By Risa Peris, February 4th, 2010 | Follow me on Twitter Share/Save

Nathaniel Ayers Foundation: Out of the Depths of Illness – Art

If you haven’t seen The Soloist, which chronicles the friendship between Nathaniel Ayers and Steve Lopez, then you are missing out on not only a budding, lovely and mutual friendship between two individuals but a wonderful portrayal of Los Angeles knitted together by gorgeous classical music. Nathaniel Ayers, originally from New York, became one of Los Angeles’ many homeless who trawl the streets with their collected objects in baskets that look more like found art pieces than garbage. Nathaniel Ayers attended the Julliard School for a short period before succumbing to a severe form of schizophrenia. Steve Lopez, a Los Angeles Times journalist, discovered Nathaniel Ayers on the street playing a violin with only two strings – G and D – the most resonant of strings. In that moment, Steve Lopez did something that most of us do not do; he paid attention to a homeless person and saw potential.

Since that fateful meeting Steve Lopez has written a series of Los Angeles Times articles, written a book entitled The Soloist and assisted with the movie by the same name. Steve Lopez has also helped found The Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Foundation. The mission of the organization is as follows: The Mission of the Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Foundation is to support arts programs at mental health and arts organizations that serve the mentally ill. We place a special emphasis on programs that serve the Artistically Gifted.

Nathaniel Ayers is now working on his first recording with bass player, Flea, from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The CD will be entitled “Putting on Ayers”. Proceeds will benefit mental health organizations that have arts programs. Ayers plays the cello, piano, bass and trumpet on the recording.

There is this spooky moment in The Soloist when Nathaniel Ayers says, “He is in the room.” Steve Lopez asks, “Who is in the room?” Nathaniel Ayers responds, “Beethoven”. The spooky moment transformed into a profound moment. I, myself, prefer all of Beethoven’s odd symphonies and there was a moment when I was listening to the Los Angeles Philharmonic perform Beethoven’s 9th symphony at the Hollywood Bowl that I even I had a sensation that Beethoven (who incidentally suffered from bipolar) was present. But that is the beauty of music and musicians – it evokes strong a emotional reaction in us. Nathaniel Ayers also saw vibrant colors fusing in the air like a Kandinsky painting when music was played. Nathaniel Ayers is passionate and in love with music. He makes the rest of our passions seem bland in comparison. Nathaniel Ayers is also a reminder that the mentally ill and the homeless have much to contribute to our society and can enrich our lives through their art and sometimes by just being their friend.

In the words of Beethoven during the choral of his 9th Symphony “All men become brothers/ Under the sway of thy gentle wings”. The wings are the wings of music.

The Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Foundation is a foundation worth supporting. Putting on Ayers will be available for sell through the foundation website in about a week.

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