Art is not stand-alone. It is thought out, made and created by an artist. Come meet those who have been transformed and saved through the arts.
In 2018, Premier Arts Collective began a relationship with Casa de la Creatividad, located in Cozumel, Mexico. Casa de la Creatividad (“House of Creativity”) is a choice-based art studio that offers open art exploration time to local, underserved children as well as a metal studio and drumming workshop. PAC artist Jared Emerson has performed for […]
Troy Murray was introduced to Premier in 2016. As a young aspiring artist, he found a deep connection with the organization, as well as with PAC artist Jared Emerson. As the relationship grew, Troy was open and honest about his prior struggles with alcohol and drug addiction. He started drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana in […]
Marielos’ life is completely transformed because of music. Growing up in El Salvador surrounded by violence and enduring immense trauma, music created a release and allowed her to take back her life. Take a look at how Nu-Day Academy saved Marielos.
In 2018, Premier Arts Collective began a relationship with Casa de la Creatividad, located in Cozumel, Mexico. Casa de la Creatividad (“House of Creativity”) is a choice-based art studio that offers open art exploration time to local, underserved children as well as a metal studio and drumming workshop. PAC artist Jared Emerson has performed for the children at Casa de la Creatividad on different occasions, even having them participate in an interactive painting experience, collectively painting Albert Einstein as a mural on an exterior wall.
Casa de la Creatividad’s founder, Anita Yeh Norrie, is a PAC instructor with a master’s degree in art therapy. She has seen more than 108 child visits per week in just the 16 hours that the studio is open! According to Norrie,
“Art that is created and inspired by the artist’s own experiences enhances authenticity and growth as an individual. Choice-based art making decreases comparisons to others, and a nurturing community evolves. The studio is a refuge from everyday stresses of poverty and a place of opportunity.”
Anita has witnessed first-hand how the children in Cozumel seek out the art studio as a safe place to grow and explore, a place where their dreams can be realized, if only for a few moments each week.
Troy Murray was introduced to Premier in 2016. As a young aspiring artist, he found a deep connection with the organization, as well as with PAC artist Jared Emerson. As the relationship grew, Troy was open and honest about his prior struggles with alcohol and drug addiction.
He started drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana in the summer of his 8th grade year. He soon made the transition to harder drugs, and by the beginning of his sophomore year of high school, Troy had tried almost every drug available to him; always seeking to feed his daily addiction.
In 2012, at 21 years of age, Troy had been in and out of various rehabilitation centers, struggling to stay sober and falling back into addiction each time. After hitting a life-altering low point, he checked into one last facility. There he was reminded of his love of drawing and began sketching portraits of the people around him. He started immersing himself in art and daily prayer as a means to overcome his abusive urges. Art helped Troy turn his brain off and escape from past temptations. The desire to get high to survive was miraculously gone within two weeks. With every struggle and obstacle during his painful journey of staying sober, he learned a lot about the real Troy Murray. His new relationship with God revealed his true capabilities and strengths. Troy rediscovered himself with confidence; growing into the person God created him to be.
Troy has played an instrumental role in the development of Premier Arts Collective. His story of redemption and recovery is the embodiment of how art can be used as therapy to heal from life’s traumas. To give back and help others, he has taught art classes to girls in Cambodia who were victims of sex trafficking, led sessions in Cuba, performed in Jordan for Iraqi and Syrian refugees and was involved with the K-LOVE Hope Center, an inner-city, faith-based organization in Detroit. Together with Premier Arts Collective, Troy continues to share his challenges with addiction and the redeeming path to recovery, encouraging others to find healing and hope through art.
Marielos’ life is completely transformed because of music. Growing up in El Salvador surrounded by violence and enduring immense trauma, music created a release and allowed her to take back her life. Take a look at how Nu-Day Academy saved Marielos.
Alison Hughey’s greatest passion is guiding clients in connection, comfort and communication through music. Since studying music therapy at Converse University and earning her board certification in 2010, she has served clients from 18 months of age up to 103 years old and contributed to research in community mental health and dementia care. Alison wears multiple “music hats” as a worship leader, band member, and music & wellness workshop facilitator.
Jared Emerson is world renown for his captivating performance art and studio originals. His art has raised millions of dollars for charities and ministries around the world. Jared’s work with Premier Arts Collective allows him to use his gifts by engaging in interactive art classes and performances across the globe; using his art for healing, therapy and restoration for those who have experienced trauma and abuse.
Born in Michigan and now residing in Greenville, South Carolina, Jared’s personal mission has led him to perform and create art, in a vast array of media, for a large number of collectors, corporations, churches and charities, with his performance piece “Face of God” being the most requested.
Jared’s credits include: ReviveUs 2 with Kirk Cameron, Winter Jam concert tour, TEDx, K-LOVE, CBS Sports, Game Plan for Life, The 700 Club, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, NASCAR, Museum of the Bible, Coca-Cola, Michelin, Land Rover, Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Pistons, Family Christian Stores and countless others.
Jared’s success has made his artwork sought after by many celebrities and sports figures. His clients include: Carrie Underwood, Carson Wentz, Jack Nicklaus, Guy Fieri, Joe Gibbs, Willie Mays, Albert Pujols, Jimmy John, Forrest Lucas, Smokey Robinson and Joe Greene, to name a few.
For booking information, contact gene@premierartscollective.com
Anita Yeh Norrie (MA-Art Therapy) is passionate about creating change and improving lives through the transformative power of creating art. A life-long believer in the therapeutic and cathartic power of art, she built her career around developing programs and relationships that encourage expression, and self-realization through creativity.
While an art and design business owner, she was the vehicle of expression for her client’s vision. As an art therapist, she has created therapeutic art programs for kids, for mental health programs and non-profits, launched and operated an open art studio for a community arts center, and led hundreds of people to live a better life through their own discovery of creativity and artistic self-expression.
Anita’s current work of art is Art Power!, the non-profit she founded in 2017 where she and her team are working to change the lives of underserved kids in Cozumel, Mexico, through their therapeutic, choice-based art studio.”
When not in the art studio, you can usually find Anita contemplating her next project while exploring tasty food stands and out-of-the-way eateries, wherever she may be.
Courtney Chandler is a registered art therapist, licensed professional counselor associate, trauma-conscious yoga teacher, and founder of HeARTS for Hope Therapy in Greenville, SC. She has a decade of experience offering expressive art therapy groups in mental health facilities, schools, detention facilities, and substance use treatment centers across the country. She loves supporting adults and teens as they navigate challenges of trauma and grief, using an integrative combination of art therapy, somatic psychotherapy, and EMDR. Motivated by the belief that everyone is innately creative and art is an expression of self-love and divine connection, she uses a holistic mind-body approach in her therapeutic practice, and feels honored to hold space for hope and healing.
Samuel Monterrosa is the Director of Nu-Day Academy in San Salvador, El Salvador. He has been mentoring, coaching and advising students in music education for over 15 years. He is often asked how music helps. Samuel believes that for many children, music is opportunity. Music is the way out of a life of poverty and brokenness. Nu-Day Academy provides opportunities for youth to build their self-esteem through music.
Born and raised in San Salvador, Samuel believes all lasting achievement is rooted in developing good character and maturity through the daily exercise of personal responsibility. Samuel’s guidance at Nu-Day Academy has built an environment focusing on character skills.
Under Samuel’s leadership, Nu-Day Community Choir was formed. The choir has become a favorite to the entire country, performing on every national television station, at concerts and for the Salvadorian government. Samuel is also the baritone pillar in the youth band known throughout Latin America as One Love El Salvador.