John Coburn is an artist from Toronto, Ontario (Canada) who published a book of art in 2002 entitled Healing Hearts: a series of 43 pen and ink drawings made by Coburn in the months and years following the terrorist attacks in New York. In 2003 Coburn printed 3,000 copies to be donated to the families of 9/11. An art exhibition (curated by Toronto-based Beckett Fine Art) is to be given in Manhattan from September 1 to 15 at 14 Wall Street, at a site near Ground Zero. In fact, Coburn's work will form the basis of both art exhibition and an upcoming documentary film directed by Paul Perrier.
What is particularly remarkable to me is that his book would not have been printed, published and distributed were it not for the generosity of private corporate & artistic donors. His Healing Hearts Art Exhibition wouldn't be possible without the support of Fairfax Financial Holdings in Toronto and Sciame Construction in Toronto. Both art exhibition and documentary are being executive produced by film company owners Tom Powers of Open Door Co. in Toronto and Gordon Smeaton in New York.
Here is indie arts production more to my liking. Here is a people's art moulded by artistic vision and supported by donors, friends and sponsors who are willing to invest in significant cultural expression. What a refreshing change from the usual fatuous 'academic' arts funding such as the recent $60,000 "Research/Creation in the Fine Arts" grant awarded to Brock associate-professor Adam Dickinson in order "to write poetry about the impact of environmental chemicals and other invaders on his body". All of the estimated tens of thousands of grants applications made yearly to government funding agencies will never, in my view, surpass a single Healing Hearts success.
Well done, Mr. Coburn! I celebrate you the man, artist and cultural entrepreneur.
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