Mouth and Foot Painting Artists celebrate 50 years

MEDIA RELEASE 31 August

Mouth and Foot Painting Artists celebrate 50 years
The worldwide association of the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (MFPA) is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with New Zealand members proudly celebrating 46 years with the organisation.

MFPA publishes and promotes its members' artworks, painted with a brush held either in the mouth or between the toes. The association allows its members to remain financially independent despite their disability with their paintings being displayed in a number of art exhibitions and reproduced on items such as greeting cards, bookmarks, puzzles and gift wrapping.

To become an MFPA student member an artist must qualify by painting using a brush held in either their mouth or foot, having lost the use of their hands through an illness or accident. Student members receive scholarships for art supplies and tuition. Once an artist becomes a full member or associate they are guaranteed a salary for life, even if they are unable to continue painting.

The association was formed in the small European principality of Liechtenstein by Erich Stegmann, a mouth-painting artist who suffered from polio. He gathered a group of European disabled artists who shared his goal of making a living out of his art through an organisation that endorsed achievement, not pity. The inaugural meeting in 1957 led to the birth of the MFPA which now has 700 members in over 74 countries around the world.

The MFPA was brought to New Zealand in 1961 with one of the most influential and pioneering artists being Bruce Hopkins, who is still remembered today through an annual art award named in his honour. Currently, there are 20 MFPA members in New Zealand.

Grant Sharman from the Franklin District started mouth-painting after an injury in a school rugby match left him a tetraplegic in 1977. He has been a full member of the association since 1988 and is one of the most active MFPA members in New Zealand, coordinating a number of events and exhibitions for fellow MFPA artists.

"It was Bruce Hopkins who originally introduced me to mouth-painting in 1980. I've entered the Bruce Hopkins Memorial Art Award every year since 1999," Grant said.

"I am very grateful for the opportunity as being a member has given me financial independence and huge job satisfaction.

"Becoming an MFPA member has also given me a new family. The New Zealand artists are a close and supportive group and we're very involved in promoting our art to the community as well as raising awareness about what the MFPA does. When opportunities come up such as special events, exhibitions and shows, we just go for it," Grant said.

Grant was one of many artists from New Zealand who visited Vienna, Austria for the 50th anniversary international MFPA conference in April this year. The conference featured an exhibition at the famous Albertina museum, displaying over 250 works by MFPA members from around the world.

"The 50th anniversary celebration in Vienna was fantastic. It was great to catch up with international MFPA artists," Grant said.

"We regularly keep in touch with international members from around the world and visit them in their own countries. Several artists have also come to New Zealand and stayed with us.

"Looking back at the last two decades, the MPFA has come a long way. The standard of artwork produced by artists has been lifted and there has been a steady increase in the number of new members in New Zealand and around the world," he said.

The MFPA will shortly release its 2007 Christmas greeting card range which will feature artworks from New Zealand and international artists.

For further information on the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists contact MFPA on (09) 827 6746.

Released for MFPA by Dennis Rutzou Public Relations (www.drpr.com.au)
For further information please call Aleks Czerwinski or Anthia Crosby on (0011612) 9413 4244.

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