St. George’s-by-the-River’s Canterbury Art Show Will Benefit the Work of 180 Turning Lives Around Arts Therapy Program Amanda’s Easel

St. George's-by-the-River Episcopal Church’s Canterbury Art Show…a Tapestry of the Arts, a premier local exhibition and sale of juried and non-juried artwork which will take place Labor Day weekend August 29, 30 and 31, announced that a portion of its proceeds will once again benefit the work of Amanda’s Easel, a creative arts therapy program administered through 180 Turning Lives Around.  The event will take place at St. George's-by-the-River, 7 Lincoln Avenue, Rumson, New Jersey.

Amanda’s Easel, the nationally recognized creative arts therapies program, is designed to create a support system to help both children and their non-offending parents cope with the life changes precipitated by violence and abuse.  The program provides art, play and music therapy that promotes healing by encouraging clients to express and understand their feelings and fears in a safe and nurturing environment, through various creative arts intervention and case management services.  Children don’t often know how to describe the overwhelming feelings associated with domestic abuse.  Amanda’s Easel gives them the tools so that they can begin healing.

“We’re so grateful to St. George’s and the Canterbury Art Show for their continued support,” said Program Coordinator Cindy Westendorf.  Each year since 2012, children of St. George’s-by-the-River parish have participated in structured  art classes as part of the Sunday School program.  In addition, members of St. George’s chapter of the Girls Friendly Society, a philanthropic society that empowers girls and young women, create small paintings, to be exhibited at the Art Show.  Framed and matted originals of these paintings are sold during the art show.  Each year, money has been donated to Amanda’s Easel from the proceeds of these sales.  “What a great partnership we’ve formed with St. George’s,” said Westendorf.  “After the 2013 Art Show, we enjoyed hosting the talented Girls Friendly Society artists and guests for a workshop on our art therapy program, where the children were encouraged to express themselves using drawing and painting. Through creating art and discussion, the children learned how they can gain increased self-awareness and learn to cope with stress and traumatic experiences.  These are valuable skills no matter what your life experience may be.  I think all of us, both children and adults,  have gained so much by learning more about what our client families go through and the ways we can help.” 

The Canterbury Art Show will celebrate its third year in 2014. Each year, over 600 works by artists from all over New Jersey and beyond are displayed and sold.   All proceeds from the Art Show directly benefit St. George’s-by-the-River and its Outreach Grants to more than 30 local agencies serving the needy of Monmouth and Ocean counties, including Lunch Break, Family Promise, HABcore, 180 Turning Lives Around and more. 

Tickets to the Canterbury Art Show…a Tapestry of the Arts can be purchased in advance on the event website www.canterburyartshow.com or at the door each day.  Daytime show tickets are $10 each and are good for all days of the 

show.  Tickets to the Friday, August 29 Meet the Artists reception are $40 in advance and $50 at the door.  The catered reception includes wine, beer, hors d'oeuvres and dessert. The purchase of a reception ticket provides the purchaser with free entry to the show every day. 

This year’s Canterbury Art Show…a Tapestry of the Arts is made possible in part by Monmouth Arts through funding from the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

For more information on the 2014 Canterbury Art Show at St. Georges-by-the-River, go to www.canterburyartshow.com, or  email  canterbury@stgeorgesrumson.org or call Beth Sherrard at 732-383-7465 or Denise Weiner 732-471-8512.