Advocacy for Artists with Mental Illness

Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, Jr.

If you saw the 2009 movie The Soloist with Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey, Jr., then you watched a movie inspired by the true story  of National Anthony Ayers, Jr., a gifted musician who wound up homeless and suffering from schizophrenia. The film story showed the power of the arts on the human spirit. From the success of the movie, Nathaniel Anthony Ayers started a foundation to bring awareness and build aid for artists suffering from mental illness.

The Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Foundation serves as a voice for people affected by mental illness. The foundation collects, documents and shares the experiences and journeys of individuals and families impacted by mental illness. The foundation also advocates on behalf of public policy initiatives that ensure parity in health care coverage for the mental ill; increase funding for national issues; improve services in local communities through county funding from the state; and ensure due process for social service. Be sure to visit the website for more information. Click here.

James Terrell--- Musician & Painter--- Exhibits Work in Potter's House Exhibit

James Terrell is a renaissance man-- singer, musician, and painter who is currently featured in the Liberated Muse exhibit at the Potter's House in DC. James is a strong performer who's vocal stylings are unique and poignantly emotional and his artwork is from the same element.

Born and Raised in DC, James Terrell is a singer songwriter guitarist and figurative painter.He graduated from Howard University with a BFA in painting. He graduated from Parsons School of Design in NYC with a MFA in painting. He received his M. Div from Columbia University/Union Theological Seminary in NYC with a focus on Theology and the Arts (painting and music). He has exhibited his paintings in Galleries from DC to NYC. He has performed his music on stages between DC and NYC. The music and art of James Stephen Terrell crosses cultural lines.

James' music incorporates the basic principles of urban folk, country, gospel and blues. The music is a breath of fresh air. The music is not based on fades, seduction, degradation, decadence and materialism. The music and art of James Terrell is a reflection of everyday working people. It represents and speaks to people who live, die and struggle to make their dreams a reality. The music and art of James Terrell is said to be a commentary on the world in which we live.

Visit his page on LiberatedMuse.com HERE

Visit his work in the current Liberated Muse art exhibit at the Potter's House in Washington, DC @The Potter's House, 1658 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC.

The art exhibit is curated by Sharon Burton of Authentic Contemporary Art. The artwork is from artists from the book Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul and the network http://www.liberatedmuse.com/.

The exhibit runs from Sept. 11-Dec. 1