Honorable Mention - Open Division
Art for Life Foundation
Norman, OK
Oklahoma Red Dirt Politics
Duane Chelenza, a federal firefighter and paramedic who was one of the rescuers after the bombing of the OKC Murrah Building, founded the Art for Life Foundation in 1998. During the years following the bombing, Mr. Chelenza suffered from depression and terminal cancer. He found that creating artwork relieved much of his suffering. With the assistance of art therapist Madeline Rugh, Ph.D., and Sheryl Cozad, M.F.A., he established the foundation to provide free and low-cost art classes in a creative healing environment for individuals who have experienced losses and isolation due to age, illness, or life experience. In the past several years, open studio art classes have been held in many sites with funding provided by grants from the Oklahoma Arts Council.
Please note: The Art for Life open studio meeting at the Norman Depot Performing Arts Studio is comprised of Democrats, Republicans and everything in between. Participants find that sharing laughter builds community: it heals body and spirit as much as creating artwork. It is hoped that viewers and readers of our mural and poem will enjoy sharing a few laughs with us in poking fun at politicians (those animals with ties) and constituents (those with newspapers) in our beloved state.
Readers are encouraged to sing these lyrics to the tune of our state song:
Oklahoma, where the coyotes howl at our raccoons,
And the gophers dig, just like a pig
While the hawks are circling in the sky!
Pigeons fly around the capitol and have some fun
Watching mourning doves and mocking birds
Building nests and laying lots of eggs!
The bobcats stalk the little moles,
And the crows are working at the polls!
So when the snakes go out and lobby,
Its really just a hobby!
You're doing fine, beastly things,
Oklahoma, O.K., YEAH!!!
--Anonymous (but we know who it
is!)
Art for Life Foundation
Sheryl Cozad, Director
Norman, OK |
