“That’s the power you possess as an artist. To find and express your own unique message.” ~Ella Leya, The Orphan Sky

I’m always thrilled to learn about new ways that people use their artistic talents to express themselves. Every week I receive emails asking me to promote an upcoming movie, but this email immediately caught my eye. It talked about the full feature documentary by Bluprint Films called PC594 that is based on the life and work of Los Angeles street artist Lydia Emily.

Emily, an artist, muralist, oil painter and advocate, creates murals as a way of expressing her inner voice about topics she's passionate about. She uses her unique style of painting to tell us her story.

Considered one of the few prolific female street artists in a male dominated field, Emily painted murals for a Gucci charity called Chime For Change and also for The Weinstein Company film Fruitvale Station. She was featured in 2010 in Voice of Art, a powerful documentary series on Pharrell Williams’ YouTube channel iamOTHER.

Her work is shown in galleries and museums worldwide, and her murals are painted in areas all around the country.

Private collectors include Bob Dole and The Winston Churchill Family.

Lydia Emily is certainly a force to be reckoned with. But that force goes far beyond her art. Symptom free from cervical and ovarian cancer since 2010, Ms. Emily was also diagnosed two years ago with Multiple Sclerosis.

According to Wikipedia:

“After multiple hospitalizations, friends and patrons, Scott Hornbacher and Matt Weiner, creators of Mad Men (series), were able to get her into the care of Matt Weiner’s father, Dr. Leslie Weiner, head of the Multiple Sclerosis Department of USC. She is currently under Dr. Weiner’s care.”

Austin Mural

Lydia Emily's inner strength keeps her moving forward to create new works of art despite her diagnoses. She is a true survivor. Surrounded with the love of two young daughters and a community of family and friends, Emily inspires us with her energy, and teaches us by her example that our challenges can make us stronger.

Lydia Emily with her daughters

She creates community wherever she goes, and often hands paintbrushes to people as they walk by her as she paints her large-scale murals.

Emily always used her art to express herself. Now her art helps her work through the challenges she now must face with her new diagnosis.

When speaking at the October 2014 Dallas MS Conference she created a Multiple Sclerosis Wall to provide a place for attendees to express their thoughts about their disease.That endeared her to her audience even more.

Dallas MS Mural Wall

I look forward to seeing PC594 about a woman who has not only pushed boundaries in her work but has also re-created a life of ability despite disability. I applaud the artist, the woman, and the advocacy of Lydia Emily. She continues to shine a bright light for all of us to see.

“PC592 is the California penal code that defines crimes against property – including the bold artwork that covers dilapidated walls in neglected corners of the United States. PC594 is also inked on Lydia Emily’s forearm, as a permanent and unapologetic symbol of the biodegradable, non-violent, political protest she engages in.”

"PC594 has been in production for 24 months and will be completed in September of 2015 in time to submit to the Sundance and Tribeca Film Festivals."

If you’d like to learn more about Lydia Emily and where she'll be appearing (and painting murals) please click here.

If you’d like to contribute to the PC594 Kickstarter campaign to make this dream into a reality you can become a partner by clicking click here.