Creative Expression

September 04, 2021

On Jamie’s Birthday

On what would have been his 34th birthday, we share this excerpt from Jamie’s writing, and our wishes for you to have the benefit of good advice and soothing balm to aid you over the bumps and through the challenges of life’s journeys. “This childhood cannot fit in my pocket or be wedged into my […]

April 09, 2021

Inspirational Stories from Students and TMI Project at Bard College

Last month we were awed and inspired as we participated in a viewing of the virtual performances of the students at Bard who created their mental health stories in conjunction with the storytelling facilitators at the TMI Project. TMI Project seeks to raise awareness and amplify the voices of those who have inspiring stories to share about […]

November 20, 2020

Grant to Bard College helps students address Mental Health Concerns & Stigma

Despite the challenges that COVID-19 has brought to colleges everywhere,  JKBF is pleased to share that an exciting mental health and creativity initiative in partnership with Bard College will continue. In years past, JKBF has funded grants to Jamie’s alma mater, Bard College, for scholarship and library funding, as well as outreach and counseling opportunities for […]

September 04, 2020

Pencils, Pens, and Birthdays

Today marks what would have been Jamie Bernard’s 33rd birthday. It has been 10 years since he left us. Recently we came across this article about the allure of pencils highlighting a book titled Pencils You Should Know, and it sparked thoughts about Jamie. Colored pencils were one of Jamie’s preferred mediums, as depicted on this […]

September 03, 2020

A Day In the Life of My Pen

by Jamie Bernard, April 2005 Life sucks, for I am a pen. I cannot sing, and I have no arms or legs. I cannot do anything except be turned about on my head to spurt ink about a piece of paper. I suppose I have it better than some. Not being a pencil, I do […]

September 04, 2019

Connecting on Jamie’s Birthday

Warm greetings from the James Kirk Bernard Foundation, and welcome to our eNews, Create-Connect-Contribute. I’m Liz Bell, the new Executive Director of JKBF, and I am pleased to be able to honor Jamie’s memory and contribute to the important work of the foundation. Today at JKBF we are reaching out in recognition of Jamie’s birthday, […]

May 20, 2014

James Kirk Bernard Foundation Launches Virtual Cultural Arts Center

POBA – Where The Arts  Live, a new, fully-digital online arts community celebrating the enduring power of creativity, is now open to the public. POBA’s nonprofit mission is to preserve, display and promote the creative legacies of talented 20th and 21st century artists who passed away without recognition of the full measure and impact of […]

October 22, 2012

On the Horizon for 2013

In honor of Jamie’s creativity and vibrancy, we are pleased to announce that work has begun on a new initiative of the Foundation:  an online resource center and and virtual exhibition space to store, display and advance the creative works of those whose written, visual and musical art has not been made available to the public […]

September 04, 2011

Jamie’s Reading List

Books were such an important part of Jamie’s life.  Below are some of his favorites.   Youth favorites The Lord of the Rings – Tolkien The Redwall series – Jacques The Dark Tower series – King The Song of Ice and Fire series – Martin His Dark Materials series – Pullman Under the Black Flag […]

April 22, 2011

Send Silence Packing Tour

Send Silence Packing, a program of Active Minds, is an exhibit of 1,100 backpacks representing the number of college student lives lost to suicide each year. Active Minds Inc. has collected and continues to collect backpacks and personal stories in memory or in honor of loved ones impacted by suicide. By displaying backpacks with personal stories […]