Meet Maureen
The Open Door: Maureen’s Art
The Door: Maureen’s Art is a venue by artist and author, Maureen Slamer that opens the door into a world of humor and playful whimsy. With originality, she addresses the topic of mental illness. Her more serious, thought-provoking series of images and messages illustrate the reality of mental diseases in society as well. The painful sense of isolation caused by such diseases and by stigma is a motivating force behind this artist’s search for human connection and meaningful relationships which become themes woven into her creativity.
Her first published book, The Life of a Nut focuses upon the journey of a charming peanut and the awakening of this character’s self-acceptance despite feeling like a misfit. In her second book, A Nutty Adventure, the journey of this special nut continues and changes course with the realization that all search for acceptance, purpose and meaning in life. Using humor, Maureen turns what is a tragedy, mental illness, into an enlightening exploration about self-acceptance that makes us all human and part of the human experience.
“Embrace the Elephant in the Room” has become a theme through which this artist is able to bring to light psychiatric conditions. Countless elephant motifs are seen pasted on large black panels that symbolize the prevalence of such diseases. Relevant quotations by well-known figures are vividly displayed on these panels as well.
Gabrielle Chanal states “Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself.”
Maureen’s search for beauty has brought her to a passion for not only letter writing but her love of creating what she coins “art cards” . This avenue is a way that can bring fine art into the everyday lives of friends, family, and acquaintances. For Maureen, writing letters to loved ones can become an effective way to nurture relationships, find connection and express emotions that the spoken word cannot express.
Born in Newton, New jersey, Maureen Slamer is a native of Sussex County. She began her studies in art at Kutztown University, in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. After taking a leave from her formal studies she returned to complete her bachelor’s degree in fine art at William Paterson University, in Wayne, New Jersey. She graduated in 1990. In this same year, Maureen met and married her husband, Lou.
In 1992, they moved to Pennsylvania as Maureen pursued her plans to study for a master’s degree in art therapy at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania. She obtained her master’s degree in 1999.