The John Wesley Powell Museum presents the Helping Hands Art Program for the March/April Artists of the Month. The Powell Museum’s staff, patrons, friends and the Art Program’s artist representatives, Danny Van Compernol, Myron Ben Lee, Sonya Shortman and Music/Art Teacher Missy Austin, celebrated with a pizza party reception on Friday afternoon.

The Helping Hands artists are a local favorite to Page and surrounding areas because of the variety of amazing styles of art made by the clients.
The popularity grew because of the unique art auctions held at the Fall Festival and local venues. The Art Program’s success prompted the I Believe Gallery to become a reality in June 2014. The Gallery holds the entire collections of the Helping Hands artists for purchase.

The Museum regularly invites the Helping Hands Art Program to be the Artists of the Month, which is also a popular event. “Usually there are so many pieces but this year they only sent eight. This is a community service thing we do for [the Art Program].” says Sally Foti, Art Director for the Powell Museum. “This one here is a special piece.” She points out the piece titled ‘Abstract’ by Glen Yazzie, an intricate, glowing mandala.  “From what I understand this is [Glen’s] last piece because he is no longer able to do art anymore.”

Austin mentions the Agency might keep the piece to honor Yazzie’s love of art. “Its nice to keep memories. [Yazzie] is the biggest artist, he loves painting pictures. They are so perfect and very intricate. I would like to keep it displayed in the [I Believe] Gallery.” For now the must-see painting is on display at the Powell Museum.

Compernol also submitted several pieces that attract the eye. His representation of a Santa Fe Mission was another popular piece that museum patrons have shown interest in.

All the pieces submitted are vibrant and unique to each artist’s style bringing to life the Art Program’s motto, ‘Everyone has something beautiful to share.”
Currently the eight paintings are on display at the Powell Museum through April. During the reception Shortman and Compernol treated the museum guests to a performance of Ed Sheeran’s song ‘Perfect’ in sign language. The performance came with a warning from Shortman. “Don’t cry, ok? People usually cry when we do this song, so try not to cry.”

They performed the song with perfect sign. The room clapped when they were done and agreed the song and performance had the ability to bring a tear to the eye. Afterwards Shortman invites everybody to an upcoming May concert in tribute to Mama Mia.

Austin combines the art and music to open up the imagination of the clients in the Art Program. “They tell me what they want to paint and I guide their hands, they use their imagination. Right now we are working on Zentangle with dog paws. They are creating their own design and it’s with a big paw shape cut-out with a design in the middle to be displayed here [at the Museum] or at the [I Believe] gallery.”

The proceeds from the art that sells isn’t subject to consignment fees and the full amount given back to the Helping Hands Agency to help fund their Art Program, or given to the artist so they’ll have some spending money at the end of the year.

The John Wesley Powell Museum is located at 6 north Lake Powell Boulevard in Page at the corner of Lake Powell Blvd. and North Navajo Drive.
They are open from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. seven days a week. The I Believe Gallery will re-open April 2 and is located down the street at 645 north Navajo Drive. They’re open six days a week Monday through Friday 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. for the spring and summer season.