Artists Paint for Peace

artists paint for peace

About Artists Paint for Peace

Artists Paint for Peace is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to utilizing art to brighten the lives of individuals in need, and to promote peace and tolerance in our communities. We are dedicated to providing no cost murals to schools, shelters, community centers, and other institutions that cannot afford the expenses involved in beautifying their facilities, and to providing arts training and classes to children in New York State shelters, group homes, treatment facilities, and community centers.

Our organization was conceived by Lynda Karanikolas, a professional artist who has specialized for over 25 years in murals and decorative painting, and was legally incorporated in 2003 by Lynda Karanikolas and Karalyn Shimmyo. During the time we have been in existence, we have seen a tremendous need by nonprofit facilities for "beautification;" transforming sometimes drab, run-down residences into a place to call home. The organizations we serve assist some of New York's most vulnerable citizens in reclaiming their lives.

Our Services

We work with mental health organizations, domestic violence shelters, therapeutic/high needs schools, drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities, and other institutions that do not possess the funds to pay the high cost for painting, restoring, and decorating their buildings. We work directly with the facilities that benefit from our services to determine the design and location of our murals. We are grateful for the efforts of our volunteers, who have donated their time and talent. Due to the experience of our directors in the field of Decorative Painting and Murals, we have broken down the work into a science, enabling even children and those who are not artists to be a part of creating our murals.

Some of the materials for our murals are donated by generous corporations, such as Artist & Craftsman Supply, who have donated brushes and have given us gift cards towards the purchase of other supplies, or Brandman's Paint and Wallauer's, who have donated drop cloths, paint pans, rollers, large brushes, and manygallons of paint. The remaining necessary materials are purchased directly by Artists Paint for Peace.

Our Program

In the year we have been in operation, we have received an enthusiastic response from both the organizations and those who benefit most directly from our services: the individuals who are long or short-term inhabitants of these facilities. Because many shelters are overcrowded and under-funded, they are often able to provide only the necessities of life for their residents. Children in shelter environments lack stimulation and creative, positive outlets for the strong emotions they are experiencing. Our visiting artist program provides traveling art teachers and materials to these facilities in order to supplement their existing programming,and give the children an opportunity to be creative and have fun.