Artist Statement: This partnership envisions the transformation of a Sing for Hope Piano into a visual and emotional statement of resilience, healing, and collective strength under the theme: "I Am Not Broken." "I Am Not Broken" speaks to the lived experiences of many of our young artists who navigate systemic inequities, generational trauma, and personal challenges. Rather than focusing on damage, this theme celebrates resilience, restoration, and the beauty of imperfection. The piano becomes a canvas for testimony where cracks don't signal weakness, but the journey of becoming whole.
Joan was born in New York and has lived and worked in Italy, Spain, France, and the UK as well as Hong Kong and Tokyo. She considers herself a global citizen, which led to the idea for the "Global Waterfront Village" for the Sing for Hope Piano project. The terrain and seascape of the island of Capri, her ancestral home, plays an essential part in color and imagery. A painter for many years, the shift has been in the direction of site specific work. Recently, Joan created the "Garden of Alchemy" — a byzantine garden for the #100gatesproject on the Lower East Side of NYC — and "Project Miele," a permanent painting installation at the Hess Center for Science + Research, Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York, NY. Her paintings have sold privately over the years, and she was back on the gallery scene as of February 2016 with "Up for Debate," a group show at BRICarts Media, Brooklyn, NY, presenting work that responds to current social/political issues. The Red Hook Art Project's mission is rooted in the conviction that creative self-expression is a transformative experience that enriches individuals and communities. As an organization, RHAP works to provide a space where young people feel safe and supported as they develop their voices through artistic projects and activities. We cultivate an environment of playfulness and experimentation, while challenging our older students to help each other strengthen their individual voices through supportive criticism. The experiences of creative problem solving and self-expression that underlie our program generate self-confidence and a sense of agency in our students. We believe that these qualities meaningfully contribute to the well-being of our students, their communities, and ultimately encourage engaged citizenship.
