Maria Milazzo, Neighbor

My name is Maria Milazzo and I am an artist and art teacher. I have been teaching art in my little studio Young at Art in Matawan, NJ, for just about 25 years. I am currently working on a personal project where I paint scenes or landscapes around the world through the alphabet and send it to the closest person or business located near this scene. All I ask of them is to take a photo of themselves in front of the scene and post it as a reply that the picture has landed. What I enjoy most of all about this project is that I get to travel around the world without leaving the studio, and I get to randomly choose someone from a faraway place and make a kind gesture with a gift of art. It gives us all a moment to understand that there really are good people out there in the world and for that very moment in time, someone from a faraway place is sending a smile and good vibes from miles away. I am connecting with the world with good intentions, sending peaceful and kindness with what I love to do most, which is painting pictures. In doing so, I become much more aware of the world around me and realize that all the different cultures from this great big world we live in is so very different yet so much the same.