My ideas about a lot of things have changed considerably of the course of this summer. I had the privilege of starting a program called Hands That Fly. Hands That Fly is a project that provides mental health consumers the opportunity to create art works in a professional and supportive environment. I have been dealing with issues surrounding mental illness for many years in my work, but I never had the opportunity to work directly with a large group of mental health consumers before this summer. Not only was I impressed by the participating artists’ abilities, but by the sense of community and friendship that they had for one another. They have created a safe environment for each other in a world that can be very unkind and judgmental.

I have always had a strong belief in the power of art; it’s ability to transform, heal, change, and transcend. This belief grew stronger as the summer progressed. force of will became more and more about my faith in art and my experiences during the summer. Flying became a metaphor for my work in the studio (in fact, my studio table became part of the installation) and the work being created by the participants of Hands That Fly. More than ever, I believe art is the science of freedom.