“Autumn Cat with Pumpkin” by Michael Rachor

ARTIST STATEMENT:

Mixed Media on Paper

“I am a senior citizen who has selected to express myself in different art mediums, including acrylic, graphite, watercolor, and mixed mediums. I’ve submitted my Autumn Cat with Pumpkin because I love a cat’s personality; their individuality and demureness. It means to me that a cat is resilient and very loveable as well as loving. I also have a series of cat drawings, which recently showed at HCMC (January – April 2017).”
See more of my work here.

PROVIDED BY:

Avivo Artworks

Since 2004, Avivo ArtWorks, formerly Spectrum ArtWorks, has been working to support professional artists living with mental illness. Located at the Lighthouse, a Community Support Program in Minneapolis, the program meets its mission through a community-focused and recovery-based approach. Its multi-faceted art studio and programming assists artists at reaching and maintaining their artist-related goals such as making new art, connecting with other artists, and accessing exhibition and grant opportunities. In addition to this, each year the program organizes a new exhibition that aims to meet its mission to challenge stigma and raise mental health awareness. In 2015, the program partnered with the Minneapolis Institute of Art to bring “In Conversation,” a residency and exhibition that featured 17 artists from the program. Each participant created a new piece of art that was in conversation with an object or artwork in the museum’s collection. In 2017, Avivo ArtWorks facilitated “The Big Picture,” a group exhibition that presented artwork that explored wellness in recovery through art. “To Really See,” opening August 2017 at the Hennepin County Library – Central Minneapolis, is Avivo ArtWorks first every traveling group exhibition. The show explores the medication-taking experience and will feature artwork from artists who use Avivo ArtWorks services and artists from across the state of Minnesota.