Artist Profile: Rich Simmons

Rich Simmons is a self -taught street artist from the UK who specializes in stencil work and bold, grafitti-inspired pop art featuring celebrities and other famous individuals. In 2008, he started an organization called Art is the Cure, which is devoted to expanding the effect of art therapy to help those in emotional and physical pain. This organization quickly made him a popular figure in Great Britain, and in 2009 he was named Vinspired’s Volunteer of the Year. We think he would be a great contribution to the Love + Water community because he clearly understands the ways in which art can become a support system to effect change.

We think that this piece, entitled "Will fight crime for food," could be paired with Rootz Rising, which works to provide sustainable food sources with schools in Africa.

Featured Charity: Bideawee

Founded in 1903 by Flora D'Auby Jenkins Kibbe and named for the Scottish phrase meaning “Stay a while,” Bideawee is the oldest humane organization in the United States and specializes in caring for animals. They operate out of New York City, Long Island, and Westhampton, and believe that relationships between humans and companion animals are incredibly important. Bidawee offers veterinary services, adoption programs, and many volunteer groups, where you can bring their pets to visit the elderly and disabled as a form of pet therapy, or bring your dog to be audience members for a club that helps shy young children learn to read aloud. They also provide educational programs, animal hospital visits, dog park services, and pet loss support groups. There’s even a camera synced up to controls which you can use to remotely play with a kitten in their in their adoption centers!

Bidawee doesn't have a profile with us yet, but if you want to check out the work that Bideawee does, you can go to their website here! You can also submit a design for Bideawee to our Artist's Choice this month!

WE ARE ONE Community Profile

name: Megan Walsh
occupation: NYU student, singer, Love and Water Designs Youth Board Advisor
shirt: "Graffiti"
charity: buildOn
artist: Bryan

 

Where are you from? 

I'm from Alsip, IL - a southwestern suburb of Chicago.

What do you do? 

Right now I am a senior at NYU majoring in Individualized Study with a concentration in "Music as a Transformative Object of the Self" and a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. I am the Music Director of NYU's premiere all-female a cappella group, The Cleftomaniacs. Clearly, I LOVE to sing! I am also a member of the wonderful Love + Water team, working as an advisor to the AMAZING L+W Youth Board.

What would you do if you could do anything your heart desired, right now? 

My heart desires to pursue too many things! But if I had to choose one, I think I'd like to jet off to Europe to travel while I write and perform my own music. Though, I might have to take the rest of the Cleftomaniacs with me because I'd miss performing with them too much.

What do you love about your Love and Water Designs shirt?  

What I love about my Graffiti buildOn shirt is that it is so beautifully crafted by Bryan, a youth member of the buildOn community. This graffiti art is so unique, so colorful, and so powerful. BuildOn works to mobilize urban youth to contribute intensive service to their own communities, and this t-shirt is truly the embodiment of that mission. 

visit the NYU Cleftomaniacs YouTube channel here! 

http://www.youtube.com/user/NYUCleftomaniacs