March 2024

The Road to 25!

Come celebrate with us over the next year as we embark on the road to 25 years of achievements and cherished memories in our special newsletter feature! Take a deep dive into our journey, reflecting on the people, accomplishments, and treasured moments that have shaped our legacy. Prepare to reminisce, rejoice, and reignite your passion for our shared story as we come together to honor this significant milestone. 

Spotlight: Kristina Harlee

After nearly 25 years as a non-profit, one of the most fulfilling aspects is observing the students we've worked with grow and thrive. A great example of this is Kristina Harlee, who spent three summers in our workforce program through a collaboration with the Bridges program. In the winter of 2023, Kristina returned to Art with a Heart and is excelling as the manager of our social enterprise store, HeARTwares. With her infectious creativity and dedication, Kristina has brought new energy to the store through exciting product development and revitalized shopping space. As it happens, we stumbled upon a thank-you note from Kristina to Randi, which she wrote after her high school workforce experience with AWAH. Once a star...always a star!

March was a month bursting with creativity at Art with a Heart as our programming team worked passionately to develop a myriad of exciting projects for our students. Inspired by the renowned artist Pacita Abad, classes at the Baltimore Autism Society created unique pieces, while students at the Judy Center honed their scissor skills. At Patterson Park Public Charter, the "Wish Monsters" project was a hit, and students at Dr. Bernard Harris Elementary proudly displayed stunning self-portraits. The students in the Child First Authority program at Liberty Elementary also got in on the action, painting whimsical paper mache ice cream cones in preparation for their showcase in May.

Our Cookies & Crafts Crew at Moravia Park delved into the world of Jean-Michel Basquiat, creating their own regal masterpiece. The joy on the faces of the kids says it all - learning and creating art has never been more fun!

One of our standout projects this month was presented by our Deputy Director, Megan Gatto. Megan presented the interactive sculpture honoring Women's History Month at at the University of Maryland Medical System's EmpowerHER employee celebration. Through prompts on ribbons, passersby are encouraged to share their thoughts on influential women, life lessons, and values.

It was truly a month filled with inspiration and creativity at Art with a Heart!

In March, a new group of student interns joined us at HeARTworks, adding fresh energy and enthusiasm to our space! After completing orientation, these interns are fully integrated into our workforce development program, lending their skills to various tasks such as research, creating artwork, and developing curriculum. This hands-on opportunity not only enhances their resumes, but also contributes to the overall success of our programs. The HeARTwares team has exciting plans in the works for Mother's Day and a top secret collection of unique items to commemorate the Art with a Heart 25th Anniversary in 2025.

This month, we also had the pleasure of attending the graduation of the Christopher's Place Employment Academy classes. The highlight of the event was presenting a special mosaic to the 101st class, adorned with the names of the 2024 graduates. This meaningful piece will proudly hang at Christopher Place, honoring the achievements of the recent graduates and all those who came before them.

Special Projects

The transformation of the hallways at William Paca Elementary School is finally complete! With the hard work of our dedicated staff and volunteers, the hallways now radiate with vibrant colors and imaginative designs, providing a delightful journey for our students to their classrooms.

Gorgeous mosaic fish and coral now adorn the walls of Lois T. Murray Elementary School! Our students collaborated with AWAH staff members in their classrooms to create these beautiful pieces, which were then painstakingly grouted and perfected by our talented in-house volunteers.

Art of Leadership

Cohort 9 toured the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) with a focus on "art as activism". Led by enthusiastic docents, the students navigated the museum, sharing diverse perspectives on the exhibits. The experience showcased the profound impact of art in stimulating thoughts and emotions.

Community Art and Service

Art with a Heart and the William S. Baer School are collaborating to bring life and vibrancy to the school's hallways through a multi-media mural featuring a mosaic of a young boy in a specialized standing wheelchair, known as a Pacer, opening a box. From the box, hundreds of beautifully painted butterflies (thank you volunteers!!) will emerge, carrying canvases adorned with images from the core communication boards utilized by the school's students. These butterflies serve as a symbol of rebirth and joy, while the core board canvases serve as a reminder that lack of verbal communication does not equate to lack of a voice.

In March, work continued on the community art project at the Baltimore Washington Medical Center. This project will serve as a commemoration of the dedicated efforts of the medical center's healthcare workers and support staff during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. The installation will feature mandalas, representing the transformation from suffering to joy; trees, symbolizing strength, serenity, and growth; and leaves, representing diversity and interconnectedness. Keep an eye out for updates and photos of the project's progress!

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 March: Mayfield Woods Middle School, The Greater Chesapeake Foundation, Girl Scout Troop 634G, Towson University Transfer Council, Gilbane Development Group, Penn Mar, Morgan State Caribbean Student Association, College Bound, Franklin & Prokopik, St. Ignatious Loyola Academy, Under Armour, Constellation Energy, Baltimore Gas & Electric 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!

This month, Art with a Heart welcomed another dynamic group of volunteers for our Impressionists Meetup. These meetups are a really fun and casual way to meet other young professionals in the city. And, you don't have to attend every month, just when it fits into your schedule. For more information, please reach out to amylangrehr@artwithaheart.net The next Impressionists Meetups are the evenings of April 18, May 16 and June 27.