commUNITY Update!

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Way back in April 2020, the Kingston Midtown Arts District's Events Committee had a Zoom meeting. The elephant in the virtual room was how in the world could we create our annual Celebration of the Arts during a pandemic? And what would life even look like in three months?

Many things have changed and fallen into place since that meeting. New York flattened the curve and has kept it flat. Just as NY was beginning phase three of reopening in July, MAD and their arts programming arm, The D.R.A.W., moved into a beautiful storefront space in the new Energy Square building in Midtown Kingston. A generous grant from Arts Mid-Hudson for Celebration of the Arts enabled The D.R.A.W. to offer free Art Workshops for Youth for the month of August. But how to pull off a community project that everyone could participate in?

Clay in the Time of COVID-19

As an organization whose mission is to unite, revitalize and enrich the community through the arts, the question was how do we accomplish a meaningful community project (like last year's Community Coil Pot and the Community Mural) that will bring us all together in the COVID cautious times we're in? Clay does not lend itself well to online solutions. Yet clay is the most universally accessible art medium available for people of all ages and abilities.

The commUNITY Clay Project was launched on August 1st and the response has been amazing! Five hundred pounds of Standard Clay's Brooklyn Red have been extruded, sliced, and bagged. With more to be processed this week.

Our two pickup/drop off, no contact locations have moved hundreds of pounds of clay into the community. More has been distributed by our Community Partners which include: Mountain View Manor, the ARC/Cornell Creative Art Center, NE Center for Rehabilitation & Brain Injury, Kingston Boys & Girls Club, Catholic Charities, YMCA Starfish Camp, two Scout Troops, and Mountain Rise Daycare.

We welcome all to join our project. Email susan@madkingston.org for more information on becoming a community partner.

commUNITY Clay Project 2020

Keeping Everyone Safe!

The D.R.A.W. worked out a comprehensive plan that follows the NYS and CDC Best Practices for small community spaces. The new space is large enough to set up socially distanced work areas for seven people to work in the space at one time. Everyone must be masked and temperatures are taken at the door. Work spaces are cleaned as people leave. Hand sanitizer and masks are available. Everyone is having fun in a safe environment.

Another feature of the commUNITY Clay Project is Weekend Workshops throughout the month of August in the new MAD space at Energy Square. The remaining free, family-friendly, drop-in events will be happening again on Saturday, August 15, Sunday, August 23, and Saturday, August 29, from 10 am - 2 pm.

Enjoy this album of happy people and the Puggles they have added to our commUNITY!

As you can plainly see, our commUNITY is diverse and creative! If you would like to send pictures to be included in MAD's photo album, email them to susan@madkingston.org. If you put them on Instagram, tag them #KingstoncommUNITY2020!

Bailey Bucks in Your Account!

$5.00 OFF or $10.00 OFF your next order!

Everyone likes a few extra bucks in their Bailey account for their next purchase!

Spend $50 by Thursday and you will have a $5 coupon attached to your account toward your next order. Spend $100 and you will get a $10 coupon! Amount spent is calculated after discounts are applied and before shipping charges are added. Offer good for new orders only.

Use code 2020$$ in the comment field online or mention it to our sales staff when ordering by phone.

Offer expires at midnight, Thursday, August 13, 2020.