POWER

Helping women reclaim their lives from the disease of addiction, and reducing the incidence of addiction in future generations

[power-recovery]

Pillows for POWER: Keith Schmiedlin

Pittsburgh-based artist Keith Schmiedlin is known for using bold solid colors and gestural line to paint subject matter ranging from flower motifs to WWII fighter war birds.

Schmiedlin attended CAPA (Creative and Performing Arts) High School and then went off to get a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design at LaRoche College. He currently works full-time as a fine artist and runs his own business, Schmiedlin Designs. 

His paintings are in many private collections throughout the country and he is gradually attracting the attention of public outlets here in Pittsburgh. He currently has paintings on display at Children’s Hospital, Animal Friends, Vanilla Pastry Studio, the Sewickley Gallery, and the Pittsburgh Zoo. 

The Pillows for POWER auction and sale is part of the sixth annual Sunflower POWER, a celebration of National Recovery Month, scheduled for Wednesday, September 10th at PerLora on the South Side (2220 E Carson Street). 

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Pillows for POWER: Bobbi Williams

Bobbi Williams is an interdisciplinary artist, educator, and visionary. Williams holds a Master in Fine Arts degree in Playwriting and Acting from Carnegie Mellon University and Moscow Art Theater School, and a BFA in directing from Point Park College. Bobbi has attended The National Theater Institute and, most recently, The Academy of Natural Healing, where she trained to become a Reiki Master. In addition to her Reiki work, visual art, filmmaking, and acting, Ms. Williams has performed as a DJ at Pittsburgh galleries and arts events and in national and international settings. 

The most powerful woman I know is my mother who died about 23 years ago from complications of M.S. She was a painter. Her power was in her sweetness, open mind, and her ability to forgive. To me, power comes from the love and compassion that we have towards each other and ourselves. Everyone has the ability to tap into the beauty that is within him or her and persevere. That’s why we are here: to learn not only how to survive, but how to thrive.

The Pillows for POWER auction and sale is part of the sixth annual Sunflower POWER, a celebration of National Recovery Month, scheduled for Wednesday, September 10th at PerLora on the South Side (2220 E Carson Street). 

[power-recovery]

Pillows for POWER: Jonathan Winslow

In 1994, Jonathan Winslow lived for a few months in the countryside of Ecuador, where he began painting with watercolors. Two years later, after receiving a Reiki healing, he effortlessly painted A Figment Tree on a Hot Day – the first painting he sold. Now a Reiki master, Winslow has lived throughout California, Mexico, and Key West, FL, where he draws inspiration from the warm, bright, subtropical colors which predominate his palette.

I evolved into a style of abstract expressionism I call Shamanic Xpressionz because I find myself tapping into a zen, meditative state and my application of color on canvas is more of a spontaneous, active, free-flowing creation. The result is a lot of energy dancing on canvas with cosmic patterns, rhythms, and archetypes. Color therapy theory suggests how colors can affect us emotionally and physically. Combined with Reiki energy, I intend to create colorful, dynamic, harmonious, and healing art that will infuse your home or work space with that positive energy that will continue to reveal depth and fresh perspective.”

  My pillow for POWER is an ode to Mother Earth because she is so beautiful, strong and resilient despite our ongoing onslaught of industrial humanity on her. The pillow is a representation of our earth viewed from space as a whole, organic being with her beautiful blues and swirling clouds. The golden grid is intended to help heal her while underlining her majesty. I also gave the pillow a Reiki attunement with the intention of that healing energy to help heal our earth and anyone who comes in contact with the pillow.

The Pillows for POWER auction and sale is part of the sixth annual Sunflower POWER, a celebration of National Recovery Month, scheduled for Wednesday, September 10th at PerLora on the South Side (2220 E Carson Street). 

[power-recovery]

Pillows for POWER: Judith A. Ruszkowski

Judith A. Ruszkowski is a fine art photographer. She is a member of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh (AAP) and the Pittsburgh Society of Artists. In 2010 she was the recipient of the Philip Pearlstein Centennial Award at AAP's 100th Annual Exhibition at the Carnegie Museum of Art. Judith served three years on the planning committee of Lawrenceville's Art All Night, 2011-2013. In a former life, she served as interim Director of the Pittsburgh-based Center for the History of American Needlework.

Textile arts are a traditional art form for women. I wanted my piece to pay homage to women's history as craft-based artisans while reflecting the domestic role of upholstered pillows.  I chose to work with dye, lace, beads and ribbon. The pillow's design invokes POWER's sunflower motif, both through the bright yellow color and the lace-formed flowers. Just as women have used their talents over the ages, this tribute to POWER's clients and staff expresses the strength, beauty and resilience of "women's work".

The Pillows for POWER auction and sale is part of the sixth annual Sunflower POWER, a celebration of National Recovery Month, scheduled for Wednesday, September 10th at PerLora on the South Side (2220 E Carson Street). 

[power-recovery]

Pillows for POWER: Jillian Bloise

Jillian Bloise is a studio art major at Juniata College. Her short-term professional goal is to work as a graphic designer. Her dream is to own an interactive gallery with her sister. Jillian has been drawing and painting since age eight, and art has always been a part of her life.                          

The image I chose to use for my pillow is a bouquet of sunflowers laying alone on a bench. I thought that it was a perfect image to reflect women for a few reasons. For one, women are great at banding together, and when they do, they become stronger than anything. That is symbolized by the bouquet. Second, whenever you might feel alone, as a woman, you never really are. All of the other women in your life will always be there to support you. I displayed this belief by putting the sunflowers alone on a bench, but again, putting not one sunflower, but a bouquet of them.

The Pillows for POWER auction and sale is part of the sixth annual Sunflower POWER, a celebration of National Recovery Month, scheduled for Wednesday, September 10th at PerLora on the South Side (2220 E Carson Street). 

[power-recovery]

Pillows by Dee Briggs, Nancy Hart, and Olivia & Julia Zorrato (signed by Sally Wiggin)

[power-recovery]

Pillows for POWER: Carol R. Constantine

Making art, I think it all started with that first box of 64, the colors, the scent, the possibilities. I really can’t remember not drawing, painting or creating something, it’s me. In college I was privileged to study with Virgil Cantini, (Google him!) who taught me the most important art lesson of all; how to see, not just look. I am forever grateful. As a member of the Pittsburgh Society of Artists, my work has been shown in Pittsburgh galleries. Currently I am working with stained glass and buying a lot of antibacterial bandages!

  I am so happy to be able to help women in any way; using my art -- double bonus! I wanted to remind women, and everyone, that very often we are tougher than we, or anyone else knows.

The “You is…” quote from The Help, is simple and glorious.

The dragon pillow is my way of reminding folks of the power within. Find it and use it.

The Pillows for POWER auction and sale is part of the sixth annual Sunflower POWER, a celebration of National Recovery Month, scheduled for Wednesday, September 10th at PerLora on the South Side (2220 E Carson Street). 

[power-recovery]

Pillows for POWER: J.G. Boccella

J.G Boccella is an artist, musician, and social-change catalyst with over 10 years of experience at the nexus of arts, education, and advocacy. His mission has always been to bring people together through music, art, and ideas. J.G.'s painting work includes his OneLily series, Diversity Flag series, and Fierce Women series. His style Is gestural, impressionistic, and somewhat abstract, using bright and pastel colors and permanent marker on canvas and paper. His concept album "The Divided States of America", about race in America, is available on iTunes.

The Pillows for POWER auction and sale is part of the sixth annual Sunflower POWER, a celebration of National Recovery Month, scheduled for Wednesday, September 10th at PerLora on the South Side (2220 E Carson Street). 

[power-recovery]

Pillows for POWER: Stephanie Armbruster

Stephanie Armbruster works primarily as an encaustic painter and printmaker, creating luminous, translucent surfaces by suspending pigment and imagery between layers of resin and molten wax. Stephanie was born in 1983 in Cleveland, Ohio. She moved to Pittsburgh in 2001 to attend Carnegie Mellon University, where she received a BFA in 2006. Stephanie maintains a studio in Pittsburgh’s East End. Her work has been presented locally in solo exhibitions at 709 Penn Gallery and the Pittsburgh center for the Arts, and in group exhibitions at James Gallery, the Carnegie Museum of Art Heinz Galleries, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the Mattress Factory Museum of Art, and others. 

Through my work, I aim to create an impression of that which I cannot describe. I am inspired by navigating the layered symbolism of transition, both personal and environmental; points of departure, where the alternate realities of dreams reshape our perceptions, creating thresholds between what we are able to define and what has yet to be discovered. 

The Pillows for POWER auction and sale is part of the sixth annual Sunflower POWER, a celebration of National Recovery Month, scheduled for Wednesday, September 10th at PerLora on the South Side (2220 E Carson Street). 

[power-recovery]

2-sided pillow by Michael Lotenero

[power-recovery]

Pillows for POWER: Helen Naimark

Helen Naimark is an active member of Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Society of Artists, Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh, and Penn Arts. She has exhibited in numerous group and invitational exhibitions. Her studies at Art Institute of Pittsburgh in interior design led to her continued exploration of art and further study for over thirty years with a well-known artist, Lila Hirsch Brody, at the Jewish Community Center. Helen also attended classes at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and Carnegie Museum with several Pittsburgh artists.

Every day is an opportunity to explore new media: all types of paper, bits and pieces of various plastics, fabrics, and metals. Each time Helen creates, something new is added and layered. Each new work shows her ability to bring these raw materials into their final stages in paintings and in re-purposed aluminum jewelry. Helen is currently showing at the Christine Frechard Gallery on Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill.

The Pillows for POWER auction and sale is part of the sixth annual Sunflower POWER, a celebration of National Recovery Month, scheduled for Wednesday, September 10th at PerLora on the South Side (2220 E Carson Street). 

[power-recovery]

Pillows for POWER: Sherri Roberts

Sherri Roberts has been creating art since 1986 under the name Galil Threadworks. Popular songs, obscure poems, and inspiring books trigger pages worth of cartoons, which get turned into combinations of fabric and paper vignettes.  The figures also find their way into Judaic items commissioned for home and synagogue worship, some of Sherri's first successes as a self-taught artist.

I tend toward themes which highlight self-discovery and clawing our way toward positive outlooks and behaviors -- often a most challenging process for each of us. 'Catch & Release' falls within this category.  This picture issues a call to action: Catch something positive which is hidden deep inside you Then release it: uncover it and send your discovery unmasked into the world. Trust in yourself and take risks.

The Pillows for POWER auction and sale is part of the sixth annual Sunflower POWER, a celebration of National Recovery Month, scheduled for Wednesday, September 10th at PerLora on the South Side (2220 E Carson Street). 

[power-recovery]

2-sided pillow by Mia Tarducci Henry 

[power-recovery]

Pillows for POWER: Gloria Rogulin Blake

Gloria Rogulin Blake studies Botanical Art at Phipps Conservatory, earning a Certificate in Botanical Art and Illustration in 2009. Gloria is also a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA) and the Allegheny Highlands Botanical Artists Society (AHBAS). Mostly self-taught, she has not had formal art training. 

Gloria paints originals of botanical subjects in watercolor, colored pencil, acrylic, and mixed media. She also enjoys creating folk art, crafts, and pottery and uses her original artwork to create note cards and other craft items. Often using inspirational themes, she has recently begun to study iconography.

Since childhood, I’ve loved arts and crafts. My artwork and designs are colorful, lighthearted and fun. All of my creations, from the idea for a design, to the finished product, begin in my heart and are finished by my hand. From my heart to my hand to you!

The Pillows for POWER auction and sale is part of the sixth annual Sunflower POWER, a celebration of National Recovery Month, scheduled for Wednesday, September 10th at PerLora on the South Side (2220 E Carson Street). 

[power-recovery]

Pillows for POWER: Phiris Kathryn Sickels

Phiris Kathryn Sickels has been drawing and painting since she could hold a crayon, pencil, or paint brush in her hand.

Always seeking art instruction, she has studied Fine Arts at the Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University), and Community College of Allegheny County. She has been instructed in watercolor by Kathleen Zimbicki at Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, and has taken workshops with Miles Batt, Skip Lawrence, Alex Powers, Fran Larsen, Katherine Liu, and Mary Ann Clarke. Phiris is a board member of the Pittsburgh Society of Artists, past board member of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, president of the Pittsburgh Watercolor Society, member of the East Suburban Artists Leagu, and co-manager of the Eastside Gallery. She has participated and won awards in numerous juried and group shows. The Pillows for POWER auction and sale is part of the sixth annual Sunflower POWER, a celebration of National Recovery Month, scheduled for Wednesday, September 10th at PerLora on the South Side (2220 E Carson Street). 

[power-recovery]

Pillows for POWER: Cecelia (Sally) Mignogna

Cecelia Mignogna – who goes by “Sally” – is a native Pittsburgher who started sewing in grade school. Her latest passion is quilting. A longtime volunteer and retired employee of Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR), Sally is a proud supporter of local causes and organizations related to women’s issues, including POWER.

Each element of Sally’s pillow is symbolic. 

As she describes:

Sunflowers represent POWER. Purple flowers represent recovery and domestic violence awareness. Pink flowers represent breast cancer awareness. And the teal border represents awareness of sexual abuse. 

The Pillows for POWER auction and sale is part of the sixth annual Sunflower POWER, a celebration of National Recovery Month, scheduled for Wednesday, September 10th at PerLora on the South Side (2220 E Carson Street). 

[power-recovery]

Pillows by Gisele Fetterman, Esti Piels, Jen Primack/Upcycled Designs, Katie Reardon, Katrina Finn, and Lin Ferlo.