April 2024

Happenings!

A Great Night at Gertrude's!

We are extremely thankful to Chef John Shields and his team at Gertrude’s Chesapeake Kitchen for hosting an Art with a Heart community night on April 11th. The food was outstanding, hospitality perfect and the atmosphere alive with so many friends, staff and volunteers in attendance. It filled our hearts with gratitude to have the support of so many at this lovely event and we raised nearly $1,000 from the evening – thank you, John and everyone who came and dined with us.

Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon

Art with a Heart hosted a Volunteer Appreciation lunch on April 24th and it was a resounding success with over 30 dedicated individuals coming together for warm conversations and plenty of delicious food. The gathering was a wonderful opportunity for volunteers to bond and share their valuable experiences while being honored and celebrated for their hard work, talent, and dedication. 

Road to 25 Spotlight: Judie Davis

Judie Davis joined Art with a Heart as a volunteer in 2016 and her contributions have been invaluable ever since. She boldly proclaims that our mission is her passion and takes great pride in being a key part of our organization's success. Her enthusiasm for mosaics is evident in the impressive work she has created at Art with a Heart. But what truly touches Judie's heart is the Beth El Congregation "Belonging" mosaic mural, a personal project that she envisioned and brought to life. The mural not only features her late husband, Sonny, but also includes numerous faces and hundreds of wisteria leaves. Judie's unwavering commitment, perseverance, strong leadership skills, and kind heart make her an invaluable and cherished friend to all of us at Art with a Heart.

Tiny Mic Tuesday!

Have you been following us on Instagram? If so, you may have caught one of the first few episodes of TINY MIC TUESDAY! This exciting series is the brainchild of Kristina Harlee, our talented HeARTwares store manager. Every week, Kristina and her trusty videographer, Amy Legg, select an Art with a Heart stakeholder to chat with about their connection to the organization. It's a fun, informative, and playful way for our followers to get to know our work and our community! If you're on Instagram, be sure to give us a follow @artwithaheart_. 

In the vibrant month of April, Art with a Heart was bursting with energy and endless creativity. Our programming team fully embraced the season, mobilizing to assemble art kits for Baltimore City Judy Center's Week of the Young Child. With the help of over 200 volunteers, we prepared and delivered 750 visual art kits to students, featuring materials to create suncatchers while exploring the world through the book "Around the World I Go" by Cory Anderson.

Meanwhile, at the University of Maryland's Baltimore Community Engagement Center, families were immersed in the works of master artist Van Gogh as they created their own rendition of his iconic "Sunflowers" painting. Over at Calvin M. Rodwell Elementary and Middle School, students dove into April themes by constructing their own rain clouds and learning about the concept of spring rain leading to blooming flowers.

At Hazelwood Elementary/Middle School, students proudly displayed their creatively crafted egg carton caterpillars, which not only incorporated recycled materials but also taught them about the transformation of caterpillars into beautiful butterflies. In a ceramic workshop held at Baltimore International Academy, students were invited to create their own delicious-looking donuts, taking inspiration from renowned ceramic artist Jae Yong Kim. The room was filled with smiles and beautifully sculpted pastries in a myriad of colors.

The HeARTwares team have been busy preparing products for Mother's Day! A beautiful dream catcher, painted bangle bracelets, a sweet floral refrigerator magnet, and a ceramic vase (still in the kiln!) will all be available on the website and in the store May 4! In addition to the product development, the team spent a beautiful Saturday at the Hampden Summer Sidewalk Sale and then were invited to the Economic Inclusion Conference at Coppin (EICAC), where U.S Representative Kweisi Mfume spoke about the importance of supporting youth entrepreneurial efforts in Baltimore. Speaking of our youth, HeARTworks is getting ready for the Youthworks Summer 2024 program. Art with a Heart will host 30 students at two different program locations. Students will learn the skills needed to successfully enter the workforce, while also learning more about themselves and others! If you are interested in learning more or want to help, please contact the Director of Workforce Development, Alex Decker at alex@artwithaheart.net.  

Special Projects

During this month, ninth graders at Carver Vocational School gained a deeper understanding of the cultural significance of masks and used this knowledge to craft their own unique masks. These masks, made from recycled cardboard, will be exhibited at the school. Meanwhile, fifth graders at Curtis Bay Elementary started creating a mosaic sign to adorn their school hallway, proudly proclaiming it as "The Best School in Baltimore!" This phrase, often repeated by their principal, serves as a source of pride for both the students and their families. The installation of the sign is scheduled for this summer.

Art of Leadership

Cohort 9 enjoyed NorthBay for their spring retreat. They engaged in thrilling activities like the giant swing and zip-line that had them soaring through the air as their friends cheered. Students also enjoyed a scavenger hunt, which tested their teamwork, and a creative drawing exercise followed by many meaningful discussions. As the sun set, the students gathered on the beach for a heartfelt conversation and enjoyed classic s'mores by the fire, sharing stories late into the night. The leaders closed their retreat with a ceremony which included writing notes of appreciation to each other.

Community Art and Service

Community Art and Service had many adventures this month! To kick off April, Art with a Heart partnered with Enoch Pratt Library for its annual Imagination Celebration and lead a colorful coffee-filter butterfly project. Back at the office, volunteers and service groups brought the Baltimore Washington Medical Center's ceramic leaves and the William S. Baer School's mosaic closer to fruition in preparation for installations in May. Volunteers also stretched their creative muscles and started working on a food-truck mural for local entrepreneur the Funnel Cake King.

Thank You Volunteers!

Art with a Heart is grateful for those who shared their time and talent with Art with a Heart during the month of April (National Volunteer Month!): Baltimore Magazine, The Baltimore Gas & Electric, Youth Ability, T. Rowe Price, AmeriCorps, Towson University Women's Soccer, Jewish Connection Network, Thurgood Marshall Inter-Residential Council, Constellation Energy, Har Sinai, St. Timothy's School, College Bound and our wonderful cadre of regulars who show up each week to help with any and all needs of the organization. Thank you all!

Impressionists!

The Impressionists are Art with a Heart's young professionals group and they meet up once a month to work on community art projects, help us prepare classroom art lessons, organize supplies and lots, lots more. These casual and fun drop-in sessions are a great way to volunteer with us and meet new people. We hope you will consider joining the group! For more information, contact to amylangrehr@artwithaheart.net Impressionists Meetups are the evenings of May 16, June 27, July 25 and August 22. They run from 5:00pm – 7:30pm.