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Maria’s Children - The lives
and paintings of some very special Russian Orphans. I recently did a
benefit concert for these incredible kids. They were visiting the US
with Maria, their mentor and teacher and advocate. In Russia, there
are many thousands of orphans and any aid they may receive, which is
very little, is most often siphoned off by corrupt officials. My
friend Jeff LaBow went there to visit these children, fell in love
with them and their incredibly courageous spirit. He befriended
Maria, who began an art school for the kids. She guided them to
painting beautiful large murals which are some of the most
whimsical, inspiring paintings I’ve ever seen. They have
transferred many of these images onto beautiful greeting cards which
are bought and sent around the world.
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These children have been long abandoned and neglected and
still
show amazing signs of love, hope and creativity. In 1993, Maria Eleseeva, a
mother and art teacher, began to work with some of these children. She developed an art curriculum and started.
This contact has changed the children's lives dramatically. They have
discovered talents within themselves and each other and above all, they have
discovered hope.
Maria's Children International
was founded to continue this work and to keep the children's hope alive.
The organization is dedicated to the creation of a safe, alternative
orphanage and fine arts learning center in Moscow. The calendar is a
collection of twelve of their fine murals, finely photographed and printed
in perfect detail and color. I've bought several for friends and I hope
you'll order some for yourself and loved ones. This is one project where I
know for certain that the funds raised will go directly to the benefit of
these children. |
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