In my most recent artistic endeavor I have transformed a very beat up 1980’s Toyota Huntsman camper van into a traveling work of art. Above you will find the link to the Artvism in Maine (or AIMe) website to find out more of what we are all about, but here I will tell you about it from my personal perspective. For me the whole process has been, and continues to be, a transformative experience.

When Larraine Brown from the Belfast Creative Coalition approached me with the idea of collaborating on a project involving the arts and social justice (and yes, painting another camper!) my brain almost exploded with all the possibilities. And so with Norman Kehling and many other skilled volunteers we created Betty, this fantastical, ever evolving, transportable venue for events of all kinds. Through the BCC and AIMe we are collaborating with artists and social services to bring the arts to the broader community, to give voice to people who don’t easily have the opportunity and so much more.

I am learning about so many different things through this collaborative process and my mind continues to be blown by the beauty all around me. I have met people that have lived through things I couldn’t have dreamed of and come through it all with generosity, grace and positivity. The sense of community and of individual responsibility that I have been witnessing for the past year and half has woken me up to my own feelings of impossibility and is showing me how capable I actually am. I feel so honored to be a part of this amazing organization and am excited to continue on to do more work with Betty and the amazing people who believe in her.

Betty the Artvan is a representation of a world where mother nature is honored and her children flourish, where everyone has equal value and all are heard. She is a way to imagine what would happen if we cared for and honored ourselves, each other and the earth. As she travels around she cheerfully reminds us all of our potential to thrive and she offers a safe space for people to share their voices and make the connections that are integral for our survival.