RISING UP, RESISTING, SUPPORTING WOMEN’S HEALTH WITH ART

SUZANNE SUNSHINE:

Sometimes, it takes something ugly to inspire beautiful action or the creation of something beautiful. Some of the greatest works of art in the world were created in response to something sad, unjust, frightening, dire, horrific, or evil. Some works serve to raise awareness and inspire further action.

Suzanne Sunshine’s paintings are all inspired by a need to take action. Her most recent Series, “First One Hundred Days” and “Second One Hundred Days,” were sparked by the recent assaults on women’s access to health care and reproductive rights, specifically referencing government funding cuts to Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood was founded just over 100 years ago on the then revolutionary idea that women should have the information and care they need to live strong, healthy lives.

Reproductive health is the foundation of every woman’s health, regardless of age. And while it has become a flashpoint for political battles due to the controversies over abortion, most Planned Parenthood’s offerings are in the form of preventive care, helping with contraception to prevent unintended pregnancies, reducing the spread of sexually transmitted infections through testing & treatment, and screenings for cervical and other cancers.

By providing high quality affordable healthcare services, Planned Parenthood helps the women, men, and families who need it most. In fact, 1 in 5 American women has been served by Planned Parenthood at least once in her life.

Planned Parenthood operates more than 600 health centers in the US. Planned Parenthood Global advocates for policies that help around the world.

Sunshine, a social activist, strongly believes that women's health, leadership and equality all go together. When she learned about the proposed funding cuts, she made it her mission to help raise new funds to help Planned Parenthood continue to offer their critical services.

Sunshine sold 125 paintings from her “First One Hundred Days” Series in 2 weeks. She donated 100% of sales proceeds plus 100% matching funds from her own philanthropic foundation, totalling over $200K, to Planned Parenthood.

After selling out her first Series, the artist activist quickly followed with her second Series. Many paintings are entitled, “Resistance.” These are still available for purchase here. Sunshine also welcomes commissions.

While Sunshine has only been working as an artist for 4 years, her passion for social activism and social entrepreneurship started when she was a child. “From the age of 8, I knew I wanted to do well and good at the same time,” she explains.

Early on, Sunshine was inspired by her father, Abraham Sunshine, a doctor who did important research in pain relief, and by her mother, Louise Sunshine, a prominent real estate developer who, ironically -- given recent political assaults on social concerns, was Someone With Tiny Hands’s first employee.

The dual track, of art and social good began its run when Sunshine began her studies in international relations and art history at Brown University. She has continued that double path.

Sunshine worked as an art curator for Equitable Life, commissioning works by Roy Lichtenstein, Sandro Chia, & Sol Lewitt, and opening the Whitney Museum branch in the Equitable NYC headquarters building.

On the social impact side, Sunshine has a 30+ year career in the nonprofit sector, first serving as VP for The Dana Foundation for Brain Research.

Sunshine also supports Planned Parenthood and over 150 other non-profits, including Atlantic Philanthropies and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, through her real estate company, which brokers their real estate deals. She gives 10% to 50% of her commissions back to her clients.

Sunshine's paintings can be found in numerous private and nonprofit collections worldwide. Learn more about Sunshine’s paintings, available for purchase and commission here.

Learn more about how Planned Parenthood is creating a healthier world for everyone. And join more than 10 million activists, supporters, and donors nationwide.

Read more about Beautiful Activist in Tiny Schools Change The World.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact Daily Fix posts.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: “Optimism (Sunrise 2).” “First One Hundred Days” Series. Painting by Suzanne Sunshine.
2. Image: “Awakening (Sunrise 3).” “First One Hundred Days” Series. Painting by Suzanne Sunshine.
3. Image: “Global Affairs.” “First One Hundred Days” Series. Painting by Suzanne Sunshine.
4. Image: “No Worries.” “Cellophane” Series. Painting by Suzanne Sunshine.
5. Image: “Joy Uncontained.” “Poetry” Series. Painting by Suzanne Sunshine.
6. Image: “I Want To Paint.” “Triptychs” Series. Painting by Suzanne Sunshine.
7. Image: “We Are Watching You!” “First One Hundred Days” Series. Painting by Suzanne Sunshine.
8. Image: Suzanne Sunshine presents her donation to Cecil Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Courtesy of Suzanne Sunshine.
9. Image: “Resistance 2.” “Second 100 Days” Series. Painting by Suzanne Sunshine.
10. Image: “Happy Hawks.” “October Baseball” Series. Painting by Suzanne Sunshine.
11. Image: “Hope for Red & Blue.” “First One Hundred Days” Series. Painting by Suzanne Sunshine.
12. Image: “Haydn Sonata.” “Interlude” Series. Painting by Suzanne Sunshine.
13. Image: “The Women’s March (Sunrise 5).” “First One Hundred Days” Series. Painting by Suzanne Sunshine.
14. Image: “Shining Through.” “First One Hundred Days” Series. Painting by Suzanne Sunshine.
15. Image: Suzanne Sunshine hanging her exhibition at Rosie New Canaan. Courtesy of Suzanne Sunshine.
16. Image: “Open Spaces.” “Lower Manhattan Spaces” Series. Painting by Suzanne Sunshine.
17. Image: by BN App - Download now!
18. Image: “50 Shades of Blue.” “Triptychs” Series. Painting by Suzanne Sunshine.