Dressed for Sunday by Dwelia Haas

The 2012 Art of Healing Artist Spotlight features Dwelia Haas, a “story telling painter” from Ellisville, who has shared her acrylic on canvas, Dressed for Sunday. To Dwelia, each of her paintings evoke a story that has been shared with her through her mother and grandmothers.

“Story telling has always been a part in my life,” says Haas. “Today, I draw mainly in blues to tell stories of the creatures that share my home.”

Haas donated Dressed for Sunday to the 4th annual Art of Healing in honor of her mother. “She is 80 years old and a frequent patient at South Central. When I was a child, she gave me a necklace that had a mustard seed charm. This mustard seed is represented in my painting because it taught me a lesson on faith” says Haas.

Haas believes that the painting of the cross should represent how everyone should dress in life. “The cross is there is remind us all of how we should dress every day, not just Sundays.”

In 1983, Dwelia Haas graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a bachelor’s in fine arts education and began her teaching career in the Jones County School System. Her illustrations were featured in Kristen Twedt’s children’s book series, My Crazy Catastrophe Cat. Her art is showcased locally at Frames Unlimited in Laurel and Westside Studios in Hattiesburg and online at artbyhaas.com.

All artists, amateur and professional, are invited to submit artwork by Monday, February 20th to the Art of Healing Center at South Central Place. All proceeds from ticket sales and auction purchases go directly to the South Central Health Care Foundation.

The Art of Healing will be held on Saturday, March 24th at Sanderson Farms’ Corporate Office from 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for $30 each at South Central Place in the Art of Healing Center.

For more information, please visit schfoundation.com or contact Brook Jones at brook.jones@scrmc.com.