School of Art, Art History & Design alumna Karen Blessen’s 29 Pieces organization is launching The American LOVE Project.
Blessen (B.F.A. 1973) is the executive artistic director and founder of 29 Pieces, which was established in 2005 to develop and deliver arts programs to the Dallas-area community. It uses art to awaken, uplift and give voice to the creative human spirit to make genuine, positive social change.
The organization created the Dallas LOVE Project in 2013. They partnered with more than 120 community partners and 20,000 artists from ages 5 to 86 to create 10,000 pieces of unconditional love art that was displayed throughout the city of Dallas in tribute to John F. Kennedy’s legacy to mark the 50th anniversary of his assassination.
Now, 29 Pieces plans to take the project nationally. The American LOVE Project aims to engage schools, organizations and artists nationwide as a positive grassroots response to the divisions in our country, dramatically exemplified by the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the United States Capitol.
“The American LOVE Project cultivates the healing of one bruised and forgotten heart at a time,” Blessen said. “Art becomes the medicine. We believe it takes a project of this magnitude to showcase the power of love and art to give hope on a nationwide level.”
Americans of all ages, backgrounds and artistic abilities are invited to participate in The American LOVE Project.
Starting in May 2021 and ongoing through September 2021, 29 Pieces is recruiting teachers, students and artists from across the country to participate and be trained in The American LOVE Project lesson, based on its Artists Making a Kinder World curriculum. These trained teachers will then facilitate the American LOVE Project “Love Lesson” in their classes during the fall 2021 semester. 29 Pieces will feature artwork from students, teachers and artists of all ages on The American LOVE Project website online gallery with art searchable by state, city and name.
In addition to The American LOVE Project online gallery, 29 Pieces will produce a physical installation of artwork in Dallas and is working to arrange for a national exhibit of student art from each state at the Capitol in Washington D.C. to be displayed in early 2022, responding to the first anniversary of the January 6, 2021 event at the U.S. Capitol.
For more details on The American LOVE Project, visit https://www.theamericanloveproject.org.
To view the kickoff video, visit https://go.unl.edu/americanloveproject.