The Perception Project

The Perception Project Empowerment through emotive artistic collaboration. Stay tuned for upcoming art exhibitions!

The Perception Project is a non-profit devoted to providing survivors of trauma with services that take on creative forms as expressive outlets and serve the local community. Between an artist/survivor collaboration, the muse provides a personal story, and the artist creates a masterpiece showcasing the muse's strength and inner beauty. These works are showcased through art exhibitions designed to promote awareness, then gifted to the muses as a symbol of their strength.

Conflict Zone" by Nancy WillisI was first introduced to Nadia Murad when I saw her on 60 Minutes in 2014, giving anonymo...
04/19/2022

Conflict Zone" by Nancy Willis

I was first introduced to Nadia Murad when I saw her on 60 Minutes in 2014, giving anonymous testimony about her capture, enslavement and escape from ISIS. I felt helpless and overwhelmed with empathy and continued to follow the story of the Yazidis, and the ISIS-led genocide against them.

I read Nadia’s book, The Last Girl, which was a first hand account of life before, during and after ISIS. In May 2018, I went to London to meet with Nadia Murad and help her create a monotype to add to the project.

During the art making process, I was fulfilling something within me, which was to give her some relief from the weight and grief that she carries, through an art making process. To not be Nadia Murad, victim, activist, role model, celebrity…but be Nadia from Kocho, with her brother and her sister, or Nadia, a girl playing around with printmaking.

She created an image based on a photo in her book. It is of Nadia, her sister Katherine and brother Hezni on the family tractor. I knew then I wanted to paint the same image and asked her permission to do so. I wanted to give her back some of what she lost, her innocence, her childhood and family security, and safe on the family farm.

Since then, Nadia has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and continues to speak out relentlessly against strategies of war aimed at harming women and children. Her fearlessness in turning trauma into activism is inspiring.

Thank you all for your !  We look forward to continuing our efforts of through , !
01/06/2021

Thank you all for your !  We look forward to continuing our efforts of through , !

"Underwater" by Chris Ammon My work is about exploring the meanings of perceptions. I use to explore the deeper me...
06/12/2020

"Underwater" by Chris Ammon

My work is about exploring the meanings of perceptions. I use to explore the deeper meanings of a narrative by using the subjects, objects, and relationships to engage the .

As I listened to my Muse’s I was moved by their ability to hold onto their sanity and clarity of mind throughout many years of intense . It made me think of treading , being immersed in the struggle yet refusing to sink or lose sight of the . I wonder if they felt at times like they were drowning, and whether they knew that they were actually ascending towards the and . The transition from a denser medium like water, into a lighter medium such as air, is full of esoteric meaning, but above all symbolizes transcendence. I saw this when my shared their story.

I chose black and white because all of my work is in black and white, and for its subjective qualities. Working with lets my mind focus on the metaphysical aspects of a story, and allows the narrative to reveal itself organically, on its own terms.

Created for 2019 "Shifting Perspectives on Trauma"

"I Am Enough" by Christiana LewisI am not the thoughts I think or the flesh I feelI am not the words I speak out loud an...
06/11/2020

"I Am Enough" by Christiana Lewis

I am not the thoughts I think or the flesh I feel
I am not the words I speak out loud and in my head
I am not other's perceptions of me
I am not the wounds and broken parts I see
I am not the things that happened to me

I am I am whole just as I am
I am enough for these wounds are closing with in me
I am enough as these wounds make me...
I am enough with the I now see
I am enough and I now love me

beads & bible represent my Muse’s in God.
for cycles of love and life.
Red are my Muse’s favorite . My loves and birds. These showcase the of .
symbolize .

Creating loving, is Christiana's main purpose in every piece. You will always find hidden healing , and/or messages as well as very bold statements. She only paints when her feels connected and pure with non-judgment, love and of self and the purpose or person for the piece.

Created for 2019 "Shifting Perspectives on Trauma"

"Margaret’s Magic" by Meryl Lebowitz Let the of our guide us through the . Artist, Meryl Lebowitz has been creatin...
06/11/2020

"Margaret’s Magic" by Meryl Lebowitz

Let the of our guide us through the .

Artist, Meryl Lebowitz has been creating unique visual for more than 40 years. A self-taught oil painter, Lebowitz has experimented with painting not only on canvas and paper, but also on a variety of unlikely surfaces, from violins to scrap metal. Her range from the to the surrealistic, often combining photographs with the painted image. Her subjects are familiar: local faces and landscapes, the interior of her studio or favorite restaurants, friends and family...but their appeal is . Her award winning work can be found in collections throughout the United States.

Created for 2019 "Shifting Perspectives on Trauma"

Lullaby in the Sky by Heather Copinger in the won't you hold my baby tonight.I don’t believe we ever actually say goo...
05/02/2020

Lullaby in the Sky by Heather Copinger

in the won't you hold my baby tonight.

I don’t believe we ever actually say goodbye to those we , we just learn a different way to experience them. Their love can be seen in the beauty of a , heard in the laughter of a child, and felt in the depths of our .

After meeting with my muse, Ana Maria, and listening to her , I wanted to wrap my whole heart around her. I wanted to tell her she is the of and love and that she is not alone. I couldn't help but stumble to find words of comfort for her. Her story was difficult to hear, and it was evident that she is hurting, but her willingness to open her heart to share her story, her , and her boundless love was profound. She is on a of healing her heart and I felt grateful for her willingness to open up to me, and for the opportunity to gift such a a piece of artwork representing her strength and enduring love.

The for the painting was to depict a place of absolute . A place of , , love, , and strength.

Created for 2019 "Shifting Perspectives on Trauma"

Apply to be a Volunteer Artist for The Perception Project's annual "Shifting Perspectives on Trauma" Art Exhibition toda...
04/29/2020

Apply to be a Volunteer Artist for The Perception Project's annual "Shifting Perspectives on Trauma" Art Exhibition today!

Strength by Jean Marchese GallagherAs long as I’ve been an , I’ve expressed what I thought and felt through . This i...
04/29/2020

Strength by Jean Marchese Gallagher

As long as I’ve been an , I’ve expressed what I thought and felt through . This is the first time I’ve been a listener who was given a list of visual signifiers that were as images in that . As I did listen to the story--moving from to and finally self-actualization—I felt myself becoming that person experiencing that . I had to not use that I chose, but a new semiotic language that I had to organize and prioritize that reflected a for : the love of , , and . The story—spanning decades of time-- ended with a strong belief in and hope for the future, so I felt it was important to make a of strength and . My hope is that this will serve as a symbol of the for this individual and will serve to , when necessary, when struggles interfere.

Created for 2019 "Shifting Perspectives on Trauma"

This Place Exists by Travis FlackWhen you think about the word " ", it can mean a variety of things. Most often it refer...
04/25/2020

This Place Exists by Travis Flack

When you think about the word " ", it can mean a variety of things. Most often it refers to the of somewhere or something that sticks out and has to any one person. However, “place" can also refer to a state of being. You can be in a good or bad place or otherwise, compartmentalizing somewhere you’ve been.

For this , I chose to both the ideas of place in how they affected my . Through and , they reached a place that still requires a great deal of practice to stay in. I found a lot of similarities with regard to the natural of vast Southern and how it exists - hard conditions but still teeming with . We had talked about and trees and birds. We talked about how life will be there the next day and the day after that. My muse has been through an ordeal; traversing rough mental and still maintaining a life outside of all of it with such perseverance that I’m reminded of a red - there is still a lot of love in between the in spite of itself.

By combining two images to form a completely fictional place I intended to create this loving landscape through their . A homage to a specific state of being. Off in the distance trees grow, thrives and living things still prevail no matter what climate might be occurring. What I took from my muse’s story was one of through nature, family and time. These important things build a foundation to , and through the weathering of this composite we are reminded that time helps this process.

I feel so incredibly honored to be able to participate in such a unique and experience. I am thankful to my muse for sharing their story and allowing me to create something so .

Created for 2019 "Shifting Perspectives on Trauma"

Rain of Light" by Kellie Thomas-WalkerDear Annalisa,Your resonated with me quite strongly. As is in many ways parallel...
04/13/2020

Rain of Light" by Kellie Thomas-Walker

Dear Annalisa,
Your resonated with me quite strongly. As is in many ways paralleled my own. I read something the other day, “We are not bodies. We are that own a body.” When I or I immerse myself into my subject. I tried to capture you surrounded by . If you stand in the light and close your eyes, there’s a tangible that can be felt. I want you to look at it and feel the light. When things get rough find that even for a moment. There are no accidents in life. There is to everything. There was purpose that you were paired with me. We may not see it now. Or even ten years from now. But it’s there. Find your peace and the purpose will follow. It was my pleasure creating this for you.

All my best,
Kellie Thomas-Walker

Created for 2019 "Shifting Perspectives on Trauma"

Calling all in Los Angeles, or around the world! We're accepting submissions for our annual . Swipe to learn more, ...
04/11/2020

Calling all in Los Angeles, or around the world! We're accepting submissions for our annual . Swipe to learn more, or reach out via email with any questions.

@ Los Angeles, California

"Broken Waves" by YoonAh JungMeeting with Sarah was unforgettable. Her immediately overwhelmed me – her suffering and ...
04/10/2020

"Broken Waves" by YoonAh Jung

Meeting with Sarah was unforgettable. Her immediately overwhelmed me – her suffering and hurt, a huge that engulfed everything. In my mind, this wave was endlessly and its color a strong . After being witness to her intimate and , this wave of and , I began to understand how she overcame her . In spite of the difficulties she did not beneath the . There was an outpouring of ; who her and who help her, a network of and . They became the light of , and along with her strong will there was a in her life. My is shining on this broken wave, a of over and , the mark of trauma. My work portraits this of her transformation. Jewelry pieces on the surface reflect the light and shine through the blue waves. These represent Sarah’s courageous steps and the hope to anyone who were or are still in the broken waves.

Created for 2019 "Shifting Perspectives on "

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