4 minute read
Aspirational Art
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This quote from Pope John Paul II, my love for people in recovery, and a generous grant from The Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation fueled the creation of Ursuline Academy’s “Aspirational Art.”
The idea: The current addiction crisis in our nation, and more specifically in New Orleans, was at the top of my list. Having been part of a family in crisis and recovery, I have gained intimate knowledge of the recovery process and the strength that comes from being connected to and supported by others. My goal was to send pieces of love and encouragement to those in our city who were fighting the battle of addiction. I also hoped that we could offer this to a women’s facility to “uplift” our sisters in this battle. Through prayer and reflection, the idea took form and the next step was to find such a facility that was in need of our services. Mrs Natalie Vitrano and I put our creative heads together and came up with a number of concepts.
Partnership with Grace House: The only long term treatment facility for women seeking sobriety that I had heard of in New Orleans was Grace House. The CEO Else Peterson was a constant support. Strangely enough, when I made my first contact with Grace House, they were moving into a new facility that had blank walls and a need for art. God has been present in this process from beginning to end. The collaboration with Grace House has continued for the last two years and has been amazing. We are a true partnership in every aspect.
The learning: The goal of this project was to demystify the recovery process, teach the students about the steps and slogans of Alcoholics Anonymous, prevent addiction through education, and learn how to create
a commissioned piece of art using acrylic paints. Pre-COVID, two women from Grace House came to Ursuline to share their story of recovery and speak about their experience working the steps. One of the women had a similar Catholic high school experience as our students. This was surprising to most. The girls were empathetic and were moved to delve into this project with the motivation to be part of the courageous women's healing process.
The artwork: Over the past year, we have created over 100 pieces of art for Grace House – one mural, 50 large outdoor paintings, and framed pieces that are hung in therapy rooms, common rooms, and residents’ bedrooms. Student artists illustrated Alcoholics Anonymous' Twelve Steps, slogans, and words of encouragement. In addition, 2,000 postcards were printed with some of the work to be used as a fundraiser for treatment. The students used professional grade materials that would have been prohibitive had we not received funding. Mrs Natalie Vitrano and I implemented the grant in our higher level art classes. Our projects shifted in accordance with the needs of the facility. In fact, we are currently dreaming up our grant for next year.
Reflection: The final step of the project was a reflection page - giving the students a moment to reflect on the project, process, and service experience. The best way to convey what this project has meant to all of us is through the words of one of our artists: “My favorite part of creating this project was knowing that I am helping women - encouraging and supporting them on this otherwise lonely journey.” - McKenna Brannan, Class of 2022
By Maureen Cremaldi, MS Counseling, LPC
