We’ve been a little quiet on social media this year, but not because we weren’t “posting.” In a way, we created our own version of social media. Only ours was made of paper, instead of pixels.

⭐ Kindness Milestone

During this season of Giving, we took a moment to count our ARTfirmations — a reminder of how far a small kindness can go. We’ve posted 121 flyers, sending more than 1,210 little positive affirmations into many hands. We might not have grown our social media, but we know we contributed something good into the world — and it’s this kind of connection we’re truly grateful for.

Where Some Tear-offs Ended Up

Get Involved!

ARTfirmations brings together inspiring messages with the creativity of local artists. Our free, take-what-you-need affirmations offer a simple way to help spread uplifting vibes and artistic expression throughout the community.

A personal note…

Dear friends,

I’m taking a chance and writing you this VERY long blog, hoping it holds your attention to the end! After almost two years of not much to say, I think it’s finally time to share some thoughts.

Well, for the first time in 25 years, we didn’t have a new project. It has felt pretty sad, but sometimes life just takes over, and the creative energy runs dry. It’s honestly been a rollercoaster for me, as I’m sure it has been for everyone — especially since COVID. Life has been pretty full, both with unexpected losses and wonderful gains, and I came to terms with the fact that my mind just wasn’t ready to spark another new project. Maybe it’s just part of turning 50, but more likely it is the result of juggling life in 2 countries which honestly feels like 2 complete separate lives. Yes, it could be viewed as exotic, and at times, it truly is. But I invite those with that mindset to try food shopping in Cyrillic, to drive your car around the “circle of aggression” during rush hour, have a commute of 25 hours to see your family, or god forbid, check yourself in at the emergency room in downtown Sofia, Bulgaria. It can be a lot to navigate, and the reality is that exotic is most often EXHAUSTING.

But back to our projects… to top things off, there is also that thing SOCIAL MEDIA. It almost felt like, why add to the noise? There are so many collaborative projects already out there. Really great ones. They are easy to find and even easier to share. Is our group even needed any more?

But it’s funny how the universe weaves its magic, always showing up just when you least expect it.

This past August, my mom suffered a serious stroke. I’ve spent a lot of time at her hospital bedside. Life for my family has been turned upside down during what was already a challenging time. Yet, amid all the sadness, stress, and uncertainty, one thing stood out — KINDNESS. From the person who picked me up from the hospital every day, to family dropping off food, checking in, and friends listening to me unconditionally for hours, and even the hospital staff—strangers who treated us like family. Those small acts of kindness meant everything.

At the start of the park, there’s a large billboard. Sad really, it is mostly bare except for some outdated calendars, a flyer for a lost cat, a bit of graffiti and a business card for a wedding DJ. Then, a tiny spark of an idea clicked—what if I left a little bit of kindness there? No overthinking, just something simple but meaningful . A thank you to the park, the land, the people past and present. It had to be something I could manage on my own, without needing help or making commitments I couldn’t keep (DID YOU HEAR ME SQUIRREL, NO OVER THINKING!). OK so free, easy, and engaging. We already have a boat load of inspiring artwork we’ve created over the past 25 years, and I have a printer. How can all these ideas swirling around come together into something inspirational? And that’s how “ARTfirmations” was born. So here it is, just under the wire for 2024. This is indeed a NNAG project!

ARTfirmations brings together inspiring messages with the creativity of local artists. Our free, take-what-you-need affirmations offer a simple way to help spread uplifting vibes and artistic expression throughout the community.

I hung one up, and by the end of the day, all the quotes were gone! So, I put up another… then another, and again, GONE. I tried hanging three flyers together, and sure enough, all of them gone too. I even put one up in my building, and yep—gone! I left our web address on the flyers, and people have started reaching out, asking for the template so they can download and share it themselves.

So here’s the thing: it turns out people DO really need this. And I love the idea of sharing something OFF the screen—giving something tangible that people can slip into their pockets, or pass to a friend, or hang on their fridge. Take that social media! It’s more than just a digital save; it’s about sparking real, human connection. YES, that’s it! And it’s a way to reach beyond our usual social circles, spreading kindness to those we may never even meet.

The next day, all gone!

I’ve created a few flyers using our past artwork, but if anyone wants to participate, here’s how:

Together, let’s keep doing what we do best—creating art that makes a difference.

Peace & Love,

Sherry

KINDNESS TRACKER: 23 flyers hung as of Oct 6, 2024!

NNAG acknowledges Philadelphia as part of Lënapehòkink, the ancestral homelands of the Lenape people. View map >

The aim was to welcome the newly arrived refugees from Ukraine.

More about this art project.

The sunflower, Ukraine’s national flower, has becomes a worldwide symbol of solidarity and peace amid the Russian invasion.

A mandala, unlike a blank canvas awaiting paint, presents a more structured approach to coloring through an array of simple, often symmetrical shapes. Just like meditation, coloring also allows us to switch off our brains from other thoughts and focus only on the moment, helping to alleviate free-floating anxiety. It can be particularly effective for people who aren’t comfortable with more creatively expressive forms of art, and finishing a full mandala offers a sense of accomplishment. These are reasons why mandala coloring can be helpful in times of stress.

Coloring often relaxes the brain. When thoughts are focused on a simple activity, our brain tends to relax. We are not disturbed by our own thoughts and appraisals. The difficulties of life can evaporate from our awareness, and both our bodies and our brains may find this rewarding. This can be beneficial because it has a de-stressing effect. The act of coloring requires repetition and attention to detail, so we are able to focus on the activity, rather than our worries. As we relax, our brains lower activity in the amygdala, which is responsible for our fight-or-flight stress response.

NNAG Collaborative Grid Projects acknowledge each person individually. Each square is seen as unique and expressive. When combined, the squares are recognized together as a whole. We can take a step back and see how we are all connected. Collaborative grids are a reminder that we are not alone, and when we work together we create a rich tapestry of diversity and strength. View more of NNAG Collaborative Grid Projects:

• 2021 Zaedno Mozhem Poveche (Together We Can Do More)
• 2020 Circle of Love
• 2020 We’re All In This Together

We join the global movement in creating art in solidarity with those affected by the war in Ukraine, and offer our wish for peace.

Although the war in Ukraine weighs heavily on us all, our capacity for unity, compassion and love is palpable. There is perhaps no better testament to this fact than the countless people who are coming together and working towards creation rather than destruction.

Registered Artists – Read guidelines, download your square, submit your art click here >.

ARTIST INFO

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone on both physical and emotional levels. But many people find they can cope with social distancing, self isolation, and this new era of uncertainty through a lens of creativity and mindfulness.

For this reason, we offer a project for 2020 “We’re All In This Together”. The idea is simple — a creative group image formed by a grid. The concept emphasizes how we are separate but together. Here are a few examples:

2020 Collaborative Grid Project

Special thank you to Eng Wong for this fabulous idea!

Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally. This kind of attention nurtures greater awareness, clarity, and acceptance of the present-moment reality. It wakes us up to the fact that our lives unfold only in moments. If we are not fully present for many of those moments, we may not only miss what is most valuable in our lives but also fail to realize the richness and the depth of our possibilities for growth and transformation. –  Kabat Zinn

Help incarcerated artists stay connected during Covid-19 visitation suspensions. We know it’s a scary time for everyone, but especially for those where social distancing is not an option. The feedback and #humanconnection these artists receive can be so beneficial to help them stay focused and positive during this time of isolation and great uncertainty.

How it works:

We’ll send you pre-printed art postcards and stamps in the mail. We request volunteers write a minimum of 10 art postcards (estimate about 5 minutes for each). You’ll note our art postcards are preprinted with the charity’s return address for your privacy.

Once you receive the postcards:

• Write about 1-2 sentences to say hello or something about the artwork on the postcard, we ask you sign just your FIRST name to make it personal
• Address the postcard to an incarcerated artist (will provide you a contact list)
• Drop them in the mail
• Send us a message once you’ve finished!

We ask that you send your postcards within 2 weeks of receiving them. Thank you for helping us make a difference!

UPDATE – WE ARE CURRENTLY NOT TAKING VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU!

Special thanks to The Justice Arts Coalition for collaborating with us for this project!

We’ll be using this page for info and ways to help. More to come shortly…

Download this flyer >

We have received dozens of letters in gratitude from prisoners through our Art Beyond Bars project. We couldn’t possibly post them all, but here are a few. We also posted an image of the postcard we originally sent as reference. If anyone is interested in lending a hand in correspondence, please contact us. Thank you to all our artists and supporters!

Postcard sent
(art by Christopher Mueller)

Hi! I received the postcard, along with lots of much needed positive energy last night. Thank you! I love the artwork and I’m very grateful to receive this kind, artistic communication. I awoke this morning and I chose a mountain scene, using colored pencils a white gel pen and acrylics on Stonehenge paper. I hope you like it! – Tony

Postcard sent (art by Denise Sedor)

“Hi! Thank you for the lovely postcard! I enjoyed it very much. I spent a lot of time looking at the painting. It’s a nice painting of a great white shark, “What Lurks Beneath” by Denise. Here is one of my paintings of a train, “The Little Train That Could”. I hope you guys like it and maybe you could post it to your website.”– your Friend Paul

Postcard Sent (art by BeeHandi)

I recently received your postcard, I really enjoyed the watercolor painting. I love how simple it is with minimal detail. I love the shading and mixtures of colors, and I love the looks of surprise when seeing the fish. The artist did a wonderful job!

The art piece I am sending is a dream house away from people, a place of peace and relaxation. This was done with color pencil and pen. This was a drawing I did to relax and clear my head the day before I received your postcard. It was the first drawing I have done in a month. It’s kind of funny because I got done with it, but had no where to send it, but now it has a home. Thank you for thinking of me. – Leonard

Postcard sent (art by Marka Suber)

Hello, it makes me so happy that you showed me your artwork. The watercolor was awesome, the artist did a wonderful job on it! ….Thank you so much and I hope this letter finds you in good health in wonderful spirits! – Justin

Postcard sent (art by Christina Hess)

…As for Christina‘s art, it is really nice! It’s really creative. I’ve never seen a cat in a Roman suit 🙂 The contrast from highlights and shadows…it’s a pleasing color composition. But what I like the most is the texture detail on the shield and the feathers. She’s really good, it’s really beautiful! ….I want to thank you for contacting me and showing your support. …best of wishes and great progress in your work and life! – Anthony

Postcard sent by (no name) Artist

Thank you so much for the artwork! Here’s something for you all! – Brian

 

Postcard sent (Art by Cathey White)

…I hope this letter finds you in the best of spirits. I’m writing to let you know I received the postcard with Cathey‘s collage…it found a place in my heart. I had to oblige and send this turkey for Thanksgiving. The incarcerated have shown me how to bring life into the world by art, which is another language. – Cordially yours, Justin

Postcard sent (art by Christina Hess)

Thank you for the postcard and warm wishes. Liking art is an understatement. I LOVE art, and have loved art since I was 10 and drew my first Snoopy cartoon. The postcard by the way did bring some warmth to my room… I am enclosing a book cover that I send to a select few “”Artists don’t color within the lines, they like to experiment and test the boundaries of the real and abstract worlds they see and invent.”” – Robert

Robert’s website >

Artwork made for NNAG by Shaylanna Luvme

Help us print more postcards!

A $5 donation funds 10 quality art postcards for prisoners.

Our 2019 Art Beyond Bars project sends artwork to prisoners in a mission to offer creativity, connection, and kindness to those disconnected from society.

Creative artwork can help bring hope and healing to many of the men and women neglected in the prison system. Any colorful works of art are cherished possessions on a prison wall. Contributing artists would need only provide permission to reproduce their artwork image. The postcards will be printed through NNAG. Artists can choose for their name to be anonymous on the postcards and social promotions. Thank you for helping us make a difference!

SUBMIT ART

Learn more about our project Art Beyond Bars Journals >
Learn more about our partner charities
Black and Pink >
The Justice Arts Coalition >

A mini holiday get together in Philly….one for a cause!

Artists and friends of (no name) Art Group come together for some good food, good drinks, and good will. We’ve been in touch with many prison charities (getting ready for our next project), and there is a great need for holiday cards for prisoners, especially within the LGBTQ community.

As you can imagine, the holiday season is often a really rough time for LGBTQ/HIV+ folks inside prison. Whatever holidays you may or may not celebrate this time of year, our incarcerated members are often denied the ability to celebrate their traditions in the ways they choose, whether their desire be to celebrate the returning of light for Solstice, the miracle of Hanukkah, the birth story of Jesus, the Black radical tradition of Kwanzaa, New Year’s Day, or something else. All too often our members do not have family and friends to reach out to them with cards or visits, making this time particularly isolating. The cards made will bring moments of joy, connection and kindness to our members while telling prison staff that people on the outside are watching.

Theses holiday card writing parties are happening around the world. The organization in charge is Black & Pink, supporting LGBTQ people impacted by the prison industrial complex. You can read more here Black & Pink 2018 Holiday Card Parties around the US & World!