Debi in Mérida: Purpura Plastika

Showing posts with label Purpura Plastika. Show all posts

tis the season...

...and there have been no shortages on parties, theatrical events, cultural events, and just plain fun with friends events!

We had a christmas party the other night for the girls at a group home, complete with tree, santa, gifts, dance performances, sing alongs, and cake.

Purpura Plastika had an exhibit of art by participants from several workshops -

and of course the wedding of our dear friends daughter - oh, and the reception!

It's been a great few weeks, and looks to be just as good for the upcoming few. Parties here, parties at friends', Friends in from out of town, part-timers back for the winter,

Not to mention the planning for the 2012 Spay n Neuter Campaign,
if you want to volunteer or donate just shoot me an email!

Purpura Plastika

I have written a number of posts about Purpura Plastika and their Art Therapy programs.

I am a huge fan of, and so very proud of what these artists accomplish with kids and women from, shall we say distressed situations.

You can read my posts Here and Here

They are planning a SALE this coming week. Not much notice - I know!

I was going to write about it, but Joanna has beat me to the punch so I will direct you to her well written and full of photos post

CLICK HERE

and don't forget to visit PPK's website for more info and lots more photos

Purpura Plastika

I've posted about Purpura Plastika before, it seems time to do it once again!

click the sentence above to see the previous post

Purpura Plastika,(PPK) was created by a group of young artists with the intention of teaching Expressive Awareness through Art to children, women and older adults in special situations. All suffering from some form of disability, terminal illness, violence, neglect, or other kind of abuse.

Created under the premise that art is in and of itself a natural therapy, and realizing that art is capable of transforming the quality of a persons life. These workshops seek to serve as a channel for transformation, through the use of cerebral gymnastics, art therapy, music therapy, breathing exercises, group meditation, self awareness and improvement, and other techniques that assist in liberating the stress and to nurture in an ideal way creativity The participants use techniques directed to achieving an emotional catharsis, they learn to take control of their emotions, making them tangible, giving them the ability to express them in a graphical way. This ability to take control of and express ones emotions allows them to own their experiences and to transmute these experiences and harmful feelings into controlled emotions allowing for personal growth and improvement.

As the holidays approach, and as you prepare for your trips to Merida, remember this amazing project. Go to their website, pick up some of the art supplies listed toss them in to your bag.

There are also ways to donate money on their webpage. Although PPK receives some grants and assistance it is the artists themselves, and the volunteers that provide the bulk of the funding required to keep this project going.

If you live here in Merida or stay here for several months at a time there aer other ways you can help; participate in a workshop, help with advertising or project management, help a child understand a colorwheel. Contact one of the artists listed on the webpage, see what you can do!

Also, if you access the PPK webpage and then go to the Library you will find art by the artists themselves. You can continue to support the project by buying artist work as well.

And remember to check in on their events for the ability to purchase the kids art.

If you go to my previous post on PPK you'll see examples of pieces we've purchased both from kids, and from 2 of the artists.

I think you'll find this to be a fulfilling adventure!

Purpura Plastika

There is a group of talented and caring artists and friends here who have created and nurture a non-profit cultural organization, "Purpura Plastika", which brings art to the disadvantaged here in Merida. Formed in 2006 these talented young artists believe that art can improve a person's quality of life.

Purpura Plastika (PPK) has created and offer a series of programs that promote artistic development and cultural education, called Art for Society. PPK continues to search for the underprivileged and to use art as a means for expression and for therapy. This past summer, several workshops were held on prevention of family violence in Merida parks. Ages varied from 7 years to 90 and participants came from local homes near the parks. About 150 paintings of "something joyful" were produced by these "new artists". Additionally plans for the new year are underway and one of the target groups for art expression may be older, local people suffering with dementia.

The current Amor y Vida workshop, which began in October is still underway and the children are learning about collages. In addition to art expression, they are learning cooperation, how to respect their instructors, how to respect each other, and how to honor their classroom as a special place for creativity.

Friday, 11 December at Galeria Maya (Calle 72 near 51 in Santiago), 7pm
The exhibition theme is "ART FOR SOCIETY… THE ART OF HELPING".

This exhibition and art sale is of a Maya theme from the children of the Salvation Army orphanage. As well as earlier paintings from the kids of Amor y Vida.

As usual proceeds go to fund more art supplies for the children.

The young artists who founded and dedicate themselves to this project often use their own money to pay for the art supplies needed, and push aside their own artistic expression, and therby their personal income in order to realize their dream. I know several of these young artists and they are so incredibly gifted and giving. Truely they posess humanitarian spirit.

Visit Purpura Plastika's website for more info, and to see some of their personal art work as well; look specifically for Alberto Varela, and Iván Baltazar.
Click here to get to their Gallery

Link to Flickr photos

Here are two of the 'kids' paintings that we have purchased