Nancy and Maggie Worthen at The World's Smallest Art Gallery
Nancy and Maggie
Worthen are a mother/daughter duo from Rhode Island. Nancy attended Douglass College in New Brunswick, NJ, where
she received a BA in sociology and religion. After college, Nancy returned home to Rhode Island, married
and lived in Carolina, RI with her husband and her daughter Maggie. Nancy worked in nonprofit management
at the Westerly Center for the Arts, Providence Children’s Museum, Ready to
Learn Providence, and Providence CityArts for Youth. Nancy’s passion has been to inspire others to serve in these
mission driven organizations, while helping them to learn skills that foster
reflection and self-discovery. She
is currently a volunteer at the Fertile Underground Natural Grocery Cooperative
and the West Broadway Neighborhood Association, supporting local art and
gardening through her work with these organizations.
Nancy’s daughter Maggie had many interests while she was growing up in Rhode Island and dreamed of being both a fluent speaker of Spanish and becoming a Veterinarian. While at Smith College, Maggie achieved her dream of becoming a fluent speaker of Spanish, and was well on her way to achieving her dream of becoming a Veterinarian. In 2006 during her senior year at Smith College, Maggie had a severe brain stem stroke one week before her graduation. For the first eighteen months after her stroke, Maggie was diagnosed as being in a persistent vegetative state. After participating in a Cornell and Columbia University research project, the doctors discovered a way for Maggie to communicate using eye movement and her diagnosis changed to minimally conscious. Maggie is able to communicate with eye movement as well as comprehend written and spoken words. At the end of 2012, several words that Maggie spoke were recorded during a research visit to Rockefeller University in New York City. As a consequence, her caregivers are expanding their therapy to include hand over hand movements during personal care, art therapy, massage and recreation activities, in order to enhance her sensory stimulation.
Nancy and Maggie have always shared
a close mother/daughter bond. The
creation of MagsArts embodies their dream of working together as business
partners, as well as their shared love of artistic creation. The art that Nancy and Maggie make
together reflects their love of nature, of color, of animals and of each
other. As they hold hands using
the brush or pencil in the process of painting and drawing (Maggie is unable to
move on her own), feelings between them are understood without words. Nancy and
Maggie’s meditation practice helps them to stay in the present moment while
selecting color or subject for a painting. Their art therapist Jeannine Bestoso
teaches both Maggie and Nancy techniques such as hand over hand painting,
acrylic and watercolor painting techniques, color mixing and perspective as
well as offering them drawing exercises that stimulate Maggie’s visual acuity
and muscle memory. Nancy’s authentic movement experience informs her meditation
and art practice, as well as her ability to see into her daughter’s heart.
All of Nancy and Maggie’s art is available
for sale at www.magsarts.com . All funds raised from
sales will be used for Margaret Worthen's care, including massage, acupuncture,
art therapy sessions and travels in her van.
For further information, contact Nancy
Worthen at nancy@magsarts.com or on www.magsarts.com
* The World’s Smallest Art
Gallery is:
·
A kiosk on the South County Bike Path (http://southcountybikepath.org). It
is located in Peace Dale where the bike path crosses Route 108. The kiosk is a
beautifully designed and built structure that has two display cases. Each
measures 42” X 41” x 1”. The cases are weatherproof and have sturdy locks.
·
A joint project of Hera Gallery (http://heragallery.org) and Peace Dale Neighborhood Revitalization,
Inc. (http://www.peacedale.net).
·
A place to show your artwork. Hera Gallery will
be managing the kiosk as a place for artists to display their work. You may
have a six-week, one-person show in the kiosk on a first come, first serve
basis. Work is not juried, but must be “family friendly.” Artists are asked to
choose work that does not depict nudity, sexuality or violence. Neither Hera
Gallery nor PDNRI will insure the work. Artists display work at their own risk.
·
A way of having your work seen by a lot of
people. The bike path has very heavy traffic, especially during the Spring,
Summer and early Fall. Many bikers, runners and walkers pass by every hour.
There will not be sales from the Kiosk, but your display can include your
contact information. Hera Gallery will publicize The World’s Smallest Gallery
on its website, blog, and Constant Contact mailings. A Facebook page will be
developed.
·
A way to beautify the community. The stretch of
the bike path where the kiosk is located contains other artwork including
murals, sculpture, mosaics, and landscape architecture. The World’s Smallest
Art Gallery will add to the beautification of this area.
Rhonda LaPorte is
the coordinator of this project for Hera Gallery. If you are interested in
showing your artwork on the bike path contact John at rlporte@my.uri.edu to get more
details and to schedule a show.
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