05/22/2025
LITTLE ROCK 🗣️🖌️ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brush-strokes-screening-therapeutic-art-workshop-tickets-1367771624749?aff=oddtdtcreator
This campaign is made possible through generous support from the Mid-America Arts Alliance, National Endowment for the Arts, Arkansas Soul / True Soul Media, and our community partners.
For media inquiries, interview requests, or to RSVP, please contact Niketa Reed at [email protected]:
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Brush Strokes, a poignant short documentary film by award-winning director Obed Lamy, is launching a 3-stop film screening and therapeutic art workshop across Arkansas this spring.
Audiences are invited to join a powerful art-filled experience that blends storytelling, healing, and creativity, centered around the true story of Larry Harper, a 75-year-old stroke survivor who rediscovers his lifelong dream of becoming an artist through art therapy.
Screening & Workshop Dates:
Friday, May 30 | 4–6 PM — Mosaic Templars Cultural Center (Little Rock, AR)
Friday, June 6 | 2–4 PM — The Blossoms at Stamps Rehab & Nursing Center (Stamps, AR)
Sunday, July 20 | 2–4 PM — Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (Bentonville, AR) Special Guest Speaker: Joi McGowan, Licensed Professional Counselor
Event Activities:
- Screening of Brush Strokes (9-minute runtime)
- Q&A with the filmmakers
- Group Breathwork + Art Activity (45 minutes): A guided, therapeutic art session to reduce anxiety and explore creativity for both caregivers and those receiving care
All participants will receive free art materials, with accommodations made for different mobility needs. Attendees are invited to take their artwork home as part of the healing journey. Events are free and open to the public.
About the Film
Title: Brush Strokes
Running Time: 9:03
Directed by: Obed Lamy
Logline: When a 75-year-old man turns to art therapy to recover from a stroke, he rediscovers his lifelong dream of becoming an artist.
Synopsis:
In 2015, Larry Harper experienced a stroke that left him with limited speech and mobility. A retired factory worker, Larry turned to painting as both physical and emotional therapy. Brush Strokes offers an intimate look at his journey of resilience, revealing the often-overlooked power of creative expression in stroke recovery, aging, and reclaiming lost dreams.
About the Director
Obed Lamy is a Haitian journalist and filmmaker whose work explores collective memory, forgotten histories, and community resilience. A Fulbright Scholar and recipient of a Student Emmy, his films have screened nationally and internationally at festivals and institutions including the Smithsonian, the Toronto Black Film Festival, and Crystal Bridges Museum.
