We have the venue, desire and now, NEED THE SUPPLIES!
If you wish to learn more about me, here’s my “About Me” page: All About Your Art Advocate
My name is Karen Mary, and I taught art to middle/high school students in the public schools for over 22 years. I continue to be a certified teacher in both the States of Texas and Colorado. I realized how important art is to self-expression and now am an advocate for the arts and artists in Northern Colorado, mainly the beautiful city of Fort Collins, Colorado.
A few things I’ve provided for our town to keep artistic expression alive:
I found partnering businesses like Mary’s Mountain Cookies, Advanced Animal Care of Colorado, and Choice City Drug who would allow artists to hang their work for free, and then keep 90% of their sales. These businesses even have advanced hanging systems for the artists I send to them! I also host low-cost shows for the artists to participate in which prove to be “key.” In the past, I have gone “out of pocket” to provide these shows for our area artists: Scrumpy’s Hard Cider Bar,Patero’s Creek Brewery, Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant, Nordy’s Bar B Q, Livermore Community Hall.
2) A 3 DAY TOUR for ART in Our City
I recently published an ARTISTIC guide for a 3-day art tour for visiting our city which is hooked to my Art Advocate website.
3) Hosted Low COST SHOWS FOR ARTISTS
Visit my blog page on: www.artadvocateofnortherncolorado.com
Over 12 shows within two years!
I am hosting several large, low cost shows this summer which will support our mountain fire departments by donating booth fees and art sales. The artists who create with the supplies YOU PROVIDE will all be invited to be in the shows! It’s a WIN WIN! AND YOU are making it possible!
4) OLD TOWN ART (SUPPLIES ARE FREE!)
Now, I’ve developed the OLD TOWN ART program so that artists can create for free.
This is where your help is needed!
This reason for the name, OLD TOWN ART is that In Fort Collins, Co, the district that thrives with artists is called, “Old Town” and many can walk or take bikes to our donated venues, Starry Night and Bas Bleu. The owner of Starry Night Espresso Cafe, Jen, is an art advocate herself, and has allowed many classes to take place in her small espresso cafe! We will also be gathering at the local theatre company, Bas Bleu Theater which is a NPO (non-profit organization), and a public entity founded by Wendy Ishii, and be able to meet in their lobby to create this summer! Wendy has welcomed us, and I purchase the dates this week! The theater will be offering us 8 dates and they are 2.5 hours each, so it’s $17.00 an hour for a grand total of $340.00.
The OLD TOWN ART program will allow participating artists a comfortable venue, needed supplies and the support they crave to create. Ages 18-115 WELCOME! Then, they can go and sell the painting they’ve enjoyed making! All this is possible with your donation, as we all know how expensive art supplies are, and each class will now have everything it needs! I have come across the need for this as I’m privately messaged on a weekly basis about how artists are running out of supplies and not able to create. Colorado was hit hard last year and the year before by terrible natural disasters such as fire and flooding. The artists here could really use your assistance!
I have been supporting the arts in this area for over 7 years and am now asking the public for a little help. My art website is: ART ADVOCATE WEBSITE The dates for this SUMMER PROGRAM are all set up and listed on the WORKSHOP PAGE.
Perhaps you have friends who love art?
Perhaps you had a child who enjoyed art in school?
Maybe you collect art or create yourself?
You may even be a museum curator, or own a gallery!
Then this may touch your heart and be a campaign you can feel really great about!
Your funds enable each class that we attend every other week (May -September from 6p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Starry Night Espresso Cafe & 2-4:30 at Bas Bleu Theater Company) to have the needed supplies for each artist. Most classes HAVE ALREADY FILLED!!!
A sign up sheet is required so that I know how many brushes, paints, canvasses and necessary supplies to furnish. The classes are 2.5 hours long which allows enough time to create, and if something doesn’t get completed, the artist is welcome to come back or make an appointment with me a lot sooner than the next class to get the painting finished.
Acrylics, brushes, palette knives, canvasses, plastic palettes, dry towels, spray bottles, pencils, charcoal, pastels, oils and watercolors will be the supplies of choice. Any artist who signs up will have access to all of these supplies each time the gathering of Old Town Artists meet. We are on the schedule at Starry Night Espresso Cafe beginning May 12th and will run through Sept. 22nd., alternating Mondays throughout the summer. We are also on the schedule for Bas Bleu as well and meet from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Weds., Thursdays and Fridays during the summer months.
If the goal for this project isn’t met, the money given STILL goes to each class, but I will have to go “out of pocket” for the rest. That would diminish how many opportunities I can offer. I am simply asking for help, as the advertising for the low cost shows I’ve done in the past eats away the small booth fees leaving NOTHING left over in the pot for ventures such as these! I can’t do it all myself! Your help is crucial.
The art created can be entered into the low cost shows that I put on in the summer months for the artists in Northern Colorado. The artists keep all proceeds!
Your contribution allows all of the interested artists more freedom to create and have the supplies at hand. Without this very important funding, I will have to take funds “out of pocket,” can’t provide the quantity of materials needed, and don’t always have funds available to me to use for the artist’s supplies. I already have the first 4 classes filled up! While the artists create, they are also hoping to be in the on-going summer art shows that are in this area. Selling their art provides the means for them to continue their crafts. This circular pattern enriches our local artist’s lives and our community as a whole. We will be placed at the front of Starry Night’s glass window where people who are walking down College Avenue can stop and watch the artists in action! Children, adults and area CSU students will be able to watch the artists create every other Monday evening during the summer months!
Other Ways You Can Help
If you have social media at your fingertips, and are not able to assist financially, please share this worthy campaign with your followers through twitter, links to art websites, and Face Book. Spread the art, so to speak and help us meet or beat our goal! ART IS LIFE and self expression is the very soul of a person put out into the world for all of us to ponder and enjoy its beauty! If you have art supplies you are not using and would love them put to good use, you are welcome to mail them directly to Karen Mary. Simply e-mail her for an address!
CLICK HERE TO GO TO MY CAMPAIGN!
Email me when Karen Mary Castranova publishes or recommends stories