Artist Meredith Kuntzsch is on a mission. Or, rather, she is about to embark on a mission trip. Meredith will be traveling to Peru from June 18-June 28, 2010. There she will be working with impoverished people, teaching art classes to the children and aiding the sick and elderly wherever she is needed during her stay. In this article: learn a little more about the artist, her generosity, and how you can help while collecting original fine art.
I met Meredith Kuntzsch this year at Art City Austin, where, as mentioned in previously published articles of mine to which she contributed, I immediately was drawn to her work. She paints using pastels, and had a rather impressive collection on display of her almost-surreal landscapes, characterized by their vibrant colors and beautiful gold frames. If you saw her booth, then you’ll know exactly what to expect when offering a charitable contribution to her current cause, the trip to Peru. “There I hope to work in the orphanages teaching the children art,” the artist explained when first telling me about her impending mission trip. “I'll visit with the elderly and infirmed, build houses and basically do whatever needs to be done. I will learn about humility and grace from these people.”
Meredith has been selling 5”x7” mini paintings to raise money for the upcoming mission trip, and so far it seems to be going quite well. The money goes to help purchase art supplies and fund other aspects of the visit, during which Meredith will not only be selflessly giving her time and talents to help enrich and heal the lives of total strangers, but will be living in conditions most of us couldn’t even imagine. “There will be no daily showers, no comfy beds, no Wi-Fi, no Starbucks, no road rage, no cell phone. There will be loving human kindness in the face of extreme poverty. Poverty of circumstance, but NOT of spirit,” she describes.
While she’s there, Meredith intends to teach the people art, and leave them with the necessary tools, that will allow them to engage in art therapy. Although she aims to teach, the artist (who resides in the Austin area part of the year, and also calls Florida and Michigan home) is certain to learn from the experience, too. “I will be taking my camera and several memory sticks. The photographs I bring back will eventually play a part in my new work.”
Currently there are only TWO paintings left in the series of minis Meredith is selling in her fundraiser, so if you seek the gift of art for Father’s Day, a special grad, or yourself, now’s your chance to satisfy that need while donating to a very worthy project! The following is from MeredithKutzsch.com, where you can reach the artist to make a purchase:
**SPECIAL OFFER**
From now until June 15, 2010, buy a “mini” and 100% of the sales will go to fund art supplies for my upcoming mission trip to visit Peru. Through the healing power of art making, I hope to encourage those in poverty and children in the local orphanages.
During this time each “mini” painting is only $165 including all tax, shipping and handling. This price is a special Peru mission trip fundraising offer.
To learn more about the science and studies behind art therapy, please visit two organizations of which Meredith is a member: International Expressive Art Therapy Association and Society for the Arts in Healthcare.
TO ORDER: simply email at mkuntzsch2@mac.com - or - text 734.674.7542.
LEARN AND LOOK at the minis: http://www.meredithkuntzsch.com/www.meredithkuntzsch.com/minis/minis.html
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