Update from Art with a Heart |
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Volunteers Make Every Day Better!
April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month. It is a month dedicated to recognizing the importance of volunteering. We honor the significant contributions volunteers make in generously donating their time and talents. At Art with a Heart, our volunteers are EVERYTHING! No matter the task - from creating a public art piece to painting a mural, from pouring hundreds of paint cups to helping the team celebrate a milestone - the Art with a Heart volunteers are an unwavering source of stability and support.
With their generosity of time and spirit, our volunteers enthusiastically take on any project. Last month, with the help of hundreds of volunteers, Art with a Heart was able to provide 5,000 preschool students with a unique, educational and interactive project where students created caterpillars that transformed into butterflies (see photos below in the Programming section). For nearly the entire month of March, volunteers spent countless hours assembling and painting popsicle sticks so that students would have a canvas to create their butterflies. In addition to the programming support, Art with a Heart's public art projects are elevated by these enthusiastic and dedicated individuals who feel a uniting drive to create and share beauty with the community at large.
The unique and special part of the Art with a Heart volunteer experience, in addition to the the tangible art pieces, is the friendships created and memories treasured by all who come together to help and support the organization. Thank you to all our volunteers for your generosity of time, spirit, and talent. You make every day better for both the Art with a Heart team and all the children and adults served by the organization.
With gratitude,
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Madison Krchnavy
Volunteer Coordinator
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Caterpillars, Butterflies and Artists - Oh My! |
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During the Week of the Young Child, Art with a Heart had the honor of creating over 5,000 art kits for students in 100 different schools across Baltimore City. With the support of hundreds of volunteers in the Art with a Heart office along with virtual service events with Timberland, and the assistance of Baltimore City Public School's Early Learning office, Art with a Heart prepared materials for 5,129 students. Students read The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, learned the butterfly song, created their very own caterpillars, and helped their caterpillar's grow into butterflies by designing wings with oil pastels. A great time was had by all the students!
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Child First Authority students in Art with a Heart's after-school program at Hilton Elementary School let their personalities shine while creating these whimsical paintbrush people! Students used recycled paintbrushes, fabric and a variety of embellishments to give their brushes lots of personality. The paintbrush people will be displayed as a community art piece in the annual Show What You Know showcase at Coppin State University.
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Students in Art with a Heart classes at Lakeland Elementary/Middle School learned about artist Vincent van Gogh and his sunflower paintings. Inspired by his work and the spring season, students created their own oil pastel drawings and spring scenes!
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Imagining Catfish in Stained Glass |
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Adult participants in the Art with a Heart classes at Lifebridge Health learned about the beauty of stained glass. To emulate the translucency of glass in an engaging and safe manner, students created faux stained glass panels using clear acrylic sheets and paint. While traditional stained glass templates were provided for inspiration, students created their own unique designs such as the two fisherman on a boat called, "Catfish." Thank you to Lifting Labels for the acrylic sheet donation.
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Dunbar's Art Club is a HOOT |
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Students in Art with a Heart's after-school art club at Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School continued to work on school-wide beautification projects. Currently, students are painting 15 large geometric owls as a tribute to their school's mascot. The owls will then be installed on the walls of a stairwell, resting on the landings and taking flight above the risers for all to see and enjoy.
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Art Week at George Washington Elementary School |
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Students in an Art with a Heart special program at George Washington Elementary School spent a week celebrating their pride for the Southwest Baltimore community of Washington Village/Pigtown. The students designed, constructed, and under-glazed ceramic cityscape elements. The ceramic pieces will be kiln-fired and assembled into a large mosaic scene to be installed outside of the school's main office. Stay tuned for images of the completed project!
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Community Service and Public Art |
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Working Faster than a Turtle's Pace |
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Art with a Heart continued its workshops with various stakeholders of the University of Maryland Midtown Campus. Middle and high school students from the hospital's catchment area had a great time working on the mosaic mural with hospital staff. Students created ceramic elements for the project and helped to glaze completed pieces. Don't let the turtle fool you! The mural is coming together quickly thanks to the ongoing help and support of hospital staff along with Art with a Heart volunteers.
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Severn Artist Enjoy a Community Day |
Art with a Heart joined members of the Severn community in a fun day filled with community art, food, music and more. Artists of all ages participated in the start of a beautiful community mosaic for the planter walls outside the new Severn Intergenerational Center Center.
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Leader Enjoy Fresh Air and Fun at NorthBay |
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This month, Art of Leadership students had a fantastic overnight retreat at NorthBay! Students shared and reflected on important pieces of their personal stories and enjoyed learning more about each other. Strengthening their community bond, leaders tested their teamwork and communication skills with lively strategy games and building challenges. Throughout the weekend, students wrote words of affirmation and appreciation to their teammates, and at the end of the retreat, each went home with these kind thoughts from their friends and a great feeling of connection and community.
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B'More Healthy Expo is Back |
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After a two year hiatus, Art with a Heart was thrilled to once again participate in B'more Healthy Expo. Hundreds of attendees visited Art with a Heart's tables to learn more about organization, purchase handmade products, and create art for community projects.
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Woodbourne Spring Breakers take a Break with Art |
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Students at Woodbourne Center enjoyed an engaging week of HeARTworks programming during their spring break. Projects included a mixed media painting project based on the Philippine-American artist, Pacita Abad, a zentangle affirmation zine focused on their most important values, journaling, and skill-building,
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Good Times during Good Deeds Day |
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Art with a Heart had a great time with the Evans family and their friends on Good Deeds Day! The group finished a special project they organized with Art with a Heart for Civic Works' Real Food Farm in Clifton Park! This mosaic and mural hybrid sign will be installed later this spring to welcome visitors to the site.
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Impressionist Celebrate Earth Day |
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In addition to their volunteer nights, in April The Impressionists gathered and celebrated Earth Day. The group made wildflower seed bombs that spread flowers in bare urban areas, creating pockets of beauty and habitats for pollinators!
Are you a young adult passionate about equitable access to arts education? Are you looking for a way to make a positive impact in the Baltimore community? Join The Impressionists! Through service, fundraising and advocacy, The Impressionists enjoy fun and interactive ways to give back while growing their professional community. Visit The Impressionists page on our website to learn about upcoming events and volunteer opportunities or email Julia Rodricks, Coordinator of External Affairs at julia@artwithaheart.net.
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3000 Falls Road | Mill No. 1 | Baltimore, MD 21211
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