September 2017
In This Issue:


NEWS
Art of Leadership's 2016-2017 Cohort is Ready to Lead AOLGraduation

On September 10th, Art with a Heart's second cohort of the Art of Leadership Program concluded an educational, inspiring and impactful year. With parents, relatives, friends and Advisory Board members present, the students graduated from the Program, received their certificates and celebrated their achievement. One student said, 
"The Art of Leadership has broadened my understanding of the greater Baltimore community and taught me how to react to problems in the community as an active leader." Look out Baltimore, here they come!"
Art with a Heart's Staff Goes to Washington, DC StaffRetreat

The Art with a Heart staff had an educational and emotional retreat in Washington, DC this month.
There was a lot of learning, honest conversations and laughter. 

After an emotional presentation with Holocaust survivor Agi Laszlo Geva, the staff toured the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and ended the experience in the warmth of the reflection room, deeply affected. We left the museum affirmed in the importance of not being a bystander or silent in the face of injustice. Dinner that night featured two Top Chef contestants! The next day the staff journeyed through the National Museum of African American History and Culture, exploring the painful roots and rich cultural contributions the African American people have made over the past century and a half. The museum's moving water monument was a fitting place to contemplate all that the staff experienced over the two days, summed up beautifully by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. quote: "We are determined... to work and fight until justice runs down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream."

At Art with a Heart we believe that taking the time to explore and understand each cultural experience, along with  meaningful dialogues, helps to elevate our work.
Joe Squared Multiplies the Fun While Supporting Art with a Heart PizzaHappyHour


Join us on Thursday, November 16th from 4:00pm-7:30pm for a Happy Hour at   Joe Squared  benefitting Art with a Heart. Joe Squared will also be creating a specialty Art with a Heart pizza that will be available the entire month of November. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this specialty pizza will be donated to the organization. We hope to see you on November 16th at Joe Squared, 33 W. North Ave, Baltimore, MD 21201.
Art of Leadership
Learning about Each Other and our CityAOL

On September 17th, students in the 2018 cohort of Art of Leadership tackled the subject of race and class. The session began with a tour of west Baltimore which included visits to various neighborhoods from Roland Park to Penn North and beyond. At Gilmor Homes, students exited the bus and participated in an exercise illustrating how the City continues to be divided along racial lines.  Barbara Shapiro, a native Baltimorean, joined the students for the tour. She shared personal stories and provided historical context for many of the communities we visited. 

After the tour, students returned to HeARTwares and engaged in a candid and insightful conversation about community, race and class. One student shared:  "My favorite part of the experience was being pushed out of my comfort zone and having a conversation about a difficult topic."  "
 
PROGRAMMING
Giggly Students Create "Squiddly" Projects MaryRodman

Aquatic creatures came to life in Art with a Heart classes at Mary E. Rodman Elementary school. Students used their creativity and innovative thinking to create giant squids. Each unique characteristic of these colorful  cephalopods represents the students imagination and examination of line, shape, color and texture.     
Men at Christopher's Place Shape Their Future with Their Own HandsChristophersPlace

Men in Art with a Heart classes at Christopher's Place Employment Academy created paintings reflective of their hopes and goals for the future. Each participant used their goals as a narrative for their canvases along with their hands in symbolic gestures. Participants proudly completed their projects which they said will be a creative reminder to stay focused on their future.
 
The Magic of Painting with Blooming ArtistsKidzStuff

Art with a Heart's youngest students range in age from two to four years old. These blooming artists at Kidzstuff Early Learning Center experimented with painting different types of lines and colors. Paint is magical when you add a little water, and these artists had a great time seeing their brushstrokes transform their paper into colorful images.

 
Familiar Shapes in New Settings  Hazelwood

Kindergarten students in Art with a Heart classes at Hazelwood Elementary/Middle School spent the first week of school exploring the elements of art. Students learned about shapes and colors and then had the opportunity to create their own unique colorful compositions. 

Despite Summer Temperatures, Fall is Here at Kids Safe ZoneKidsSafeZone

Students in the Art with a Heart's after-school program at the Penn North Kids Safe Zone had a great time officially welcoming the fall season by creating mixed media fall landscapes. Learning about the season with an emphasis on the environment, students used recycled corrugated cardboard, tissue paper and recycled bottle caps, to "grow trees" with fall leaves. 

COMMUNITY SERVICE AND PUBLIC ART
Found Objects and a Supportive Community Lead to Stunning CollaborationAnneECasey

Art with a Heart spent over a year and worked with over 1000 community members to create this breathtaking, found object mosaic. The image of the United States was completed with an enormous amount of donated found objects and the exterior is filled with hundreds of pieces of hand cut glass.The project was commissioned by the Annie E. Casey Foundation with over 300 staff members lending a hand to get the project started. The finished project is installed at the Annie E Casey Foundation offices on St. Paul Street. Thank you to everyone who helped create this remarkable community mosaic.
 
Together We Serve, Create, and BeautifySixthBranch

For the third year, Art with a Heart was proud to be a part of the 6th Branch, "Together We Serve" 9/11 Day of Service event. Art with a Heart facilitated volunteers in the creation of clay hearts that will be painted by Johnston Square Elementary students and assembled into a wall hanging for display in the school. Volunteers from the 6th Branch, Re-Build Johnston Square, CareFirst, T. Rowe Price, Under Armour, Legg Mason, PNC, Transamerica, Starbucks, and McCormick spent the day creating the clay hearts, painting the school, and cleaning up the Johnston Square and Oliver communities.  Art with a Heart was thrilled to once again participate in this meaningful day.
   

Windsor Hills Elementary Fossil Looms: Now That's Multi-Media!  WindsorHills

Students in an Art with a Heart program at Windsor Hills Elementary/Middle School learned about basic clay technique and fossils. The students were tasked with making a loom by rolling individual slabs of clay, and then creating, imprinting, painting and even weaving the loom. Art with a Heart mounted the individual looms and grouted the final piece. The result of this unique effort is pictured below and will be installed outside the main office of the school. Thank you to Arts Everyday for their generous support of this project. 

Thank you! ThankYou

Art with a Heart is grateful for the hundreds of volunteers who dedicated their time and talent to the organization during the month of September: Aerotek, Belair Edison Neighborhood community members, BGE, CareFirst, CircleK of Towson, staff members from the Maryland State Department of Education, Transamerica, T. Rowe Price, & Starbucks. 


HEARTWARES 
Order Your Custom Holiday Gifts TODAY! HeARTwaresCustomOrder

HeARTworkers and student interns are working together to complete a record number of special orders. Beautiful mosaic mirrors, painted barstools, custom centerpieces, and guestbook mosaics--are all the rage!! Don't delay, contact Christina Ralls at christina@artwithaheart.net to order your custom item or holiday gift. 
JDRF Youth Ambassadors Create Auction ItemsJDRF

For the fifth year, Art with a Heart has collaborated with Youth Ambassadors from JDRF (Type 1 Diabetes Research Funding and Advocacy) to help in their fundraising efforts. The Ambassadors spent a day in HeARTwares creating beautiful mosaic mirrors for JDRF's upcoming gala. The pieces will be auctioned at the event to raise funds for research and advocacy.  Art with a Heart is grateful for this continued partnership!