Search Results

< Back Inner Landscapes of Hamilton Elementary These Inner Landscapes were made in Hamilton Elementary School in Novato, California - a school that is 85% free and reduced lunch. The arts integration project involves writing, mind-mapping, design thinking, drawing, painting, poetry and speaking. Through Create Peace Project, Lili Lopez and Laurie Marshall co-facilitated the creation of 85 Inner Landscapes funded by the Sausalito Arts Festival Foundation's Artists Teaching Art. Previous Next

Ukiah High students work on the Singing Tree Mural of Climate Solutions. (Chris Pugh—Ukiah Daily Journal) < Back Students at Ukiah High working on mural focused on climate change Ukiah High students work on the Singing Tree Mural of Climate Solutions. (Chris Pugh—Ukiah Daily Journal) Students at Ukiah High School are finishing work on an art mural called “The Singing Tree Mural of Climate Solutions,” which seeks to raise awareness through art about the growing effects of climate change to the environment. The students in the classes of Biology and French for Ukiah High teacher Eveline Rodriguez are researching and depicting the top 10 solutions to climate change in a mural with the help of artist Laurie Marshall, who works to help students in schools across the Bay Area bring attention to social issues through art. Climate change is of grave concern right now for life on the planet, and most solutions need humans to bring down carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. CO2 levels just reached 415 parts per million for the first time in Earth’s history earlier this month, and scientists say there is a correlation between higher temperatures on Earth and rising CO2 levels. According to a recent United Nations report, humans are putting around 1 million species of plants and animals in danger of extinction in the coming decades. Food and water security, human health, and economic instability are all likely to become more significant issues as the effects of climate change occur. The top 10 solutions represented in the mural are based on the recommendations of Project Drawdown. Project Drawdown, a nonprofit founded in 2014 by environmentalist Paul Hawken, is a climate advocacy organization that offers solutions on its website to different aspects of climate change. It lists the top 10 solutions as refrigerant management, more wind turbines, reducing food waste, plant-rich diet, tropical forest restoration, education for girls, family planning, solar farms, the farming practice of Silvopasture, and more solar rooftops. The nonprofit also provides solutions based on sectors like electricity generation, food, women and girls, building and cities, land use, materials and transportation. The mural is not the first that Marshall and students from Ukiah High School have worked on together. In 2017, students worked on the Manzanita Singing Tree of Kindness mural, which explored ways that students could provide acts of kindness and how it could help improve relationships. The new one will go next to the Manzanita mural and will be made using the same techniques. The students learned about techniques like three-dimensional painting, how to paint the background of the mural first, adding different layers on top of each other, and how to design and complete a mural art project. “We had these great conversations, and then the kids came up with a design that contains both the grief of this time and the hope,” Marshall said. When the students finish the mural, kids from other science classes at the school will glue renderings of leaves and birds onto the final layer. The leaves will have answers to the question of what solution to climate change captures your imagination, or what action are you going to take. The birds will include answers about what the students wish for in regard to climate change. Around 350 kids will participate in total. “They are very worried, and they want ideas for action. They don’t want what’s politically possible; they want what needs to be done,” Marshall said. As part of the mural design, it will include an oak tree, redwood tree, willow tree and the Pacific madrone tree. They are also honoring the monarch butterfly and will have a pregnant woman with the Earth inside her as well as a gas mask to represent education for girls and family planning. The Singing Tree Mural will also address issues of pollution, the lack of time left, and the hope for the future of the Earth. The students hope to be finished by the end of next week and possibly have an unveiling ceremony on May 28. Their goal is to have the project completed over a short stretch to demonstrate that many people can work together quickly to achieve something. Eveline Rodriguez says that her goal is to try and have her classes next year also get the opportunity to create new murals if she can find the funds. The Manzanita Singing Tree mural focused on kindness while this mural message deals with citizenship and the different effects of climate change. She hopes that working together to create art and the themes of the murals will stay engrained with students for the rest of their lives. “I think it’s important because it leaves a memory, and it stays there,” Rodriguez said. “Some of these students who are freshman are going to see it for four years and are going to have an investment in it. So I’m hoping that it will be a reminder of what we talked about in class and what we can do.” By Curtis Driscoll | cdriscoll@willitsnews.com | Ukiah Daily Journal
PUBLISHED: May 18, 2019 at 4:08 pm | UPDATED: May 18, 2019 at 4:10 pm Previous Next

< Back Lili Lopez Marketing and Web Specialist, Collaborative Art Facilitator Lili is in charge of UTC’s website, social media, and marketing. She generates imagery, posts, and videos to raise awareness of Unity Through Creativity’s programs. She has also co-facilitated over 35 murals in the San Francisco Bay area. Lili is in charge of UTC’s website, social media, and marketing. She generates imagery, posts, and videos to raise awareness of Unity Through Creativity’s programs. Lili has skills in Photoshop and other digital editing and design tools, fundraising platforms, and website development platforms. In addition, she is fluent in Spanish and specializes in trauma-informed approaches with young people. Lili is also a certified Singing Tree Facilitator. She inspires those who join in the collaborative painting process to let go, experiment, and have confidence in their creativity. Her artistic expertise is in collaborative murals and portrait painting. She has co-facilitated over 35 murals in the San Francisco Bay area.

63cdcd93-cf73-486b-bc35-ac3f03064030 < Back Your Soul Matters 1/1 Made in a Safe House for Women, San Francisco, CA. Nine women who had left addiction, incarceration and abusive relationships had their bodies outlined in a gesture meaningful to them. They filled the outline with imagery of what they love and colors of their own choosing. None had ever painted on a wall before. San Francisco, CA, USA Previous Next

ca08575c-4aa3-440e-84c8-17eeb26a0924 < Back Lighting the Way 1/1 Kathleen Brigidina facilitated the 10’ x 12’ mural on the wall of one of the male inmate pods at the Kane County Jail in Illinois. Kathleen and the participants co-created a vision for the mural over the course of four weeks. Each person created an individual canvas to express their personal vision. Then all the visions were merged into one large collaborative mural, facilitated by Kathleen. The men came in with minimal to no painting experience as well as various degrees of anxiety and trauma that prevented them from engaging with others or being confident. By the end of this project, after being seen, heard, and respected, each man became less intimidated by painting and expressing themselves. Each man also looked forward to a future of possibility they now knew they could choose to envision and create. Kane County Sheriff's Office, Illinois 38, St. Charles, Illinois, USA Previous Next

< Back Laurie Marshall Founder, President of Board of Directors For 35 years, author, speaker and artist Laurie has empowered youth and adults through creative collaboration. She practices Peace-Building through Art, inspired by Nature and founded The Singing Tree Project. For 35 years, Author, Innovator and Artist Laurie Marshall has empowered youth and adults through creative collaboration. She practices Peace Building through Art, inspired by Nature. A visionary educator, she has served mostly low-income children, families and their schools as an Arts Integration and Project Based Learning specialist. Her mission is to nurture creativity, a love of learning and a collaborative spirit. She is the founder of Unity Through Creativity Foundation and the Singing Tree Project. In addition, Laurie is a certified K-12 Art and Social Studies Teacher with training in the Waldorf Curriculum, Conversational Intelligence, Peace Literacy and Outward Bound. Her B.A. from Antioch College in history and education, and M.A. in art and education from Beacon College laid the groundwork for her innovative use of visual art and storytelling in consensus building, leadership training and conflict prevention. Clients have included NASA, FEMA, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Interior, the U.S. Botanical Gardens, as well as public schools, hospitals and prisons around the United States. After 15 years in California, she now lives in El Paso, Texas with her husband, Tom West, where she is a member of the El Paso Quaker meeting. Her two grown sons, Jeremy and Daniel Slack, live in El Paso and Austin, respectively.

< Back Upward Bound Inner Landscapes Upward Bound students in Oakland, CA, make "Inner Landscape" wooden cut-out figures and uplift their community with artist Laurie Marshall. Previous Next

Thank you for registering!

International Day of Peace Celebration 2023 Sat. September 23, 2023 Keystone Heritage Park Sat. September 23, 2023 Keystone Heritage Park El Paso County Commissioner's proclaimed El Paso as part of the International Cities of Peace network with Unity Through Creativity's support. The language of the resolution was crafted by an intergenerational, intercultural team made up of people from the Interfaith Alliance of the Southwest, Eco-El Paso and Unity Through Creativity. Please take the time to read the Resolution here. Time & Location Saturday, Sep 23, 10:00am - 8:00pm This event will be held at Keystone Heritage Park, El Paso, 4200 Doniphan Road, El Paso, TX 79912, USA About the Event Unity Through Creativity and InterFaith Alliance of the Southwest invite you to El Paso's International Day of Peace Celebration . The festivities will be part of over 4500 celebrations nationwide of the 41st anniversary of the UN’s Peace Day holiday. It will also commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Declaration of the Universal Rights of Man. The focus of the day at Keystone will be on Peace Within, Peace With Each Other and Peace with the Earth with family friendly activities; exhibition; music; art exhibitions; art-making; short and exciting talks; dancing; practical skill development and ceremony. The gathering will also commemorate El Paso as the Veteran’s Capital of the U.S. and becoming an International City of Peace . To register to be a vendor click here. To register to speak or perform click here . Speakers, Performers, and Artists Mónica Gómez Mónica Gómez has made her living as a writer, performing songwriter, voice talent, creative writing teacher, martial arts instructor, television and radio broadcaster. She will be the Emcee for this event. Music & Mindfulness Bettina Escudero, expert meditation teacher of Paso del Norte Mindfulness Consulting, using soothing music by El Paso Pro-Musica. Hal Marcus Hal Marcus is an artist who has been painting for over 40 years and has been a long-term supporter of the Vegetarian community in El Paso. Hal will be speaking at 6:00pm. G'beda T. Lyles G’beda has a musical background rooted in African, Latin American, Mariachi, and Middle Eastern folk traditions. Her vocal style is a marriage of gospel, funk, soul, and folk. She will be performing at 7:00pm. Luis “Sito” Negron Luis “Sito” Negron, representing Commissioner David Stout, worked professionally as a reporter, editor, and writer for more than two decades, covering politics, policy, and culture. For the past decade he has worked as a communications and policy aide for elected officials at the state and local level. Fernanda Lugo Fernanda is a certified yoga teacher, health scholar specializing in behavioral sciences and environmental health. She will be hosting yoga sessions and speaking on Greening El Paso. Melissa Rosado and Mitzy Lira Melissa Vera Rosado is pursuing a BFA in dance as well as studying theater tech and production at UTEP. Mitzy Lira is a current undergraduate student studying dance and studio art with a concentration in graphic design. They will both be performing a dance piece called Meliorism. CW2 (Ret) David Garcia Advocate for veterans, families, active duty and widows throughout El Paso, Texas, CW2(Ret) David Garcia will speak about El Paso County as the Veteran Capital of the USA Stephanie Ruiz Stephanie worked as an Art Teacher at La Fe Preparatory School and studied Pre-Nursing before pursuing a BFA with two concentrations in Graphic Design and Sculpture at UTEP. She will be exhibiting sculptures and paintings, which are a reflection of her identity as a Latin/Indigenous woman. Grupo Folklorico Valle del Sol Grupo Folklorico Valle del Sol Mexican ballet folklorico dancing. For the first time the brand new children’s company will perform. They will be performing at 5:00pm. The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Social Dancers The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Social Dancers are a tribal dance group which aim to educate audiences about Tigua heritage and culture. Segundo Barrio Futbol Club The mission of SBFC , “is to seek to use soccer as a tool for social change by developing programs that foster the physical, mental, and emotional growth and development of boys and girls in El Paso's Segundo Barrio neighborhood and beyond” Gbenga Asedeko Gbenga Asedeko is a motivational speaker, author, trainer, life coach and entrepreneur who's dedicated to propelling people toward greatness. Gbenga will be focusing on “Peace Within”, delivering a talk meant to inspire action and support a purpose-driven life. Neema Soratgar Neema Soratgar was an instructor in higher education for 20 years in Afghanistan. Narrowly escaping with her life, she brought her two children to El Paso to be a visiting Research Scholar in Women’s Studies. Grandma Bea Grandma Bea , Beatriz Villegas (Ilhuicatlahuili-Bea), is an elder from Ciudad Juárez, México. She will be doing the opening ceremony at 10:00am. Organizations and Vendors Schedule

International Day of Peace Celebration Vendor Registration First name Email Last name Phone Name of Business Website/Link to your business Type of Business Vendor Table Options $125.00 $100.00 $65.00 $50.00 $20.00 $0.00 Enter the amount you wish to pay: $ Register Now Thanks for Registering! You will be receiving a confirmation email shortly.

< Back Kathleen Brigidina Board Member at Large Kathleen is an Artist, Creative Doula and Earth Activist whose mission is to nurture creativity and reconnect to Earth as an accelerated path to unite communities and inspire transformation for a healthy world. Kathleen is an Artist, Creative Doula and Earth Activist whose mission is to nurture creativity and reconnect to Earth as an accelerated path to unite communities and inspire transformation for a healthy world. Blending a vast array of formal education, experience and accomplishments, her work takes prismatic form as a Sacred Earth Artist, Coach, Teacher, Facilitator, Muralist, Curator, Community Coordinator, Water Ceremonialist, Book Author/Illustrator, Poet, Writer, Visual Meditation Guide, EcoNidra & Celtic Earth Energy Practitioner. She is a Singing Tree Facilitator, Trainer and Board Member of Unity Through Creativity, Visionary Advisor and Creative Coach for MUSEA University, Chairwoman of Elgin Green Groups, and Wisdom Council Member for Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment (GATE). She lives in Chicago. The Singing Tree of Balance, Peace and Freedom More The Listening Tree of Life, Earth and Indigenous Wisdom More Lighting the Way More Wheel of Cocreation & Conscious Evolution More Tree of Community & Simple Balance More Rise and Shine - Awakening Heart to Heart More Celebrate Water as a Global Conduit for Peace More

< Back Diana Sciarretta Certified Singing Tree Mural Facilitator Diana Sciarretta (She/They) is a Healthcare Justice Advocate, Somatic Expressive Healing Artist and Director of The Red & Orange House. Diana Sciarretta (She/They) is a Healthcare Justice Advocate, Somatic Expressive Healing Artist and Director of The Red & Orange House. Diana’s creativity centers around exploring our growth edges and the dignity of risking through art-making in community. She/they bring a trauma-informed art programs called Bodyscapes Healing Art Experience. The project’s signature focus is on exploring and reclaiming our relationship to our unique human bodies, celebrating art-making as self-care, essential for community healing for people living without enough time, space and quality healthcare. Diana has brought her Bodyscapes Healing Art Experience to women living with cancer, teens living on dialysis, people living with HIV and future physicians. Diana is a passionate, open-hearted and down-to-earth collaborator with a great sense of humor. She/they know how to be with a group going through an arts process, letting everyone find their own lane into creativity while providing steps that feel achievable and less intimidating for folks who might be new to making art in collaboration, sharing with a group, expressing feelings, and giving voice to their stories. Diana lives and works on unceded traditional Ohlone land known as the Bay Area. Diana has facilitated: Songs of Our Mothers: The 131st Singing Tree More The Oak Singing Tree of Strength and Happiness More The Shanel Valley Academy Singing Tree of Community and Culture More

< Back Tanya Vlach Interdisciplinary Consultant Tanya Vlach is an Interdisciplinary Artist weaving her arts background into communications and strategy with special projects and non Profits. https://colibrita.com Tanya Vlach is an Interdisciplinary Artist weaving her arts background into communications and strategy with special projects and non Profits. https://colibrita.com https://tanyavlach.com

< Back Beatriz Vera Board Member at Large Beatriz Vera, BSW MA, is a bilingual Sociocultural Anthropologist. Beatriz Vera, BSW MA, is a bilingual Sociocultural Anthropologist. She is a top-performing and result-driven Program Management Executive and Youth Advisor. As a Social Worker, she has worked with over 40 organizations advocating for social causes on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico Border. Her work includes promoting health, environmental justice and civic education and maximizing quality care to underserved communities across the US-Mexico Border. She is a proactive leader in the bi-national region of El Paso/Ciudad Juarez, serving as a Lecturer in Social and Environmental Justice about the border region at the University of Texas in El Paso. Her speciality is identifying, planning, developing, and implementing creative initiatives that support future visions and needs for under-represented populations. In addition, she is instrumental in crafting inclusion projects, conducting research, managing staff and resources, handling complex situations, and providing practical solutions. She has devised and executed dynamic training programs in disease prevention through education on the complex intersection of systemic injustice and personal choice.

< Back Bobbie Rae Jones Certified Singing Tree Facilitator Bobbie Rae Jones believes arts is an essential aspect to solving our social problems. A credentialed visual arts educator with over twenty years of experience instructing groups of all ages in a variety of modalities. Bobbie Rae Jones believes arts is an essential aspect to solving our social problems. A credentialed visual arts educator with over twenty years of experience instructing groups of all ages in a variety of modalities, she recently served disaster relief and long term recovery for 2018 Camp fire, 2020 COVID pandemic, 2020 Bear fire, and 2021 Dixie fire. She completed an MA in Art and Education: PreK-Older Adult in 2018, where she researched how to use Art Education and Socially Engaged Art to build community. Bobbie specializes in developing the muscle of the imagination as a tool, and combined with critical thinking she facilitates creatively visioning powerful results with the individual and group. Using trauma-informed practices, her intent is to transform populations affected by multiple disasters into thriving communities, aspiring to offer a positive experience to every person as a means to transform trauma into beauty, build peace and community through the arts. Bobbie has facilitated: The Singing Tree of Reproductive Freedom that Restores Mother Earth More The Magnolia Singing Tree of Our Inner Wellspring More Camp Fire Five Year Memorial More