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Contact: Sophie Koenig-Rodriguez, SKRodriguez@casamyrna.org, 508.333.5088
For Immediate Release, August 15, 2017
THE HEALING POWER OF ART: A DIFFERENT KIND OF AWARENESS RAISING EVENT
Talking about Domestic and Dating Violence through the Healing Power of Art
Boston – August 15, 2017 – Casa Myrna and Liquid Art House will partner to raise awareness about domestic and dating violence with a one night only event titled “The Healing Power of Art”. On Thursday, September 21st, we invite our neighbors to reflect on art as a catalyst that improves the well-being of individuals and the community.
The soulful evening will provide art for your eyes, art for your ears, and art for your palate. Guests will enjoy an exhibition – open to emerging and established artists and mentored by curator Brenda Taylor – a special “clothesline” exhibit highlighting the works of Boston’s art students and recent grads, the Liquid Art House collections, live music by Lydia Harrell and Steven Higgs, hors d’oeuvres prepared by acclaimed Chef Johnny Sheehan, and libations by Sam Adams.
“Forty years ago, Casa Myrna was founded to end domestic violence in Boston. It was named after actress and activist Myrna Vázquez because of her unwavering belief in the restorative power of the arts to heal survivors. I am thrilled to partner with Liquid Art House to continue her legacy and commemorate our 40th anniversary. ” said Stephanie Brown, CEO of Casa Myrna.
“I am very excited to partner with Casa Myrna for this wonderful soirée! We’re using art to heal, inspire and make our community better.” said Ruta Laukien, Liquid Art House owner.
Curator Brenda Taylor is honored to be part of the Casa Myrna event at L.A.H: “Art has always been able to stir emotions and offer the viewer introspection. It’s a powerful healing tool.”
The event is part of Casa Myrna’s 40th anniversary celebration. Net proceeds from ticket sales, silent auction and a portion of the main gallery’s art sales will benefit Casa Myrna’s services for survivors of domestic and dating violence.
What: Art Exhibit & Soulful Reception
When: Thursday, September 21, 2017
Where: Liquid Art House, 100 Arlington Street, Boston
Tickets: NO tickets at the door. Students: $25, General Admission: $35, VIP: $50
Tickets available now: https://casamyrna.org/healingart/
Call for Art for emerging to established artists: https://casamyrna.org/clothesline/
Call for Art for students and young grads: https://casamyrna.org/clothesline/#students
About Casa Myrna
Casa Myrna is Boston’s largest provider of shelter and support services for survivors of domestic and dating violence. 2017 marks our 40th anniversary.
We deliver solutions to end domestic and dating violence through intervention, awareness and prevention. The organization was founded in 1977 by a group of volunteers in Boston’s South End to provide a safe haven for women who were being abused by their husbands and partners. Casa Myrna was named for Myrna Vazquez, an actress and activist who organized members of the South End’s Puerto Rican community around social justice issues and domestic violence prevention.
Today, our comprehensive range of services, available in both Spanish and English, provide survivors with tools to recover from the trauma of abuse and begin to build sustainable self-sufficiency, serving over 1,600 survivors annually.
For more, visit Casa Myrna’s website.
About Liquid Art House
Liquid Art House (‘L.A.H’) is an innovative gallery-restaurant concept that balances art, space and design through the prism of social dining. L.A.H. is designing an interactive “art hospitality” experience for its patrons—as showroom, gallery, restaurant, lounge and online platform–where all offerings are seamlessly integrated under one roof. Art collectors, financiers, artists, and local creatives inspire an art opening vibe in the Grand Art Lounge while guests dine amid a museum-like setting in the low-key dining room. Everything a guest encounters at L.A.H, from furniture to flatware, is available for purchase. From curated installations to art-cuisine pairings to partner pop-ups, the canvas at Liquid Art House assumes the shape created by a brilliant community of chefs, artists, designers and nightly guests.
Conceived and helmed by Wall Street investment banker-turned-entrepreneur Ruta Laukien, L.A.H. seeks to amplify the art encounter, further the dialogue and support artists through revenue and exposure. “Art speaks to our soul,” says Liquid Art House founder, Ruta Laukien. “I wanted to create a warm, approachable environment that appeals to everyone from collector to artist.” Laukien realized her vision with a dynamic team of collaborators, art consultants and designers. Art shows rotate monthly and feature local, emerging and prolific artists and designers from around the globe— some never before shown in the United States.
For more, visit L.A.H.’s website.
About Brenda Taylor
Brenda Taylor’s interest in the arts was sparked as a child attending small-scale antique auctions with her great aunt Mary and uncle Bud. Since then her passion has flourished and grown exponentially. In 1991 she opened her first gallery in Boston’s historic Back Bay at 81 Newbury Street and eventually, relocated to New York City. First in Soho and then moving into Chelsea.
Taylor has spent significant time educating artists, teaching her unique course “Approaching the Art World.” There an artist can hear what is needed to manage a career in the arts. She has been a guest speaker at numerous academic institutions, including Brown University, University of Massachusetts, Cue Art Foundation, New York Foundation for the Arts and San Jose State University.
Many art fairs later, to include Art Miami, SeaFair, and inclusion of guest appearances on BRAVO’s Gallery Girls, Taylor now curates the majority of Art at Liquid Art House Boston and W Hotel.
For more, visit Brenda Taylor’s website.
About Lydia Harrell
Lydia Harrell is one of Boston’s finest musical treasures. Her sultry, soulful voice and evocative songwriting have garnered her the attention and respect of the nation’s finest musicians and venues. Jazz/Soul is where her heart is, however, Lydia has shown an unbreakable ability to mold herself into any musical situation. Be it performing with the Boston Pops, serenading NBA fans with America’s National Anthem, or lending her vocal talents to a chart-topping deep house singles by British record label, Reel People Music, Lydia’s dedication to extracting the pure essence of song goes virtually unmatched.
Lydia consistently performs in more than 150 shows a year not only as a solo act, but also in collaborations with other artists such as world renowned jazz musician, Bobby Floyd and as one-half of the duo “The Lady Parts” providing backing vocals for Zap Mama, Ryan Montbleau, Albert Cummings and more. Her most recent musical accolades include singing lead on a Bob Marley Tribute Album distributed by Sony Music Latin, winning the 2015 Duke Ellington Jazz Vocal Competition, performing at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, NYC (2016) and winning the 2017 Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival Voice Competition.
For more, visit Lydia Harrell’s website.
About Steven Higgs
Steven Higgs has been a resident of the Boston area since October of 1995, moving from New Orleans where he studied Classical piano and took part in several Jazz courses and ensembles at Southeastern Louisiana University (Bill Evans’ alma mater), even venturing to the prestigious University of North Texas for a semester of intense Jazz studies. He accompanied various singers and instrumentalists throughout college, while also joining the group “Touch,” performing at venues such as the Superdome, the Natchez Riverboat, the Inn on Bourbon St., opened for Pete Fountain a couple times, many Mardi Gras events/balls, and countless corporate functions and weddings across greater New Orleans. Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?
Steven started basic piano lessons at the age of 7 and for the next 17 years, mastered Mozart and Beethoven Sonatas, works by Chopin, Bach, Scarlatti, Liszt, and Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” Also playing by ear during these years, some of his other influences from whom he’d duplicate renditions of on the piano (to name but a few) have been the Beatles, Billy Joel, Elton John, Sting, and movie themes by John Williams. Steven’s music variety includes Standard and Big Band Jazz, R&B, Pop/Rock, Ragtime, Broadway and Film songs/themes, New Orleans Dixieland and Funk.
Based now in metro-Boston, Steven joined the group “Millennium” for nearly 10 yrs. & continues to play in several Boston-area hotels & restaurants as solo pianist, while also functioning as a free-lance musician with other groups, duos and trios, singer-songwriters, and is also session-keyboardist/pianist/accompanist & co-composer on various music projects, and recently was a member of the group Alliance -now with Lydia Harrell (duo and trio performances) & the bands “Platinum” and “Lovely Singer.” Steven also teaches piano to children and adults of all ages.
For more, visit Steven Higgs’ website.
Casa Myrna (Contact Kit at kcali@casamyrna.org for variations.)
Elsie Kagan, “Milvian Bridge“, acrylic and oil on canvas, 72″ x 96”, 2008
Kiki Karavas, “Trippy“
