Mouth and Foot Painting Artists [Member] Dennis A. Francesconi gets another painting featured on a new Holiday card for PepsiCo! Approximately 65,000 cards were printed. Thanks PepsiCo!

*Many thanks to everyone at PepsiCo, and to Jim March – Director of MFPA for North America, as well as the MFPA team in Atlanta.

Mouth and Foot Painting Artists [Member] Dennis A. Francesconi gets a painting featured on an all occasion card for PepsiCo! Approximately 160,000 cards were printed. Thanks PepsiCo!

*Many thanks to everyone at PepsiCo, and to Jim March – Director of MFPA for North America, as well as the MFPA team in Atlanta.

Mouth and Foot Painting Artists [Member] Dennis A. Francesconi was invited to share his profile at the German-based “Brave Art” website,– as yet another positive example to show others “what is possible” through the various areas of the arts. At the Brave Art site, Dennis is profiled along with famous artists such as Stevie Wonder, Andrea Bocelli, Ludwig van Beethoven, and many others.

Brave Arts goals are to create the possibility to discover young, disabled people, promote them in their area, and to connect them with successful artists in workshops, music sessions, networks, performances, exhibitions, or technique workshops.

Click here to see Dennis’ profile at the Brave Art web site

March, 2009.

Paraplegia News, is a magazine published by the Paralyzed Veterans of America [PVA]. Estimated readership of 70,000. (Paraplegia News is in all VA facilities, many libraries, medical offices, etc.)

April, 2009.

Fresno Magazine, is published and available at numerous locations throughout the Fresno area. Estimated readership of 150,000.

Mouth and Foot Painting Artists [Member] Dennis A. Francesconi gets a special honor with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver.

Above: California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dennis & Kristi Francesconi, with Jim & Pat Venturi. — Below: with First Lady Maria Shriver.

“Well, what can I say, this has been such a tremendous honor for myself and Kristi, as well as for the MFPA. I have to say that the Governor and First Lady are truly remarkable people. We had the pleasure of meeting with them and found that they were very gracious, thankful, and showed great interest in our lives. First, we had a wonderful visit with the First Lady, and a short time later we were joined by the Governor. For us, it was a crossing of paths and a special evening that we shall never forget. Thank you both so very much.”

** Also, many thanks to the staff at the Governor’s and First Lady’s office for your kindness.

*The 2008 California State Christmas card.

**The wonderful credit printed on the ‘inside left’ of card.

And a special thanks to Trish Fontana [Director of Special Projects in the office of First Lady Maria Shriver] for putting this all together…;]

Below is a look at the press generated so far.

An excerpt from The Sacramento Bee: [Published: Tuesday, Dec. 09, 2008]

“Maria and I know that in California, everyone can prosper and be celebrated for their great talents,” said Schwarzenegger. “… This year, we decided to select a fellow Californian who expresses determination through adversity to make dreams come true.”

Also, there’s a particular highlight from the tree lighting ceremony – First Lady Maria Shriver talked about the holiday card and mentioned Dennis in her speech. Included is an excerpt below.

“…And I also just want to — there’s a special individual who is here this evening, whose name is Dennis Francesconi, and he has painted the governor’s Christmas card that is sent out to so many people this holiday season, along with a gift card to  members of the National Guard who are deployed overseas. And I would just like to point him out. I don’t know where Dennis is — there’s Dennis. Dennis is in a wheelchair, he had a water-ski accident when he was 17 years of age, and he painted the most extraordinary Christmas tree on the California Christmas card. It’s of a Christmas tree, and he did it with his mouth. And it is an extraordinary portrait, and to spend any time with this man is an inspiration. (Applause)

I said to my kids, “I don’t want to hear one more yip out of you when you tell me you can’t do something,” because he learned to write with his mouth and he learned to paint with his mouth, and he now makes a living as an incredible California artist. So any of you who have the opportunity to see his work or meet him tonight, and his wife Kristi, do yourself a favor to meet an inspirational Californian. Take a minute. It’s our pleasure to have your work on the California governor’s Christmas card and for you to be here this evening, so thank you again. (Applause) …And now it’s my great privilege to introduce your governor, the People’s Governor…”

Press: December 2008,

Newspapers / Magazines:

The Sacramento Bee: [online]

*The above piece was also published on four web sites in Spain, and one in Australia.:

discapnet.es [Madrid], ecodiario.es [Madrid], solidaridaddigital.discapnet.es [Spain], imsersounifor.org [Spain], and mdaa.org [Australia]

The Fresno Bee [print and online]

The Madera Tribune [print, Front Page story]

[March 2009] Paraplegia News, a magazine published by the Paralyzed Veterans of America [PVA].

[April 2009] Fresno Magazine, feature story.

Television:

CTNS Interview – Picked up 12 times , including these stations in San Francisco, Fresno and Monterey: *We do not have an [online] clip for this piece, just the tracking.

KICU, San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose – 12/9/08 at 7 p.m.
KTVU (FOX), San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose – 12/9/08 at 6 p.m.
KFSN (ABC), Fresno/Visalia – 12/9/08 at 6 p.m.
KGPE (CBS), Fresno/Visalia – 12/9/08 at 11 p.m.
KSEE (NBC), Fresno/Visalia – 12/09/08 at 6:30 p.m.
KION (CBS), Monterey/Salinas – 12/9/08 at 5 p.m.
KGPE (CBS), Fresno/Visalia – 12/10/08 at 5 a.m.
KGPE (CBS), Fresno/Visalia – 12/10/08 at 6 a.m.
KTVU (FOX), San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose – 12/10/08 at 8:30 a.m.
KSEE (NBC), Fresno/Visalia – 12/10/08 at 4:30 a.m.
KSEE (NBC), Fresno/Visalia – 12/10/08 at 6 a.m.
KSEE (NBC), Fresno/Visalia – 12/10/08 at 12 p.m.

KMPH FOX 26 Interview, Fresno/Visalia – 12/11/08 at 10 p.m.

By Mouth and Foot Painting Artists
August 8, 2008

Dennis Francesconi seen here with his tribute painting titled “Freedom, America Remembers.”

Increasingly, individuals with a physical disability are redefining what it means to be disabled.

According to the American Disability Act (ADA), about 43 million Americans–one in seven people–are living with at least one disability, and most Americans will experience a disability at some time during the course of their lives. For some, that experience can be such that it changes the direction of their life forever.

Take for example, Californian artist Dennis Francesconi, who, as a result of a skiing accident at age 17, broke his neck and became a wheelchair-bound quadriplegic. Fortunately, he refused to see this as the end of his life.

Eventually, he began to draw by gripping a pencil between his teeth. In time, and with the support of his wife, Kristi, his skills as an artist blossomed.

Later, he was introduced to the U.S. Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (MFPA), a for-profit organization run by disabled artists seeking financial independence, formed nearly 50 years ago.

Said Francesconi, “One of the proudest moments of my life was when I was promoted by the MFPA to be a full member artist and I was able to tell the Social Security officer that I didn’t need the monthly benefits check any more.”

Something of which he can be equally proud is his consideration and compassion for others in trouble. Recently, Francesconi spent four months creating a 6½ feet by 4 feet painting, by mouth, to show his support for the fallen and injured members of the armed forces. Titled, “Freedom, America Remembers,” he plans to donate the work to a major U.S. disability rehabilitation hospital for the military.

Francesconi’s paintings have been shown in exhibitions all over the world, but like his more than 60 fellow American artists, his main income comes from painting images that are reproduced and sold as holiday cards and calendars by the MFPA.

Each year in October, artists such as Francesconi and those from other walks of life draw attention to the valuable contribution that the physically disabled bring to society during National Disability Awareness Month.

To find out more about the MFPA, the artists and their products, go to www.mfpausa.com.

www.HealthNewsDigest.com

Many thanks to Michael J. McCurdy – Founder/Publisher – HealthNewsDigest.com, – Victor Margiotta – Director of MFPA Media Relations UK, London, and Jim March – Director of MFPA for North America.

Dennis A. Francesconi reaches a potential audience of 10 million readers with the help of HealthNewsDigest.com again…! Also, ** This article was placed on NAPS [North American Precis Syndicate] on Oct. 1, 2008 where it could be picked up by newspapers around the country. The results: It was published in 120 newspapers, spanning 11 states, resulting in a 3.94 million readership as of Jan. 26, 2009.

Mouth and Foot Painting Artists [Member] Dennis A. Francesconi gets two images published in the “Life Section” of USA Today. In addition, the newspaper also published a very informative article about the MFPA.

Many thanks to Ryan Richert, and Bridgette Ginyard [of Edelman Public Relations], Jim March [Director of MFPA for North America], and Victor Margiotta [Director of MFPA Media Relations UK, London]  for all of their help.

USA Today, the nation’s largest newspaper, October 22, 2007 issue.– Circulation, 2,278,022 and an estimated readership of approximately 5,695,055…!

This piece is made up of 8 separate canvases. Due to my reach, I had to paint each canvas separately. At completion, it was fastened together with a custom strapping system. Its size is 72 inches high by 48 inches wide, or 183cm by 122cm. This piece consumed 3 1/2 months of my life. Countless headaches and days of blurred vision were common during the process, but I couldn’t give up. This one’s for the soldiers.




*Why have I done this piece…?

Well, it’s quite simple, and the title says it all. First of all,– I’m not an activist in any way. I’m just a regular guy who happens to be an artist. When the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan started, I was glued to the television like many people. I saw all of the flag waving, and all of the patriotism on television and around town. This was widely visible from the big cities to small towns across America. Sadly, many of these civilian acts of patriotism and support for our troops slowly faded, and everyday life quietly resumed. But for me, every time I saw the news then and even now, I see the very people, [the volunteers I might add], who are the reason that we enjoy our freedom as we know it. These people fight and die for us. Some make it back home alright, some don’t, and others come home seriously disabled. These people are our warriors and they should not be forgotten. The imagery in this piece came together in my mind as a way to honor those who serve in our military.

*Lastly, this painting was not intended to make a statement such as pro-war, or anti-war. Right or wrong, this is not the first war, nor will it be the last. Human nature, religion, and century old hatreds will make sure of that.

Dennis A. Francesconi

**Many thanks to my wife Kristi for her assistance throughout this project…;)

Mouth and Foot Painting Artists [Member] Dennis A. Francesconi is generously featured in Razem Razniej, — a Magazine published in Poland. The 5 page article discusses his work, and the MFPA in great detail. Dennis’ painting “Serene Bay” graced the magazine cover as well.

The magazine covers new therapies, legal regulations concerning disabled people, and various success stories for inspiration. It’s distributed to many schools, hospitals and public libraries throughout Poland.

Many thanks to Barbara Hajgiel, Vice-President of the Association for the Help of Disabled People in Poland.