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THE CRACKED EGGS ART WORKSHOPS
Contact: Linda Carmella Sibio 760-362-4071

The Morongo Basin Recovery and Counseling Center and interdisciplinary artist Linda Carmella Sibio established "The Cracked Eggs" arts group in January of the year 2001. The workshops were made possible by support from The California Arts Council. "The Cracked Eggs"arts group works in the forms of performance, writing, and visual arts. In their first six months they did a major production, "Manic Wisteria," at the High Desert Playhouse and did a solo work by client Judy Bradford, "Merciless Containment," which was shown at LDK's Beatnik Café. Both shows were a big hit with the community - they have been invited by The 29 Palms Theater to do a show there. The National Performance Network is sponsoring a presentation to be done in Los Angeles or New York (we are now casting for a lead role in the play "Manic Wisteria"). The California Arts Council has funded the artist for a second workshop which will last from Sept. 2001-June 2002. Also, they have scheduled another major production, "Queen of the American Way," the story of a woman who works in a thrift store, featuring issues around "the American Way" such as teenage moms and food stamp recipients.

Upcoming workshops will start on Saturday September 29 at 8AM. Sessions welcome those in recovery from mental illness and their family members (children welcome). The sessions will cover performance (acting), visual art (drawing and other media), and experimental writing (mostly geared toward the stage). BEGINNERS ARE WELCOME. No previous experience is necessary to do these workshops. A sense of exploration, creativity and commitment is a plus! Referrals from all mental health agencies are welcome.

The workshops are free and will take place at Morongo Basin Counseling and Recovery Center located at 55475 Santa Fe Trail in Yucca Valley, CA. Take highway 62 to Inca - south side of the highway, use the Shannee Trail entrance on the west side of the building. Schedule is Saturdays 8AM -12 Noon, 1PM - 4PM and Sundays 1PM - 5PM.

Director and instructor of the program, artist Linda Carmella Sibio, is a veteran of working with the mentally disabled, having run and developed programs since 1985. Some of her programs include The Los Angeles Poverty Department (which became an internationally known theatrical group), Operation Hammer (a group on skid row in Los Angeles in session for five years), and now The Cracked Eggs. Ms. Sibio has recently started a non-profit organization, Bezerk Productions, with prominent members of the American arts community on its board, which is centered on mainstreaming the art of mentally disabled persons in the international arts community. Ms. Sibio has a strong commitment to the professional achievements of persons with mental disabilities. Ms. Sibio has been awarded such prestigious grants as The Rockefeller Foundation MAP Award, funding from The Lannan Foundation and has shown her solo work at The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. She is planning a solo work on the property of internationally acclaimed artist Noah Purifoy this fall in Joshua Tree, CA.

We hope the community will take advantage of this opportunity to empower persons who are in recovery from mental illness and coping with mental health problems. Feel free to call for additional information.