A Reflection as the School Year Draws to a Close
With a record number of 19 in-school programs (and 40 out of school time programs), Art
with a Heart is feeling empowered and inspired by what the organization, its incredible staff, teachers, assistants and volunteers were able to accomplish this school year. The growth and reach of its programs is at an all time high and so is the the joy, creativity and social and emotional well-being of the students in Art with a Heart classes.
Art with a Heart is a strategic combination of art, human services, and education. Its work is motivated by the need for equitable access to arts education and enrichment opportunities that provide innovative and creative curriculum, caring and nurturing adults on a consistent basis, and the opportunity for children and youth to imagine and explore new ideas, skills and cultures through visual arts instruction.
  
    
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A Legacy of Love, Peace and Diversity
The 2019 class of 5th grade students at
North Chevy Chase Elementary School painted hubcaps for the second annual legacy project at the school. Students incorporated imagery celebrating themes of love, peace and diversity to encourage and uplift the school community.
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Building Community while Creating Art
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A Mindful Community Garden at Mt. Royal
Art with a Heart had a great time with 5th through 8th grade students at
Mt. Royal Elementary/Middle School working on a mural design and painting program. After a guided meditation with Art with a Heart teachers, students discussed their school community and their desire to convey a safe and welcoming environment. Student designs where inspired by the abstract and colorful art of
Wassily Kandinsky and once complete, were
transferred onto the fence. Students made all the color choices and worked as a team to paint this beautiful fence mural!
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Many Shades of Mediation
As part of a four part wellness series, Art with a Heart is programming with clients receiving HIV support services from the M. Peter Mosher Community Initiative at
Sinai Hospital. Clients were introduced to the concept of color meditations and considered emotions, memories and experiences associated with different colors. Each student chose one color to complete an abstract painting adding black or white to create a variety of different values while using the same color throughout their artwork.
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COMMUNITY SERVICE AND PUBLIC ART
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A Blossoming Community Garden Mosaic
Art with a Heart worked with the members of the
Milton-Montford community in partnership with
HEBCAC (Historic East Baltimore Community Action Coalition) to create a beautiful mosaic sign for the community garden located at the corner of Montford Avenue and Madison Avenue. Thank you to the
Southeast CDC for their support of this project!
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Creating a Legacy at Maree G. Faring
For the second year, Art with a Heart, in partnership with
Women United, engaged 7th graders at
Maree G. Farring Elementary/Middle School in a legacy values project. Students learned basic clay techniques as they created unique ceramic tiles embossed with their most important value.
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Knowledge
is Power!
This month, the Art of Leadership cohort welcomed Natalie Gillard, creator and facilitator of the ingenious FACTUALITY game. Through the game, Art of Leadership students played as a diverse group of characters who encounter advantages and limitations based on their intersecting identities. We discussed the system of structural inequality that exists in America, and came away with better knowledge of what we can do to challenge it, confront biases, and spread knowledge and inclusion.
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HEARTWORKS: WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
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National Symposium on Solutions to End Youth Homelessness
Several of the Art with a Heart
HeARTworks team attended
Point Source Youth's 3rd Annual National Symposium on Solutions to End Youth Homelessness in New York City.
The team spent the day learning best practices in supporting youth facing homelessness and other barriers. Klause Ferrell, Art with a Heart's HeARTworks Assistant, shared this experience from the Symposium:
"The symposium gave me the strength to start making the changes I want to see. I've never been more empowered in my life than when I walked out of those doors. I carry the lessons and inspiration gathered and learned that day with me every day." The team also delivered 57 mosaic frames Point Source Youth ordered as gifts for their sponsors and partners.
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Custom Made Pride!
Art with a Heart's incredible apprentices have been busy creating special ordered mosaic portraits and frames. Interested in a custom gift or centerpieces for your next event? Contact Christina Ralls at christina@artwithaheart.net to learn more.
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Innovation Works BOOST
HeARTwares, Art with a Heart's social enterprise/retail store, was selected to participate in Innovation Works Boost's inaugural cohort, a three day intensive designed to help social entrepreneurs improve strategic thinking and articulate business plans to demonstrate impact, growth and long-term financial sustainability. Working with a mentor, HeARTwares staff discussed a business and social impact plan for HeARTwares that will grow the social enterprise's reach and also create more jobs for youth. Art with a Heart is thankful to the mentors, IW Boost staff, the Miller Center, and the many amazing organizations and businesses that shared space and ideas during the intensive. |
Creative Social Activism
A group of Art with a Heart's Junior board, the Impressionists, helped prepare the Enoch Pratt Library mosaic for its installation this month!! Stay tuned for photos of this breathtaking project and l
earn more about the Impressionists here:
https://artwithaheart.net/explore/impressionists/
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