September 2024

Happenings!

Art with a Heart to Open Second Location on The Avenue!

"When we moved into Mill No.1 back in 2018, Art with a Heart had eight employees. Now, there are 19 of us and we are continuing to grow,” says Art with a Heart's Deputy Director Megan Gatto. To be clear, the organization is not moving out of Mill No.1 – the location on “The Avenue” will be the new home of Art with a Heart's social enterprise store, HeARTwares, along with its workforce development program, HeARTworks. The store's official opening will be on Small Business Saturday - November 30th from 11:00am to 6:00pm. Come visit us and do some meaningful holiday shopping!

You're Invited: Book Talk

Join us on Wednesday, October 9th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm as we welcome three Art with a Heart volunteers who also happen to be authors – Richie Frieman, Jacquie Toner and Ken Weiss. Each author will give a brief talk about their most recent work - The Optimistics by Richie Frieman, True or False: The Science of Perception, Misinformation, and Disinformation by Jacquie Toner, and Still Trending: A Divided America, from Newspaper to Newsfeed by Ken Weiss. There is no charge to attend this event. To RSVP, contact Amy Langrehr at amylangrehr@artwithaheart.net or 410-366-8886.

A Tribute to Shelly Malis

We are deeply saddened by the loss of our friend and Art with a Heart Board Member, Shelly Malis. Shelly’s passion and dedication to the organization will never be forgotten and her impact will continue to motivate and inspire us. Our hearts go out to Ira, Abigail, Alex, Matt and Catherine, along with her extended family, including her beloved furry family members.

The 2024-25 school year has started and Art with a Heart student-artists are enthusiastically approaching the new year with lots of creativity. In addition to our consistent daily classes, Art with a Heart facilitated two workshops - a Grandparent's Day workshop hosted by Moravia Park Elementary School. and a fun and creative workshop for Baltimore City Schools Community School Coordinators as part of their Appreciation Week festivities.

The programming team is thrilled for the school year ahead and excited to see the beautiful art that our burgeoning artists create!

October Collectible: Mosaic Heart!

Introducing the Limited Edition Mosaic Heart! Illuminate any space with this exquisite 6.4" x 8.5" wall hanging, showcasing a stunning array of colors and reflective mirror glass at its center. Each piece is meticulously crafted by students and volunteers with vibrant, hand-tiled glass, forming a captivating rainbow around the heart. Limited to just 25 pieces, this unique artwork will make your space stand out and evoke admiration from all who see it.

Buy your Mosaic Heart here!

Buy Your AWAH Hoodie here!

Buy Mosaic Suncatcher here!

Community Art and Service

Thanks to the efforts and teamwork of both staff and volunteers, Art with a Heart had the honor of witnessing the resilience and strength of community members from all over Baltimore and the world! Muslim and Jewish students from Galilee Dreamers came all the way from Israel and joined students from the Elijah Cummings Youth Program to connect and create.

Art with a Heart also engaged with local students at KIPP Elementary and Middle School and facilitated their participation in mosaics for their brand-new Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation libraries.

And there's MORE - the Art with a Heart team and volunteers had the pleasure of collaborating with MC3 and AstraZeneca to create "The Enduring Heart Mosaic" that will be installed in the University of Maryland Medical Center’s Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center. Stay tuned for photos of the project as it progresses.

Art of Leadership

In September, Cohort 10 students embarked on a bus tour of Baltimore to explore how race and class have historically shaped the city and continue to impact current disparities. Led by Liz Miller, the tour included stops at Restoration Gardens, New Song Community Learning Center, and the University of Maryland Medical Center, all featuring public art installations created by Art with a Heart. The day concluded with a reflective discussion, with students sharing personal experiences and insights on race and class, deepening their understanding of the city's challenges and their role in creating a more equitable future.

Impressionists!

The Impressionists, Art with a Heart's young professionals group, meet on the fourth Thursday each month to help with projects that support the organization's programming needs. These casual drop-in sessions are a great way to volunteer and meet new people.Come and bring a friend! The next Impressionists meetup is the evening of October 24 from 5:00pm to 7:30pm at the Art with a Heart office. For more information, please reach out to amylangrehr@artwithaheart.net

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 August: Morgan State University S.O.U.L., Johns Hopkins Students for Health & Humanities, UMBC Sondheim Scholars, Penn Mar, Constellation Energy, Visit Baltimore and Bryn Mawr School. Thank you all!