Laurie Marshall, submitted artwork
Laurie Marshall
Painting
El Paso, TX
For 40 years, Laurie Marshall has created both collaborative and individual artworks that reflect her passion for the natural world, human thriving and the joy of form, color and craftsmanship. She is the founder of the Singing Tree Mural Project, which was inspired in 1999 when an 8 year old girl asked "What if the whole world made a painting together?". Since then, her non-profit, Unity Through Creativity Foundation, has facilitated 151 murals with over 27,000 people from 64 countries. These works of art have been exhibited in or purchased by government agencies (NASA, FEMA, U.S. Botanical Gardens, Department of Interior, El Paso City Council), businesses (Azbil-a Japanese heating and sensing corporation, CASA Autogroup in El Paso), museums (Pittsburgh Children's Museum) zoos (the San Francisco and El Paso Zoos), non-profits, schools, nursing homes and prisons. She pursues her individual painting and drawing as well. Her studies include an M.A. in Community Art from 1980 before there was such a field and a year at the Art Student's League in New York City. Her work is inspired by mysterious and spiritual realism, with an emphasis on being connected to the creativity of children. She is a fierce mother and grandmother who strives for a world that works for all beings and where every person is supported to give their gifts.
Works
Laurie Marshall, submitted artwork
I love Matthew Fox's definition of an artist: To intoxicate, to speak the truth, to heal yourself and to heal the world. I share these goals. I love the joy of making a decision and taking action with my head, heart and hand working in a flowing alignment. The mystery and mercury of creation never ceases to amaze me. As an extreme extrovert, making art gives me insight into my own internal landscape which is not easily accessible to me. I also love making art with people. That is my idea of heaven - to come together with our heartaches and help this pain heal through the alchemy of imagination, making a shared vision of success which sparks innovation. I love practicing emergent wisdom where none of us know what will happen when we make a collaborative work of art. The collective genius always arises. My practice of striving to express my experience as a human being through art gives me credibility to lead others. I want the Village for myself, my children, my grandchildren and for all humanity - to share stories, images, dance, clothes, music, song as humans did for over 350,000 years. I make trees and forests the beautiful collaborative model of the whole world making a painting together, honoring the exquisite purpose of every organism in the eco-system and every person on the planet. War and violence are big, ugly and visible. I want Peace peace to be big, loud and beautiful. That is my life's purpose.
