OUR MISSION

The Global Art Initiative's mission is to break the poverty cycle for disabled artists in Third World Countries. We are a non-profit focused on education and the sale of original artwork to benefit handicapped artists globally. We engage children and adults in art projects geared to developing an understanding of disability and the awareness that artistic ability is not limited by a disability.  Our hope is that through their experience with the Global Art Initiative, participants will take compassionate action, becoming donors in the larger shared humanitarian project.

3rd Annual Special Arts Festival

Garland, Texas - January 16, 2010

Dr. Fred Sorrells, President and International Coordinator of the Global Art Initiative, participated in the 3rd Annual Special Arts Festival in Garland, Texas at the invitation of Jan Stumbo of the Soul Arts Foundation in coordination with VSA Arts of Texas.

Dr. Fred Sorrells talks with Eagle Scout Dale R. WestDr. Sorrells provided crutches and coordinated crutch painting for about twenty children and adults.

Caryl Terashita helps a young man paint a crutch

Right,
Caryl Terashita helps a young artist to paint a crutch.

Left, Dr. Fred Sorrells talks with Eagle Scout Dale R. West as he paints a crutch.

Dr. Sorrells also displayed art created by disabled Haitian artists Herold Alvares and John Paul Joseph. The art shown was delivered to The Global Art Initiative Gallery on Tuesday, January 12, the very day that the earthquake struck and devastated Haiti.

Dr. Fred Sorrells talks with the Mayor of Garland, Ron Jones

Below, Patti Sadler (left) and Kami Hight (right)
pose with the crutches they painted. Dr. Sorrells
gave these college students a challenge... to initiate
a competion among colleges and universities in the
Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to collect the most crutches.

Patti Sadler and Kami Hight pose with the crutches they painted


Left, Dr. Sorrells
talks with the
Mayor of Garland,
the Honorable Ron Jones.

The Honorable Ron Jones, Mayor of Garland, was very happy that we were involved in the local project, and he observed with delight that something taking place in Garland will help improve the conditions in Haiti.

Dr. Fred Sorrells, Garland Mayor Ron Jones and Jan Stumbo with a painting by John Paul Joseph

Left, pictured left to right, are Dr. Fred Sorrells and the Honorable Ron Jones (holding a new painting by Haitian artist John Paul Joseph) and Jan Stumbo of the Soul Arts Foundation.

Dr. Fred Sorrells and Marilynne Serie hold the award-winning painting by Herold Alvarez

 

Mayor Jones, an artist himself, also had a great appreciation for the new paintings by Haitian artist Herold Alvares.

One of Herold's paintings won the Mayors Award that included a red Mayor's Award ribbon and a $150 gift card.

Right, Dr. Sorrells and Marilynne R. Serie, Executive Director of the Achievement Center of Texas, hold Herold's award winning painting.

In accepting the award for Herold, Dr. Sorrells said, "I'm so honored to be able to receive this award on behalf of Heral Alvares. I don't even know if he's dead or alive in Haiti, but he is obviously a very good artist. Thank you for honoring Herold with this award. Please keep the people of Haiti in your thoughts and prayers."