Julie Dawson - Spreading Joy Through Artwork

THANK YOU, JULIE DAWSON!

Julie is a beloved Birmingham artist, author and designer who has used her creative talents to support and enhance many nonprofit organizations in the community. Among them are The Community House, Girl Scouts, Care House and Beaumont Hospital. She loves to share her exciting world of art and travels by giving talks to many groups and giving tours of her home, studios and fabulous gardens. During the pandemic, she has been giving her beautiful artwork to hundreds of front-line workers in admiration and appreciation for all their courageous work.

This year she is creating one of her unique Kaleidoscopes to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Common Ground, a mental health crisis agency that was founded in Birmingham. Each of the 139 Kaleidoscopes she has created has added to her enormous pride in the American Can Do Spirit.

Referring to the Common Ground Kaleidoscope, Julie says, "From Crisis to Hope - these four little words represent a huge commitment of helping people in distress. With compassion and respect, the staff and volunteers at Common Ground are dedicated to listening carefully and finding appropriate paths. It was exciting to tell Common Ground's story visually; to portray its intense passion for helping people through extraordinary services. Not surprisingly, Common Ground's logo is a heart."

To see more of Julie's artwork, visit her website at juliedawsonartist.com.

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