July 2024

Happenings!

Mayor Scott visits HeARTworks Students!

Art with a Heart was delighed to welcome Mayor Brandon Scott and MacKenzie Garvin, Director of the Mayor's Office of Employment Development, for an immersive experience with YouthWorks students in the HeARTworks program. After a detailed ceramics lesson by Erin Liffiton, Art with a Heart's Director of Community Art and Service, Mayor Scott and Director Garvey enjoyed creating ceramic mugs with the students.

Road to 25 Spotlight: Keonte

Meet Keonte, a kind, talented 16-year-old YouthWorks student from Frederick Douglass High School. At the outset of the program Keonte was reserved and quite shy. Slowly, Keonte began showing a love of art and surprised us all with his impressive skills. Keonte shared a beautiful ceramic mushroom that he sculpted, complete with intricate details like fairies, squirrels, and water droplets. Keonte is excited to see the sculpture once it has been fired in the kiln. It has been a joy to see Keonte come out of his shell and bond with his table mates during the program. 

August Collectible: Mosaic Suncatcher!

Our third 25th Anniversary Collectible is about to drop and we know you're going to love it! Immediately brighten any space with these 10" x 2" treasures, featuring reflective mirrors and a vibrant array of tiled glass. Meticulously crafted, each suncatcher is hand-tiled into a unique design: one side speckled with an ocean of refreshing blue, the other in eye-catching orange, with sparkling mirrors trickling down the sides. These delightful suncatchers spin and dazzle, capturing light in a mesmerizing display! Limited to 25, the suncatchers are available on our website at the link below!

Buy Mosaic Suncatcher here!

A small number of the first two collectibles are still available.

Buy Tiny Trash Can here! Buy Lock-it Pendant here!

July was a whirlwind of creativity at Art with a Heart as our summer programs were put into full swing. Art with a Heart is hosting nearly 500 classes this summer with 30 different community partners. Students of all ages have enjoyed experimenting with modeling and sculpting techniques and diving into painting watercolors to create beautiful summer portraits. Art with a Heart's pre-k students at John Ruhrah Judy Center embarked on an exciting jungle adventure, learning all about African lions. They constructed lion masks from recycled cardboard and used paint to bring their lions to life!

Special Projects

Art with a Heart volunteers, interns, and staff continue to work on the exterior three-wall mural at William Paca Elementary School. Though some workdays have been beset by extreme temperatures and others by rain, the team is making good progress, and neighbors are already expressing their excitement at having a new mural in their community!

Art with a Heart is halfway through its summer HeARTworks program and it is clear that we have an exceptional group of YouthWorkers. The students have completed two projects - mixed media 2-D art with paint, collage, and embroidery and whimsical ceramic mushrooms for home or garden. The students in the digital arts curriculum at Harlem Park Recreation Center are working on a 3-D wood project using their digital design skills with 3-D pens.

Community Art and Service

This month, Community Art and Service continued its efforts on two large-scale community art projects, facilitated three community art events, and engaged six service groups! Art with a Heart also hosted an art project at Transformation Nation's Day of Healing which focused on mental health resources and awareness. Participants enjoyed creating their own Healing Helpers.

And, with great excitement, the Art with a Heart team revealed the Funnel Cake King's truck to its thrilled owner Dwayne Benbow of Benbow Concessions. The truck was hand painted by students and volunteers in Basquiat-style sketches created by artist and Art with a Heart assistant, Samanta Sudesna Sujoy, along with a sketch from Dwayne's six year old daughter. Moved to tears, Dwayne was so grateful for all those who helped restore his truck and make it a beautiful piece of art.

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 July: The Jemicy School, Bryn Mawr, Bridges, The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Jewish Educational Network, Union Church, International Rescue Council, and our wonderful cadre of regulars who show up each week to help with any and all needs of the organization. Thank you all!