Events -> Caryn Heffner Gallery Opening

Caryn Heffner (left) poses with one of her paintings and life coach Gail Tyrrell

New Jersey artist, Caryn Heffner, recently made her debut with a gallery opening at Wings Conservatory in Chester. Heffner said that her courage to do this came from life coach, Gail Tyrrell.

Gail Tyrrell is a life coach based out of Morristown, NJ. She is the founder of a not-for-profit group called "Ruby Heals," which is helping to create a community for people to reinvent their lives after cancer. Tyrrell, a two-time cancer survivor, says she wants to help patients become striving survivors. Ruby Heals has four upcoming courses focused on their mission and aims to help families and caregivers of cancer patients.

Wings Conservatory is the base for the New Jersey Arts Collaborative (NJAC). NJAC is an organization dedicated to supporting, promoting, and uniting artists in the Garden State. One of NJAC's efforts is to host art openings at Wings, giving artists an opportunity to display their work. In addition to these art openings, NJAC holds an annual showcase featuring work of area performing and visual artists. This year, NJAC has undertaken a major endeavor titled The Butterfly Project that deals directly with pediatric cancer. The Butterfly Project is two-fold incorporating a children's book, Butterbird, and a stage production loosely based on the book.

Butterbird is a tale centered on a child's battle with cancer, a friend's grief over the loss of a playmate, and the inspiration to continue moving forward as these events parallel a butterfly's metamorphosis. Publication of this book will coincide with a family-friendly stage show being held at NJPAC in Newark, NJ on June 6th and 7th of 2009. The proceeds from this project will benefit Children's Cancer Research Fund and Matheny Medical and Educational Center's Art Access Program. Click here for more information.

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