Leslie Hanlon

Art Beyond Bars project sends artwork to prisoners in a mission to offer creativity, connection, and kindness to those disconnected from society. Our artists designed these covers to encourage prisoners to draw/write and use these as journals for creative outlets. Journals sent to prisons had many restrictions. Notebooks must be perfect bound, not stapled or sewn. Only colored pencils and ink pens were the permitted medium. The journals were sent to inside members of Black and Pink in New York, one of the few states that still allow prisoners to receive packages - colored pencil

36 artists respond to Covid-19 through a lens of creativity and mindfulness. Each artist designed a square to create one group image. The squares reveal an important message. Although we’re separate, “We’re All In This Together” - watercolor

Making Our World A Little Brighter Inspired by the Chinese proverb “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness”, each artist created an original piece of art reproduced onto glass candle votives. The original artwork was exhibited and the candle votives were available for a $5 donation to selected charities that tackle world issues such as education, environment, medical needs, and those suffering from war, poverty, hunger, and oppression - watercolor, pen and ink

MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE, ONE ROCK AT A TIME: Artists place their rocks anonymously in random public spaces to brighten someone's day. In a world that has become overwhelmingly digital, we chose nature as canvas for this project. A ZERO WASTE online exhibition was held on Black Friday to offset the overwhelming consumer frenzy and to inspire people to GIVE instead of BUY - acrylic painted rock

LOCAL ARTISTS & WINERY JOIN TOGETHER TO HELP THOSE IN NEED: In a merging of good wine and good will, bottles were available for a $25 donation to Philabundance, the region’s largest hunger relief organization - watercolor, colored pencil

BOOKMARKS FOR CHILDREN'S LITERACY: Artists create bookmarks inspired by their favorite children’s story. An exhibition was held displaying the original artwork and printed bookmarks were available for a $3 donation to First Book, a non-profit children’s literacy program - mixed media

The only requirement for this self portrait project was that it be a frontal view consisting of eyes, nose and mouth. The final outcome was to mix and match the artists’ features in an artist “flip book”. The exhibition included the original self-portraits as well as a projected multi-media presentation portraying several mix and match variations - Adobe Illustrator

MEMORY PORTRAITS - UGANDA: The project is based off of Ben Schumaker’s “The Memory Project”, a unique initiative in which artists create portraits for those living in challenging situations around the world. In addition to the portraits, each artist's goal was to raise $250 USD or 1 year's education for their child - mixed media

PORTRAITS FOR DISABLED WOMEN IN VIETNAM: The project is based off of Ben Schumaker’s “The Memory Project”, a unique initiative in which artists create portraits for those living in challenging situations around the world. Because those who have been abandoned, neglected, abused, or orphaned usually have few personal keepsakes, the purpose of the portraits is to provide them with a special memory of themselves and to help honor their heritage and identity - watercolor

PEACE FOR THE NEW YEAR: 25 artists creating their own interpretation of “peace”. Art exhibition held and sets of printed notecards/envelopes were available for a $25 donation to Cross Cultural Solutions, a non-profit organization that offers international volunteer programs around the world - mixed media

EARTH DAY: AN ARTIST'S ALTERNATIVE TO PLASTIC BOTTLES: 43 members designed artwork for a thermos alternative to plastic bottles. Artwork is interchangeable so any art print can be inserted into the thermos. All proceeds were donated to charity: water to fund a water well in Nepal - photography

A project just for fun, our “Artist Alphabet” included 26 artists, each given a random letter of the alphabet. Any size or medium could be used, as long as the artwork was proportional to a square. The final presentation was an “Artist Alphabet Book” with all 26 letters - photography, typography

CUPART: AN EARTH DAY ONLINE EXHIBITION In honor of Earth Day, we promote the use of reusable thermoses & mugs! Like our Earth Day 2013 project, we hope to promote and encourage reusable cups – the road to a happier, healthier earth - watercolor, pen & ink

ARTIST CALENDAR: 12 Artists, 12 months or art. A project “just for fun” for the new year. A small exhibition and artist reception was held at Race Street Cafe in Philadelphia - mixed media

AN EARTH DAY EXHIBITION THAT ROCKED Over 70 ‘EarthRocks’ created by artists of all ages and levels. Rocks and keepsake magnets were sold for a donation at the gallery. All proceeds were donated to Rob Greenfield’s nonprofit Happy Healthy and Free to promote future activist projects for a sustainable earth. After the show, remaining rocks were placed in community gardens and parks across the country by the "Green Riders" and other green advocates in honor of Earth Day - acrylic paint

GOOD ART. GOOD WINE. GOOD WILL.: 2nd annual exhibition & fundraiser featuring wine labels designed by over 50 local artists. The bottles were available for a donation to Philabundance, the region’s largest hunger relief organization - Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop