Changing Our World Through Art

May 14, 2011 -- I just had the pleasure of watching a video of the French artist JR, 2011 TED prize winner talk to a TED audience about how he effectively uses art to literally change the world. JR's TED Prize Wish: Use Art to Turn the World Inside Out He often goes into areas of countries where there is an abundance of destruction, violence, despair and grief. These are places where people are struggling to survive, there's a loss of identity and there is no art. He inspires community members to participate. Involvement in these projects gives people hope, a regained sense of identity and opportunities to express these painful emotions.

Inside Out: A Global Art Project

I am a community muralist/art educator. After working with Mural My Neighborhood several years ago and earning a Masters in Art Education from Case Western Reserve University last year, I was commissioned to create community murals in Cleveland last fall. As I watched J.R's video, I realized that murals must go far beyond beautiful or provocative art on a wall. It should have some meaning and connection to the people who live in the area where the mural is installed. I am also, striving to bring vitality, hope and pride to areas of my city where it is needed. Below are murals I created last year for the Buckeye and Hough neighborhoods. I am excited to work with a group of young people and community volunteers to create a huge 19' X 150' exterior mural for Harmony Park in Ward 5 this summer. Harmony Park is the brain-child of Gwen Garth, a Cleveland artist and community activist. Who knows how far this type of work will reach and how many lives that will ultimately be impacted and changed by our work?

"The Storyteller:How Sweet the Sound Mural" for Verizon Wireless 2010

Public Mural Celebrates Verizon's "How Sweet the Sound" Gospel Program - Cleveland

Photo by Michael Loccisano for WireImage

Anna Arnold, Getty Images  by Michael Loccisano

"The Storyteller: Hough", Cleveland Museum of Art Community Mural

"The Storyteller" (top) painting on canvas (36" X 48") that is the original sketch and inspiration for the large scale Cleveland Museum of Art Community Mural. Below, Anna stands in front of a section of the 8' X 32' mural that is now installed on the front of the Thurgood Marshall Recreation Center (8611 Hough Ave.) in Cleveland's Hough neighborhood.

The Lotus Blossom Bunny for Year of the Rabbit, Cleveland, Ohio

May 11, 2011 - Cleveland Councilmen Jeff Johnson and T.J. Dow and Anna Arnold with her "Lotus Blossom Bunny" at the unveiling of The Year of the Rabbit sculptures at Convivium 33 Gallery in Cleveland, Ohio. Councilmen Johnson and Dow (along with Joe Cimperman) sponsored Anna's "The Lotus Blossom Bunny for the St. Clair Superior Development Corporation's "Year of the Rabbit" 6th annual public art project celebrating the Chinese lunar year. Anna's rabbit will be displayed on the main stairway at City Hall on Lakeside Ave. throughout the summer in Cleveland.

"This was quite an active day that began in the morning with more work on Angelica Pozo's "St. Luke's Board Up" project and then ended with the Year of the Rabbit" unveiling at Convivium 33 Gallery. It was really exciting to meet Councilmen Jeff Johnson and T.J. Dow, who sponsored my rabbit along with Councilman Joe Cimperman, and have my photo taken with them and the finished sculpture. I am happy to report that they are both pleased with my work and I can't wait for Mr. Cimperman to see it! I saw some pretty amazing rabbit sculptures in this exhibit and I know the public is going to love seeing them all over Cleveland's St. Clair/Superior district."

annaarnold.net/

A Short Visual History of "The Lotus Blossom Bunny"  Photos by Anna Arnold 2011

Read Sarah Sphar's online Ohio Authority article about the Year of the Rabbit below:

Year of the Rabbit  

Read the online article on ArtsQuest, April 26:
Year of the Rabbit