Cactus Village Community

Sculptor Uses Art to Dispel Violence . . . by Anne Robertson

Aug 04, 2003

Sculptor uses art to dispel violence

Anne Robertson
The Business Journal

A sculpture slated for downtown Phoenix and a blossoming education program set for national growth defines Robert Miley's vision that art can dispel violence.

The Phoenix artist and founder of Release the Fear, a nonprofit that uses art to teach anti-violence messages, began his grassroots program in 1996. Now he expects to reach $1 million in donations, significant local expansion and entry into other markets.

Miley also is at work on a sculpture that will contain melted-down guns and weapons at its base, with a 24-foot human form rising, arms outstretched to release the fear. The work will be unveiled in December on Central Avenue and Roosevelt Road in Phoenix.

Release the Fear comprises two staff members, 20 volunteers, a directors' and an advisory board that includes Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard. The program conducts art-related workshops for at-risk youth in schools and community organizations.

Miley's nonprofit so far has relied on investments from individual donors. He has brought aboard Mary Almassy of Fundraising Consultants to attract local and national corporate and foundation donations. Kitchell Construction and Carter Burgess, a Phoenix design firm, are two noted sponsors behind the sculpture.

"We're set for a goal of $1 million raised before the end of the year, but our expectation from what we've seen is that it will go over that," Almassy said. And it's a good model for other markets. We're looking at how it can be implemented in other cities. It is such an uplifting program."

Miley has been able to gather his cache of confiscated weapons for the sculpture with the help of David Gonzales, an Arizona federal marshall. Weapons include guns, knives, and even chains and swords that have been used in violent fights. He started the project seven years ago after reading about the weapons in a local newspaper report.

"It was the visual that impacted me; the story it told. I thought as an artist I should help. Originally it was just going to be a sculpture, then it became clear it needed to be a curriculum," he said.

Miley enlisted the help of Phoenix mayoral candidate Phil Gordon, who was then Mayor Skip Rimsza's chief of staff. Gordon is an honorary chairman of the nonprofit. He also partnered with R. J. Shannon, who came to the project from Mothers Against Gangs.

"When we go into schools and community centers, we also bring an officer or authority figure to bridge that gap," Miley said.

"We took a DPS officer with us once to a Valley of the Sun school where kids are on probation. He had arrested two of the kids in the class. But he shared with the kids his one childhood story of when he was expelled from school and sent to a family member's farm for a time. He was taught to ride a bull and today is a champion Arizona bull rider. He gave the kids hope."

The nonprofit just received a grant from the city of Phoenix to work with the Genesis Academy, an alternative high school, Miley said. Currently, Miley's program conducts seven-week workshops with three schools a year in tough neighborhoods. That number is expected to grow, he said.

Workshops include all forms of art, from music and writing to painting and sculpture.

"We hope the skills taught to the kids help them to communicate when faced with violence and everyday stresses that can turn into violence," he said.

Miley has been communicating with the Urban Arts Commission in Memphis, Tenn., which wants to use the program.

"There's talk of other markets -- we're in discussion now with Philadelphia. We'll be in contact with arts commissions or other nonviolence groups that want to bring Release the Fear into their curriculum," Miley said. "We emphasize critical problem-solving with the kids. A person who thinks more openly helps the community as a whole."

Get connected
Release the Fear: 602-258-6107.

Fundraising Consultants: 602-995-3915.



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