of us get together 2 Saturdays a month at Clover Park in Santa Monica to paint under the trees near picnic tables, basketball courts and soccer fields. People stroll through our outdoor "studio," often stopping to chat or just watch. The group energy of artists painting together is so positive that it naturally attracts. The world needs to experience the joy of positive self-expression and creativity more than ever now. By simply taking pleasure in our art and each other's company, in our own little way we make the world a better place.

Note: My new webmaster, Jean-Louis Boers, who is gifted in all things technical, is hard at work on a new, improved version of this web site. Look for it soon.