Girl Noticed is a Nationwide charcoal mural project aimed at bringing attention and awareness to the important role “the female” plays in our society.
My name is Lori Pratico and along with photographer Elizabeth Sanjuan I will be traveling 50 states in 3 years to erect a series of detailed charcoal portraits, created as large exterior murals. Each mural will depict a female chosen from the area in which the mural will be painted. The murals will be crafted in charcoal. The idea is, weather conditions and time will naturally and quickly fade away these images. There is a window of time to “Notice” the artwork that has been created. This representing the message: “when an individual’s talents, intelligence, and character are left unnoticed, they may fade away, disappear, and never be seen or developed into their full potential.” Each individual chosen will be photographed alongside their portrait and these photos will comprise a book to be published at the completion of the project.
I started my artistic career over 25 years ago painting billboards in Philadelphia and have decided to return to climbing walls. I painted billboards out of high school because I thought it would be the easiest way to get my work seen and recognized. Over 25 years later I’m back to painting walls for the same reason, but with a different goal. To bring attention to important issues surrounding the demoralization of women and to recognize the strength, courage, talents and tenacity of females throughout the United States. I’m creating something you have no choice but to notice. The first mural will be done in Hollywood, Florida in January 2015. Before my 50th birthday I will travel 50 states and create at least 50 murals. Art has always been where I have found my voice, and I aim to be heard.
Elizabeth Sanjuan began her travel and photography adventures while at American Airlines, where she worked for 25 years. Now a recognized philanthropist and gallery owner in Hollywood, Florida, she has traveled to over 73 countries and plans to see at least 100 by the time she reaches age sixty. She and her husband, Ken Brown, founded the Sanjuan-Brown Hollywood Arts Foundation in 2012, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts and arts education. World travel is her vehicle and photography is her medium. “My passion is to discover, through travel, the vast mosaic of people, lands and cultures that the world offers; and to record, as faithfully as I can, the incredible panorama of color, pattern and energy that bombards the receptive eye. Travel gives me the opportunity to observe, but I believe the lens intensifies my ability to truly understand. I want to convey the world’s incredible variety and to create an awareness, understanding and respect for humankind through photographic images. I am constantly reminded that even though people live worlds apart, we are truly all the same. Our hopes, dreams, loves and losses are all captured in our faces. The camera, provides objective proof of our commonality.”
I can’t do this without your help. Through fundraisers and grants the first phase of this Nationwide project can be made possible. Your support will go a long way in realizing this great opportunity and sharing our message. Funds will be used to help with travel expenses and documentation of the project. If you find this project worthwhile please share with your friends and social circles. All support and any exposure is an immense help, and we thank you and then thank you again, oh and then thank you again. You can follow our preparations, our travels and the work we create at www.girlnoticed.com .
Our Launch Party will be Dec. 10th at Gallery 2014 in Hollywood FL. Check the menu, events page and click on link for more details.
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