This Painting Is Sold, Thanks

This beautiful and evocative painting – titled “Stepping Stones” – is for sale, for $200, all proceeds (every penny) to benefit the tuition fund at Bishop Maginn High School.

If you wish to purchase this painting, please e-mail me, [email protected]. There is no other way to purchase it. First come, first serve.

The word that came to me when I saw this work tonight was “gorgeous.” Maria said the same word.

Sue Silverstein has been the art and theology teacher at Bishop Maginn High School for more than two decades. Before that, she worked as an artist and sold her work all over the Northeast. Her art room is a haven for students who need some refuge and inspiration and comfort.

She suffered a deeply personal tragedy and stopped painting.

She started painting again just a few days ago so that she could support her school’s tuition fund. And to inspire her art students, who can see that she puts her money where her mouth is.

She is a fountain of love and encouragement, a safe place in a chaotic world. She spends all summer in her art room without pay in case any of her students need a place to go. Lots do.

All of the proceeds of her beautiful art will go to the school, to support the tuition of needy,  poor,  and refugee students in New York State. Bishop Maginn is a private Catholic school. But they don’t turn people away because of money. Since tuition is a primary source of revenue, they don’t have much money.

Our purpose is to raise enough money so that the children who wish and need to be at the school can come and stay at the school. They just need to pay something.  We don’t need to pay everybody’s full tuition, just something every month.

So Sue is selling her paintings to support that idea and help these battered but promising  young people.

She is also donating nearly a dozen of her paintings to the Mansion’s new Memory Care Unit. She and her students are coming to the Mansion and to Bedlam Farm this coming Friday. Some of the refugee artists in the Silverstein Arts Bridge are also donating their paintings to the Mansion.

Sue Silverstein (I know her too well to call  her “Mrs.) sold her first painting, “Awakening,” immediately, for $150 just a few days ago. This painting, done in watercolor and colored pencils, was finished today. It’s worth a lot more than the asking price.

I am keenly aware that as a professional and acclaimed artist, Sue could get hundreds more for her work, but she’s doing this to support her school and the many young people who wish to enter this safe and nurturing environment, even thought their families have little or no money.

That is the very definition of a refugee, people who lost everything. and have nothing.

I can tell you with assurance that this photo is a literal “steal’ for $200. It could get one very needy student in the door. Sue is a hero, an angel perhaps, she is all about love and good.

I’m sure Sue had good reasons for putting her brushes away two decades ago, but I think the world is much better off with her painting again. I’m going to the school in the morning, and will bring the painting home.

This rebirth and resurrection has special meaning, for me, for her students, for the Army Of Good, for every artist and creative. I’m proud to be selling it, for Sue and for the school. If you want to buy it, please don’t post a message on Facebook, I’m not there all day. Send an e-mail to [email protected], first come, first serve.

(There are only four $6.99 items left on the Bishop Maginn High School Amazon Wish List. Please check it out.)