MEDIA RELEASE 6-22-24
For more information please email Robert or contact him by phone at 843-486-3161.
Here’s the latest on
The Quench Project
Heart on my Sleeve
“I am humbled that last evening my painting, Heart on My Sleeve, (left) raised $15,000 at auction for the wonderful charitable projects that eMite funds throughout the world. The buyer was drawn to the cross on the spigot. I’m truly grateful that God has blessed the simple idea behind The Quench Project (on Facebook) of converting art/talent into charitable dollars. Thanks to Danya Jordan and the Toal family for the amazing work they are doing to heal the world and for their faith in the power of art to motivate and incentivize donors to make good things happen.”
View All artwork that is part of The Quench Project
Renowned Charleston artist, Robert Maniscalco, has created a multidisciplinary arts project, expressing hope and renewal from his Vision Trip to Haiti in 2014, begun as a collaboration with Water Mission. The Project has expanded to include the theme of desire and the many ways we find to quench them.
Charleston artist, Robert Maniscalco, best known for his distinctive commission portrait work and fine art, has created a series of paintings, called “The Quench Project” from his vision trip to Haiti in November, 2014. He published a full color book, Quench in 2016 and celebration video, Out of the Darkness in 2017 (view it, below). The project is ongoing.
Contact Robert and ask him to present a talk and/or exhibition at your venue.
Robert explores alternatives to conventional societal ideas about beauty, tragedy and survival. TQP’s theme is the resilient nature of humans to rise “out of the darkness.” Robert, who is a survivor of child sexual abuse, has dedicated his artistic life to helping others in their creative journey of survival. The Quench Project focuses on desire and the obscene notion that if a person can’t afford food, shelter and healthcare, then that’s just too bad for them. By putting a face on our fellow humans, who happened to be born to the “wrong” parents, Robert hopes to engender compassion and bring about true economic justice. Robert examines the racist, Anglo-centrist idea that some people are blessed, while others are cursed.
Invest in The Quench Project
A portion of the sale of artwork (originals and reproductions) from The Quench Project Collection will be donated to The Bread of Life Orphanage in Haiti and/or other direct charitable causes where the money will have an immediate and powerful impact on raising the quality of life in places where people are struggling to overcome adversity. You will have a visual reminder and symbol of the indominable human spirit to overcome adversity that will inspire you to become your best self and remind you that you are part of making the world a little better than you found it.
Robert received Kickstarter support and grants to launch The Quench Project and has used the money to mount a touring exhibition of these paintings, in a variety of venues in several states, where people can come see the work in person and be part of the conversation. If you know a venue that may want to feature the Quench Project, please contact Robert.
Quench Project Exhibitions:
- Charleston Southern University, Charleston SC 2019-20
- Fabulon Gallery, Charleston SC 2018
- Gage Hall Charleston Unitarian Church, Charleston, SC 2017
- Buckham Gallery – Flint Water Crisis, Flint, MI 2017
- Greater Flint Arts Council – Michigan Invitational, Flint, MI 2017
- Coastal Community Foundation Gallery, Charleston, SC 2016
- The Kairos Gallery – St Andrews Church Mt Pleasant, SC 2016
- Threshold Theatre (84 Society, Charleston) 2014
- The City Gallery at the North Charleston Coliseum 2015.
Reinventing the Social Realist movement, the project’s goal is to raise awareness for societal issues in Haiti and other places. Water shortages, economic inequality and racism are part of his focus. He has created a body of over 20 paintings. A portion of sales from the paintings, reproductions and book have been donated to the Bread of Life Orphanage in Jacmel, Haiti, where Robert had the good fortune of getting to know some amazing people.
Robert embarked on a Vision Trip to Haiti which lasted 10 days, sponsored by Water Mission (“WM”). In Haiti, Robert assisted in the WM missionary work to process and bring fresh water to areas still devastated by the earthquake and water shortages. There he took over 1,800 photos, made sketches, interviewed Haitians who were finding creative ways to thrive under difficult conditions.
While in “lock down” at the WMI headquarters in Port-a-Prince, he painted a 12′ x 8′ mural replica of DaVinci’s The Last Supper. From his written and photographic reference he has created an exhibition of 20+ paintings for a traveling exhibition, highlighting the impact of WM’s living water message and their world-wide relief efforts.
The exhibition is a call to action for the continued need and awareness for WM, a Christian-based non-profit organization, who have invented a water purification system, dedicated to bringing fresh water to remote areas around the world. Visit http://www.watermissions.org/ for more info on their powerful mission.
Christelle
The original intention of the The Quench Project was to raise awareness of WM’s mission and generate funding for their continued mission there. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of work will go to WMI in the form of another donated work for their permanent collection. “Christelle,” and “Living Waters,” (right) were the prototype for The Quench Project, and are part of the WM collection.
A larger goal for the project has been to raise awareness of the world water crisis related to a growing population, a disparity of wealth and the effects of global warming. Over half the population of the Earth face water insecurity or severe water shortages.
“While in Haiti, I was able to teach basic drawing to kids and adults who had expressed interest in learning more about the process, not only as an artist but as an entrepreneur. This was in keeping with Haitian President Martelly’s desire to find “opportunities to create wealth. My purpose while there was to come away with as full a sense of the experience of the Haitian people and express/respond to that authentically on canvas and in the 
written word.”
“I continue to develop and expand the idea through the paintings for The Quench Project traveling exhibition. I am looking for any opportunity to speak and exhibit the work, in Charleston and beyond, expressing the WMI living water message in the most powerful of human endeavors, through my art.”
A full color book, Quench, was published in 2016 and featuring reproductions of the paintings, photographic images, along with the story and insight related to the Quench Project paintings, along with his personal responses and impressions of the experience, inspired by the WMI vision. All Kickstarter contributors received an inscribed copy of the book.
Profits from the project have been going to the Bread of Life Orphanage, which was one of the focal points of Robert’s vision trip.
Living Waters
Short bio of Robert Maniscalco
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