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Gifts to IFS Esalen Retreat

Forty-two of my small collages/cards were graciously received by the staff and participants of an Internal Family Systems retreat led by Dick Schwartz, Ph.D. at Esalen in Big Sur California. Making these pieces from hand printed papers and fabrics was a birthday present to myself! Loved every minute. Gratitude to Leah S. and the IFS community.

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Richard Schwartz Receives “The Hope Merchant” Painting

Richard Schwartz, PhD and Nan Genger with The Hope Merchant

Richard Schwartz, PhD, accepted a custom painting entitled The Hope Merchant, as a gift of gratitude from me.  I presented the painting to him during an IFS training at the Cambridge Health Alliance in April.  Thank you Dr. Schwartz for founding the Internal Family Systems paradigm that is used in psychotherapy, addictions treatment, conflict negotiations, childhood education, and as a personal daily practice.   IFS extends compassion and hope in a world of complexity.

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Moloka’i IFS Retreat Gifts 2024

26 small collages were sent to the IFS Healing Retreat on Moloka’i. These yearly gifts are a remembrance of my eldest brother, Michael, who taught watercolor painting in Honolulu for decades. I combined his watercolors with acrylic gel transfers of online photos of the Lahaina fires, to advocate for Self-led activism to end settler colonialism and U.S. military occupation which contribute to the global environmental crisis.

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IFS Art Workbook Free Online Art Group

My new book, IFS Art Workbook (draft), will debut as an online group for 6 consecutive weeks. Beginning January, 2024. Both educational and art-making, each week focusses on an Internal Family Systems concept with art exercises. Make art about your parts with doodling, photography, collage, mono printing, and fiber art. Sponsored by the Cambridge Women’s Center, anyone for whom “woman” is a meaningful identifier or lived experience is welcome. (cambridgewomenscenter.org) Pre-register: nangenger.gmail.com

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Gifts for IFS Deep Healing Retreat, Moloka’i

These small collages were gifts for the staff and participants at the IFS Deep Healing Retreat on Moloka’i, Hawaii. They were lovingly made from photographs of my eldest brother Michael’s watercolor paintings combined with background papers I hand printed. Michael lived in Honolulu for many decades and taught watercolor painting at the University of Hawaii until his death in 2017.  The paintings of Hawaiian flora reflect a respect for the land and Indigenous culture, as he was deeply sensitive to environmental plunder.  

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“from the heart” E Book Cover Design

I designed this cover for an ebook of collected letters by the Thursday Night Trauma Support Group (Zoom) of the Cambridge Women’s Center. The project was conceived and coordinated by Desiree Bumanglag, a wonderfully talented young poet and author. She provided the copyright free art by Mudassir Ali.

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The Healing Is Project

This series of 15 posters was a collaboration by members of the Thursday night Trauma Support Group sponsored by the Cambridge Women’s Center. Three members offered background artwork for the quotations by volunteers who gave voice to their wisdom gained through their healing from different traumatic events. Two Support Group facilitators and I presented Board President Judy Norris with the series as a gift of gratitude during the Center’s 50th anniversary opening celebration in March. It was a four month project which sustained my creative and social activist parts. It gave me connection to a survivor community sustained only through Zoom during those daunting months of the pandemic. Gratitude to all who contributed funds and time to the project.

The Healing Is Project, Nan Genger
The Healing Is Project, Nan Genger
The Healing Is Project, Nan Genger
The Healing Is Project, Nan Genger
The Healing Is Project, Nan Genger
The Healing Is Project, Nan Genger
The Healing Is Project, Nan Genger
The Healing Is Project, Nan Genger
The Healing Is Project, Nan Genger
The Healing Is Project, Nan Genger
The Healing Is Project, Nan Genger
The Healing Is Project, Nan Genger
The Healing Is Project, Nan Genger
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Signs of the Time Photo Series

As I walked through the streets of my neighborhood over the past pandemic months, these murals, banners, signs, and billboards documented the public solidarity of the Black Lives Movement and actions across the globe after the legal lynching of George Perry Floyd Jr. on May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis, MN.

Black Lives Matter sign in window of an architect business in Cambridge, MA, Nan Genger
Black Lives Matter yard sign in Cambridge, MA, Nan Genger
Wall mural, Trina’s Starlite Lounge, Somerville, MA, Nan Genger
Black Lives Matter billboard on Prospect Street in Cambridge, MA, Nan Genger
Black Lives Matter and Trans Lives Matter signs in window of Broadway Bicycle School, Cambridge, MA, Nan Genger
Black Lives Matter banner across front entrance of Cambridge Rindge & Latin High School, Nan Genger
Black Lives Matter written in chalk on a wall of the Longfellow Middle School, Cambridge, MA, Nan Genger
Black Lives Matter street art in back parking lot of food market, Central Square, Cambridge, MA, Nan Genger
Black Lives Matter stencil on sidewalk in Cambridge, MA, Nan Genger
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Governor’s Citation: MA State House Exhibit

50/100: Self-Leadership. Nan Genger, 2016.
   Self-Leadership, Nan Genger, 2016

With David D’Arcangelo, Director, MA Office on Disability, opening reception, November 14, 2017, MA State House

“Self-Leadership” (for sale in 100 Part in 100 Days Series) won a Governor’s Citation in recognition of being chosen for a juried exhibition sponsored by the Massachusetts Office on Disability. The Breaking Barriers exhibit (November 14-24) in the Mass. State House is available online at www.mass.gov/mod/art.   Governor Charles D. Baker’s citation reads: “Your artwork helps raise awareness of how people with disabilities overcome barriers and stigma.”

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‘The Ladybug Dress’ Wins MassArt All School Show Award

Ladybug Dress (front detail), 14" x 16," Nan Genger

A simple toddler’s dress. But a closer reading of the fabric text reveals a child’s voice of deliverance and directives for love and care.

I composed the phrases of text in Photoshop, and the cotton fabric was printed by an online company used by TV’s Project Runway contestants. I researched online for a baby dress pattern printed in 1951, my birth year, and found McCall’s pattern #1640. The lime green grosgrain ribbon with ladybugs references my childhood nickname “ladybug” used by my maternal grandmother.

Part of the Self series, ‘Please See Me: The Ladybug Dress‘, is for for sale, along with a small hanger and custom-made white cotton cover. It can be displayed in an acrylic box, on a mannequin, hanging, or simply laid out.

Truly a labor of love. A unique piece of fiber art.

‘Please See Me: The Ladybug Dress’ won the Massachusetts College of Art and Design 2017 All School Show Award for Fibers.

Ladybug Dress, 14" x 16," Nan Genger, 2016
Ladybug Dress, 14″ x 16,” Nan Genger, 2016