Thank you everyone!

Friends of all shapes and sizes,

I just wanted to share with you my overwhelming joy at the success of The Sticky Note Project's flagship event, In My Head ... Art Without Limits. It's been a couple of weeks since the multi-arts event in Waitsfield, VT, and what an amazing day it was! We had several artists participating in a wide variety of media, from paint to poetry, some of whom were simply inspired to share with us their thoughts and stories in true spontaneous spirit. I was so moved by the bravery and beauty of all of our participants, even the ones who just sat and listened.

Please check out some of the wonderful mental health resource organizations who participated...

...and a short video summing up the performance aspects of the event. A longer video will be coming soon!

We'll be putting on similar events in the future, hopefully a little closer to home here in Boston. If you would like to get involved, feel free to shoot me an email at marycasiello@gmail.com.

Peace,

Mary

UPDATE: The Sticky Note Project has begun!

Hello my dears!

This is an update of my previous post, giving you a few more details on The Sticky Note Project's flagship event, In My Head ... Art Without Limits, on Monday, August 15th, in Waitsfield, VT.

Here are the updates:

1. The name has changed! Much more succinct and fun, wouldn't you agree?
2. We have some more details on how to participate below:

   Be a Part of the Performance -- if you or someone to whom you are close has an experience working through mental illness and you believe that sharing that experience will help others, we would love for you to speak at In My Head…Art Without Limits.

   Set Up a Table -- If your organization works in mental health, you can set up a table at the event for an opportunity to educate people about your organization and make your resources available to the larger community .

   Mental Health Consultant – We are looking for mental health professionals to help us make In My Head as helpful as possible to those working through mental illness, those with loved ones working through these issues and those that are curious and want to get involved.

   Submit Your Artwork – We are looking for artwork that incorporates themes related to mental illness, mental wellness, and related issues to be displayed at In My Head.

   Submit a Sticky Note -- Submit a Sticky Note that represents your personal challenge, See examples and submit at http://thestickynoteproject.com/submit-your-own-sticky-notes/

If you have any questions about participation, shoot me an email at marycasiello@gmail.com. Thank you in advance for your contribution!

Peace,
Mary

The Sticky Note Project has begun!

Hello friends!

My goodness, it has been a while! How are you? What's new?

You may have wondered, "Why the heck did Mary fall off the face of the planet?" An excellent question. I have been hard at work on a new initiative, The Sticky Note Project.

The Sticky Note Project (SNP) is an initiative that seeks to eliminate stigmas surrounding mental illness and promote mental wellness in the general population. The SNP creates real and virtual arts-based opportunities in order to enable and further discussion on mental health issues.

To explain the name: remember that cool debut CD I released last September? On the cover, I'm under an umbrella hiding from the storm of sticky notes raining down on me.

Then, when you open up the CD, you get to see what all those sticky notes say: it's all the ideas floating around in our heads, making us feel unworthy, unaccomplished, and unhappy.

Hence, the name. Pretty great, right? And now, I'm sure you want to know how you can get involved!

As it happens, The Sticky Note Project has an event coming up on August 15th in Waitsfield, VT at the Vermont Festival of the Arts called In My Head: A Music and Arts Event on Mental Health. There will be live music throughout the day, as well as paintings, sculptures, and so much more! Additionally, we will have a giant mural made of sticky notes ... submitted by you!

How can you submit? It's easy! Follow these simple steps:

1. Create your own sticky note! The note should be some idea that repeats in your head like a broken record, placed there by society, family, friends, or even just yourself. (ex, "Lose some weight", "Win all the prizes", etc.)

2. Visit thestickynoteproject.com and click on "Submit Your Own Sticky Notes!

3. Take a picture of a sticky note you've made, or make one on your computer. (I recommend using this image as a template if you need one.) Then upload it using the form called "Upload Files".

4. Under "Content", create a title for your sticky note post and give us some background on what meaning the sticky note has for you.

5. Click on "Preview", and if you're happy with your post, click "Send". The post will be up on the site after a short moderation period (usually just a day or so).

We will also happily accept poetry, stories, or drawings, with or without a sticky note.

That's it! Just five easy steps and you can be part of an amazing community art project that takes all that negative energy and turns it into something beautiful. Have fun!

More exciting news!

Life just keeps getting better and better, folks! Last night, I performed at the Lansdowne Pub's Open Mic & Talent Competition. It's a collection of musicians, magicians, comedians, and more competing for the chance to win $500 cash and open for the band Bearfight. The competition has been going for the last five or six Sundays, with two acts every week moving on to the finals on April 3rd. This past Sunday, it was three acts --- of which I am one! I am very excited for this opportunity.

Another highlight from last night: performing an impromptu and (dare I say?) epic rendition of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" with two other fabulous musicians, David Hanlon and Travis Watters. David also lead the crowd in a sing-a-long of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody". The entire bar participated, which I will flagrantly assume was unprecedented in its awesomeness. Travis performed earlier in the evening with Melissa Ireland, and they actually made me like a Bruno Mars song. Well done! See you all April 3rd!

What I thought I looked like last night vs. what I probably actually looked like

Hurray for Japan!

Thanks to everyone who came out to Copperfield's on Friday night! In conjunction with the Boston Origami Project, we raised $243 for the Red Cross' relief efforts in Japan. I'm so proud to have been a part of this. Thanks also to City of Squares, The Minor Three, and Stereo Drive-By, who shared the stage and helped donate to the cause. :)

Brand New Fan - Caroline

I met the lovely and well-traveled Caroline while promoting tomorrow's show in Boston. Thanks for participating, Caroline! :)

NYC Part 1: The Vital Movement at The Recoup Lounge

Let me give you a little background on this show: I was tired. I mean, dog tired. And grumpy. I didn't want to go; I just wanted to be a lazy butt and watch Law & Order in my pajamas. But what was I in NYC for after all? So my friend Monica and I trekked over to the Lower East Side, knowing that there would be a keyboard waiting for me.

Except for tonight.

Tonight, the regular keyboardist was unable to make it, and so when I arrived, I had nothing but a mic. There was a live DJ, and we made an attempt to create a karaoke track out of the tracks on my album, but no dice. Finally, the lovely and talented Miles Thomas approached me with another option: another mixer had arrived with a two-octave keyboard and a laptop. I decided to give it a shot, and this was the result.

Other highlights of the evening included me joining in the Cipher Jam and freestyle-singing over some live samples. I had never tried anything like it before, and it was a blast. Additionally, a rapper got up and used his mic time to hit on me in his rap. Probably the most creative way anyone has ever come on to me. (Sadly, I don't have video of it, though.)

Special thanks to Alexis Williams ("Lex") of Golden Eye Video Production who graciously captured this crazy moment. Check out her stuff, especially her work for fabulous NYC artist Renee Dion.

A great night at Howl at the Moon

Hey friends!

I just had to share with you all some news about my exciting night last night. I played at Howl at the Moon, a dueling piano bar here in Boston that has locations all across the country. They were hosting a contest called Rock the Moon for up-and-coming musicians to come play, with the chance to win $200 based on who got the best audience response. I am proud to say that yours truly was the winner! It was a ton of fun playing covers for a change, and I can't wait to go back and play again.

Additionally, I had an interview done with a local newscast, Dirty Water TV. The show airs on NESN (a New England cable channel), and when I get a hold of the interview, I'll post it up here for all of you to see.

Thanks for everyone who came out and cheered last night! It really meant a lot to me to have your support, and it's because of you that I had such a great night.