Art Buddy Spotlight: Reginaldo Reyes, Mentor

Reginaldo (Reggie) Reyes is a Senior Design Manager for In Store Marketing at Target, and has been an Art Buddy for two semesters. In addition to volunteering as a creative mentor, he is always on the lookout for art materials and supply donations that kids and mentors can use to create unique and imaginative costumes during each semester of Art Buddies.

How would you describe Art Buddies to someone who has never heard of the program?
It's an amazing opportunity for a creative professional to put their skills and vision to use to help unleash students' minds.

What has been your most memorable experience as an Art Buddy?
When my first buddy shared with me his vision for his costume, I was amazed how he articulated a fire king and his inspirations of a phoenix.

Why did you decide to become active with Art Buddies?
I wanted some balance in my career and had an opportunity and the time to be active with the program. I'm so happy that I did, as the program gives me joy just to see how these kids' minds work.

What advice would you give to rookie Art Buddies?
Be open. Let loose. Go with the flow. Don't seek perfection.

Define what one-on-one mentoring means to you and how it can impact the lives of children.
Mentoring provides opportunities to share your life and experiences with a mentee, and help them see the world in a different light.

How do you feel the after-school combination of creativity and mentoring helps children with school work?
I think it frees up their minds to try things differently as they approach problems and situations. It also gives them something to look forward to after school.

Tell us about a unique or interesting experience with your Art Buddy that inspired you.
The simplest vision can lead to incredible thinking and stories. My Art Buddy's costume this year is a penguin, and it was chosen not for being cute, but being a leader of the pack, and focuses on family. Who knew what could come from penguin beginnings?

While you were sharing knowledge with your Art Buddy, did you ever find they were teaching you something equally important? If so, what?
Yes. Being resourceful with the things that you have.

Have you gained new friendships or expanded your network with adult Art Buddies during the program?
Yes. I've connected with people that I've known or worked with as well as new people that I look forward to catching up with.

What are some of your favorite costume creations, and what inspired your Art Buddy to choose that costume?
I've only participated in one full session, so I would have to say that was one cool costume that my Art Buddy created. My favorite piece was the staff that we created out of gift-wrapping tubes that we made look like a fire staff as part of his Fire King outfit. His emblem was the phoenix that we created as part of his breastplate.

Photo courtesy Mike Habermann

Art Buddies accepts mentor applications every fall and spring. Learn how you can volunteer with Art Buddies at http://www.artbuddies.org/volunteer/.

10 Lessons the Arts Teach

At Art Buddies, we use the power of creativity, self-expression through artistic methods, and one-on-one mentoring to change children’s lives. The significant impact of the kind of arts learning provided by Art Buddies is highlighted here by the late Elliot Eisner, acclaimed professor of Art and Education at the Stanford Graduate School of Education:

1. The arts teach children to make good judgments about qualitative relationships. Unlike much of the curriculum in which correct answers and rules prevail, in the arts, it is judgment rather than rules that prevail.
   
   
2. The arts teach children that problems can have more than one solution and that questions can have more than one answer.
   
   
3. The arts celebrate multiple perspectives. One of their large lessons is that there are many ways to see and interpret the world.
   
   
4. The arts teach children that in complex forms of problem solving purposes are seldom fixed, but change with circumstance and opportunity. Learning in the arts requires the ability and a willingness to surrender to the unanticipated possibilities of the work as it unfolds.
   
   
5. The arts make vivid that fact that neither words in their literal form nor numbers exhaust what we can know. The limits of our language do not define the limits of our cognition.
   
   
6. The arts teach students that small differences can have large effects. The arts traffic in subtleties.
   
   
7. The arts teach students to think through and within a material. All art forms employ some means through which images become real.
   
   
8. The arts help children learn to say what cannot be said. When children are invited to disclose what a work of art helps them feel, they must reach into their poetic capacities to find the words that will do the job.
   
   
9. The arts enable use to have experience we can have from no other source and through such experience to discover the range and variety of what we are capable of feeling.
   
   
10. The arts’ position in the school curriculum symbolizes to the young what adults believe is important.

SOURCE: Eisner, E. (2002). The Arts and the Creation of Mind, In Chapter 4, What the Arts Teach and How It Shows (pp. 70-92). Yale University Press.
Available from NAEA Publications. NAEA grants reprint permission for this excerpt from Ten Lessons with proper acknowledgment of its source and NAEA.

To obtain a digital version of this document, please visit www.arteducators.org/advocacy.

Visit Blick to support Art Buddies this season

This holiday season, Art Buddies is partnering with Julius Jr. and Blick Art Materials in the national Donation for Imagination campaign! As a charitable partner of this giving event, we’re excited to offer a unique opportunity for you to donate art supplies for Art Buddies, and receive a special discount for your own Blick purchase. Visit Blick Art Materials in Minneapolis, Edina, or Roseville, MN between Dec. 2 and Dec. 24, 2014 to participate.

GIVE: Purchase any new art material as designated for Art Buddies at local retail locations, and receive 20% off that item!

& GET: Receive 20% off your next purchase, valid 12/26-12/31/14!*

See your local store for more information and your in-store coupon. Visit this link to learn more about the Donation for Imagination campaign: http://www.dickblick.com/stores/promotions/DFI14

*Standard exclusions apply. See store for further details.

My Burger supports Art Buddies Nov. 20

As Art Buddies turns 20, locally-owned and family-run My Burger is turning 10. To celebrate, My Burger is hosting Give-Back Thursday on Nov. 20, donating a percentage of the day's proceeds from all Minneapolis stores to three local charities, including Art Buddies! #GBT Visit My Burger.

Photo courtesy Doug Knutson Photography

 

Unlocking confidence through Art Buddies

Written by Brookley Wofford

The arts – painting, crafting, music, drama, dance, etc. – arm kids with the ability to overcome challenges, express themselves and unlock confidence. When I discovered Art Buddies over two years ago, it brought me back to my days as a student. I was inattentive, lacked the ability to concentrate on things most kids find exciting, and found school deeply frustrating. My undiagnosed learning disability caused my self-esteem to plummet, and I began to shy away from engaging with peers.

After receiving an ADHD diagnosis in elementary school, a teacher recommended I add art classes to my curriculum and join after-school programs that focused on creative expression. The arts – being the intellectual disciplines they are – required complex problem solving that gave me the opportunity to construct my own method of soaking up knowledge. Finding a new sense of self-worth through drama clubs, painting classes, and ballet allowed my confidence to soar. I began to excel in school and my social life blossomed.

As an Art Buddies mentor, member of the Advisory Board and chair of the Communications Committee, I have seen firsthand how after-school programs such as Art Buddies continue to be a vital part of our school systems. While piles of fabric swatches, scissors, glue, pipe cleaners, paintbrushes and cardboard may seem like random supplies meant to simply keep students busy, to kids involved in programs like Art Buddies, those supplies mean much more.

Oftentimes children with learning disabilities are made to feel incapable of learning within a normal classroom setting. Since self-worth plays a critical role in the learning process, tools kids use in programs like Art Buddies help open the world of learning to kids who may have trouble with traditional teaching methods. Some students may be failing in math or history, but a completed costume at the end of an Art Buddies semester represents their newly found skills, self-expression, success, and confidence.

As an elementary student struggling to find a reason to care about school, with no interest in gaining friends, there is no way I could have fathomed how the arts would catapult me into the confident, outgoing, and successful adult I am today. I graduated with honors in both high school and college, was crowned Miss Mississippi International 2012, had the confidence to move over 1,200 miles from the place I deemed home in order to pursue my dream career, and was recently named Miss Twin Cities United States 2015. Those achievements are minimal compared to the fulfillment I have working with Art Buddies.

I am honored to be a part of an organization that exposes students to the arts at an early age – without limitation based on their background, family income level, or learning preference. The arts – and the benefits they provide – should continue to be made a part of each child’s educational path as they begin their journey into the real world.

If you would like to help Art Buddies continue to unlock confidence through the arts, and help children build dreams, visit Art Buddies online or subscribe to learn more about volunteer and donation opportunities.

Fall 2014 Match Grant will double your gift to Art Buddies!

When you donate to Art Buddies Oct. 30-Nov. 14, your gift will be doubled! Thanks to a Match Grant sponsored by two of our generous supporters, Mi Mi Design and the Cy and Paula DeCosse Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation, every dollar received during this challenge period to help us meet our $5,000 goal will be matched.

To donate, visit http://www.artbuddies.org/donate

Your gift will help Art Buddies continue to inspire and empower underprivileged kids through our one-on-one creative mentoring at our partner schools in Minneapolis, and our first partner school in St. Paul next year.

THANK YOU for your generosity and support!

Photo courtesy Mike Habermann Photography.

Art Buddy Spotlight: Kathy Kuhl, Mentor/Advisory Board Member/Events Chair

Kathy Kuhl works in home decor and accessory designs for her own company, Nelli Designs. She has been an Art Buddies volunteer for two years and has had the opportunity to serve as a mentor, Advisory Board member, and Events Committee Chair.

 

How would you describe Art Buddies to someone who has never heard of the program?
It's a creative mentoring program for underprivileged youth. Art Buddies matches mentors who are mainly creative professionals to work one-on-one with children on a creative/inspirational activity that helps enrich the child's life. But don’t kid yourself - you’ll walk away more enriched!

What has been your most memorable experience as an Art Buddy?
Hard to say, but maybe my first “buddy”, Giselle. I’m a dog lover, and my business is built around the love we have for our pets. So when Giselle said she wanted to be Princess of the Dogs, I knew we were a match made in heaven! We bonded instantly!

But then she got cold feet about wearing her costume and marching in the parade. I was able to work with the school counselor who works with Art Buddies, and we proposed to Giselle that we would just watch from the sidelines that day; no pressure to participate any further than she felt comfortable. On the last day, we watched the parade, the presentations, and all the kids having fun in their costumes. 

Giselle finally turned to me and asked to see her finished costume I had made. A broad smile appeared - she loved it! In that minute, as soon as she put her costume on, everything changed for her. She was excited, she was grateful - she became lost in the sea of others dancing, laughing, and enjoying the moment.

I saw Giselle when I volunteered the following semester. She had overcome her shyness and was now in the school band and marching with her drums as part of the Art Buddies parade. When she saw me, her face lit up, and she ran to me, telling me she missed me, and I was still her buddy.

Why did you decide to become active with Art Buddies?
I love kids, and I believe in the power of creative learning. When I left my full-time job to start my own business, I finally had time to follow-up with Sue Crolick, who I had met years before. I believe in her mission and what she set out to accomplish by starting Art Buddies; I knew it was an organization I HAD to be a part of!

What advice would you give to rookie Art Buddies?
Be open to the possibilities before you work with Art Buddies. Be open to the other mentors you will meet, as you will gain many lasting friendships. And be open to your buddy and all he/she is - shy, excited, ambitious, methodical, or silly… Lose yourself in those moments, and you will find more of yourself.

Define what one-on-one mentoring means to you and how it can impact the lives of children.
One-on-one mentoring for me means to work alongside the child and help guide them where they want to go. Art Buddies is about working towards a goal, or a dream, and finding solutions to the obstacles that come up along the way - like how to make wings that actually flap, or determining what the cross between an alligator and a tiger looks like? These are small challenges that gradually build the self esteem of the child, that will continue outside of Art Buddies - and hopefully for years to come.

How do you feel the after-school combination of creativity and mentoring help children with school work?
I think it helps with their overall self esteem and problem solving skills - but in a different format. With Art Buddies, kids are learning how to use math in measuring and figuring out sizing of their costumes; they are learning how common objects and materials can be re-purposed to build something extraordinary; they are diving into their imaginations and bringing their visions to life. With their final results, they realize they have more abilities and know-how than they ever thought or gave themselves credit for. The success of Art Buddies is teaching these skills so that kids can move forward with greater confidence, and achieve greater successes.

Tell us about a unique or interesting experience with your Art Buddy that inspired you.
Probably my second buddy - Mariah. Mariah was bold, smart, ambitious, head strong and decisive. It was clear from her interactions with her friends that she was leader of the pack - not by being bossy, but by respectfully instilling a work ethic to use their time to work on costumes - not dance and be silly. She was clearly respected for this, and respectful of others around her. She had clear goals for herself of wanting to be a doctor one day. She explained her plan to me about college, about med school and working to pay for it so her mom wouldn’t have to work another job.

I grew up very fortunate - I didn’t have to worry about paying for college. While I had a plan for myself, it has never been as buttoned up as Mariah’s at age 11. Mariah inspired me to be more diligent with my own life plan; to be a better leader of my own destiny.

While you were sharing knowledge with your Art Buddy, did you ever find they were teaching you something equally important? If so, what?
Definitely. Mariah taught me the importance of focus; to focus on a goal and move toward it. You can get lost in a lot of dreams, but when I think of being focused, I think of Mariah.

Have you gained new friendships or expanded your network with adult Art Buddies during the program?
Absolutely! Especially working with the Advisory Board, and being Chair of Events. I have met so many great creative and entrepreneurial people that inspire me in my own business. And working with Scott and Stephanie has been wonderful - I have learned SO much about the world of non-profits working with them, that I have a new found respect for everything Sue did, and they continue to carry forward.

What are some of your favorite costume creations, and what inspired your Art Buddy to choose that costume?
Of course, “Princess of the Dogs” was a favorite of mine! It was fun to chat and share our love of dogs... that was an easy one to work on. And Mariah was “Princess of Peace” which was a lot of fun, and inspiring that she felt there was a need for such a princess in today’s world. We had a lot of fun concepting it together and bringing it to life - and then working on her presentation about what it meant to her, and the passion she had for a more peaceful world.

Art Buddies accepts mentor applications ever fall and spring. Learn how you can volunteer with Art Buddies at http://www.artbuddies.org/volunteer/.

Buddy Guide helps kids & mentors create together

During Art Buddies, kids and mentors work together one-on-one on a special costume and Buddy Book that reflect each child's unique ideas, interests and strengths. Getting 3rd-5th graders to focus on an abstract concept like this at the end of a school day can be a challenge, so we use our Buddy Guide to help guide their creative journey.

Our newly reformatted guide is equipped with a planning calendar, idea-generating questions, and rough outline to concept their costume creation (kinda like a "buddy blueprint"). Special thanks to veteran creative mentor and Advisory Board member Taylor Baldry for lending his creative vision & illustrations for our newly formatted guide.

We love watching kids work with their mentors to come up with unique visions of themselves, and make their ideas come to life!

Holiday shopping to support Art Buddies and global artisans Nov. 6

During this season of giving, Art Buddies is partnering with Ten Thousand Villages in Minneapolis for a special holiday shopping event on Thursday, Nov. 6.

With our shared belief in the power of creativity and community to improve the lives of those less fortunate, Ten Thousand Villages is hosting a Community Shopping Night on Nov. 6 from 5 to 8 pm, during which time 15% of eligible sales will be donated to Art Buddies.

What:	Community Shopping Night for Art Buddies
Date:	Thursday, Nov. 6
Time:	5-8 pm
Place:	Ten Thousand Villages, 3825 W. 50th St., Minneapolis 55410 Map

Ten Thousand Villages is a fair-trade retail shop that sells goods made by artisans in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Middle Eastern countries. It's one of the world’s largest fair-trade organizations with its goal to improve the livelihood of artisans in 38 countries. Learn more.

Showroom supports Art Buddies at fall fashion event!

Showroom in Minneapolis is hosting a special Trunk Show to help raise awareness about Art Buddies. Come learn about the Art Buddies program while shopping FOAT's new fall line and Post-'s ever-popular mala bracelets with Tibet prayer wheels.

Where: SHOWROOM
615 West Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN 55408

When: Wednesday, Sept. 24
5:00-7:00 pm

Plus, sign up for Art Buddies' mailing list and get a 10% discount on FOAT's Fall Line!

Designer Brian Wipf and his buddy Thunder Boots -- the King of Noise!
(Photo by Dan Marshall)

FOAT design
Every FOAT garment has a story to tell. Each piece begins as an idea, inspired by the unique fabrics and materials we source and salvage from sustainable suppliers and vintage shops. We develop new designs almost weekly, based on the new materials we discover, to create very limited edition runs, each with a history and story all its own. All of our production work is then completed by hand-drawing, cutting, assembling and sewing every garment in studio.

Post-
Run by Art History lovers, Post-'s mission is to create and maintain dialogue between art, fashion, and contemporary culture. Post- aim to support locally-made and domestically sourced products.

For more information about this event, visit www.showroommpls.com or call 612-345-7391.

Art Buddy Spotlight: Karisa Buechner, Mentor/Advisory Board Member

Karisa Buechner is a Digital Account Executive for Prime Therapeutics and has been an Art Buddy for 9 semesters. Not only does Karisa serve as a mentor, she is also an active member of the Art Buddies Advisory Board and Events Committee, and enjoys volunteering to help organize supplies before sessions begin and undertaking other fundraising duties as needed.


How would you describe Art Buddies?
Art Buddies is a mentor program that encourages kids to push their creativity to the limit. The task is simple enough, build a costume based on a theme. The end result is anything but simple. The kids create elaborate and beautiful costumes using duct tape, cardboard, plastic pieces, shiny and other stuff. It does help that lots of the mentors have creative talents! What happens in the process of creating the costume is the wonderful part of the program.

As you work with the kids, you learn about what is important to them, you share what you know about things and you collaborate on the creation that is to be. Working on the costume together allows you to have a common ground for discussion, no matter your buddy's personality. The project is yours, together.

I could always tell by the end of an Art Buddies session that my buddy had a great time, and genuinely enjoyed the whole experience. Even if they were shy, the card I received at the end showed that they loved the program.

Why did you decide to become active with Art Buddies?
I have always thought of myself as a creative person, but after college I was not working in a creative field. I needed an outlet for creativity, and I really enjoy working with kids. I began looking for a way to give back to my community through creative volunteer work. I found Art Buddies online, and noted that it was close to my then home, near Whittier school. The rest is history. I try to volunteer as much as I can.

What advice would you give to rookie Art Buddies?
Listen to your buddy. Really listen to your buddy, and incorporate their ideas. Sometimes it is hard to accept that your buddy just wants to use that tiny piece of cardboard with a button on it for their hat, instead of a top hat made out of feathers. The kids are the reason we are there.

Define what 1-on-1 mentoring means to you and how it impacts the lives of children.
I think 1-on-1 mentoring means being able to focus on your mentee in a way that you could not in a group. You have the time to really talk and listen to your buddy. I think that it makes kids feel special, and for kids with siblings or parents who don't have time to give them one-on-one time, it can have an even greater impact. Letting kids know they are special and have the potential to accomplish things builds confidence and encourages them to keep going.

Have you gained new friendships or expanded your network with adult Art Buddies?
Yes. I'm very happy to say I have made a few friendships in volunteering with Art Buddies. I have met some very inspiring creative individuals and just great people all around.

Art Buddies accepts mentor applications ever fall and spring. Learn how you can volunteer with Art Buddies at http://www.artbuddies.org/volunteer/.

Celebrating 20 Years of Art Buddies: Seeking Student Alumni

Are you or someone you know a past Art Buddies student?

If so, please take a minute to complete our Art Buddies Alumni Form through SurveyMonkey.

In 1994, former Art Director Sue Crolick founded Creatives for Causes, a non-profit organization aimed at engaging the creative community to support local causes. From that effort, Art Buddies was born.

Twenty years later, Art Buddies is still going strong, and has inspired the lives of thousands of children and volunteers alike, through the power of one-on-one creative mentoring. And in 2015, we're aiming to continue the growth of Art Buddies by expanding to our first school in St. Paul.

To help us celebrate our 20th year, we're on a mission to reconnect with past Art Buddies students who have graduated or are approaching graduation. Many past students likely have careers and families of their own now, with inspiring stories to share about how Art Buddies inspired their lives.

Contact us to learn more and help celebrate 20 years of creativity!

Art Buddy Spotlight: Dayna Goebel, Mentor

Our creative mentors are the heart of Art Buddies. And today, our hearts are heavy from the loss of one amazing mentor, Dayna Goebel (Brown).

Dayna joined Art Buddies in 2012 and mentored for four seasons. What some didn't know was that Dayna was also fighting pancreatic cancer and came to Art Buddies as a 2.5 hour escape from what she called her "Cancer Circus." She wanted to focus her energy in a positive way, to inspire a child's creative spirit, and Art Buddies was the perfect fit.

What Dayna didn't know was how many others she would inspire with her creativity and amazing outlook on life -- grateful for every moment, and living each day to the fullest.

For anyone who followed her journey and often humorous commentary on CaringBridge, they know her mantra -- SMILE TODAY -- and that she would close every entry with three things she loved about that day.

So in honor and memory of the amazing Dayna, here are three things Art Buddies loved about you:

- Your positive energy that saw the silver lining in the darkest cloud, and helped others do the same.
- Your idea to give Art Buddies kids a "challenge item" to further spark their imagination.
- The gift of hope and happiness you gave to everyone who knew you.

In loving memory of Dayna, smile today!

Art Buddies accepts mentor applications ever fall and spring. Learn how you can volunteer with Art Buddies at http://www.artbuddies.org/volunteer/.

From 'The Importance of The Creative Arts for Children and Teens'

This inspiring article from Parenting Today from Child Development Institute reinforces the important work of Art Buddies, and the real impact our creative mentors have on the kids we serve.

The article states, in a ten-year national study by Shirley Brice Heath of Stanford University, it was discovered that young people who are involved in highly effective non-school arts-based community programs in under-resourced communities, in comparison with a national sample of students were:

• 4x more likely to win an academic award, such as being on the honor roll.
• 8x times more likely to receive a community service award.
• 3x more likely to win a school attendance award.
• 4x more likely to participate in a math or science fair.
• Likely to score higher on their SAT college admission test scores if they have been involved for more than four years of after-school arts study.

Read more: http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/learning/multiple_intelligences/the-importance-of-the-creative-arts-for-children-and-teens/#ixzz39SGawmQn

Art Buddies accepts mentor applications ever fall and spring. Learn how you can volunteer with Art Buddies at http://www.artbuddies.org/volunteer/.

Inaugural Posters & Pints was a Hit!

A huge thank you to the nearly 1,000 attendees, vendors, artists and volunteers who helped make our inaugural Posters & Pints event on June 21, 2014 a terrific success! Attendees browsed unique beer themed posters while tasting local brews, and mingling with friends amongst an excited crowd. This one-of-a-kind event made for a spectacular night filled with an amazing group of people coming together to support local artisans and Art Buddies.

Below are just a few photos from the event. For more great shots, visit the album on ThriftyHipster.com from your computer or tablet.

© 2014 Jay Larson Photography

© 2014 Jay Larson Photography

© 2014 Jay Larson Photography

© 2014 Jay Larson Photography

© 2014 Jay Larson Photography

© 2014 Jay Larson Photography

 

Art Buddies: Revealing the Promise of Creative Young Minds

Written by Mike Lescarbeau, CEO of Carmichael Lynch

I became an ad agency CEO by first being a creative director. I became a creative director by first being a copywriter. I became a copywriter by first being utterly hopeless.

Hopeless was what a kid was, back in the seventies, when he couldn’t maintain a train of thought through even the simplest math problem, when he always left his dress shoes on the bus, when he could never remember whether the ball would be hiked on one, two or three.

Today, kids with severe attention problems like mine are often diagnosed right out of the gate, but even with help, it’s no less disheartening to know that what’s easy for other kids might pose a lifetime of challenges for you.

That’s why I’m so pleased and proud that my company supports Art Buddies.

Through Art Buddies, kids meet and work with creative people who, like me, have turned their innately undisciplined ways of thinking into careers that reward creativity. Over the course of an eight-week project, they're able to see, many for the first time, that when their mind wanders, it might be worthwhile to follow it.

In today’s environment of standardized school testing, we hear a lot about the outsized emphasis being placed on rote learning. But who is testing for the ability to generate fifty ad campaign ideas on a three-day deadline? Which little bubble do you fill in to indicate your feel for the right color palette, or the proper pace of a film edit?

When I was young and struggling with school, I didn’t know that creativity would become my salvation. I went many disheartening years before finding out that the very thing that made coursework a challenge might be my greatest asset when it came to succeeding at a career. Fortunately, thanks to twenty years of Art Buddies, over 2000 kids (and counting) have been able to make that joyful discovery without waiting quite so long.

Art Buddies accepts mentor applications ever fall and spring. Learn how you can volunteer with Art Buddies at http://www.artbuddies.org/volunteer/. 

Art Buddy Spotlight: Mark Larson, Mentor

Mark Larson is a Project Manager for Carlson Companies and has been an Art Buddy for 20 semesters (that adds up to about 10 years!). When Art Buddies is in session, he arrives early each week to help with the setup of tables and chairs. He has also generously donated and installed the shelving used in the Art Buddies storage rooms at Whittier and Bancroft elementary schools, and built the stage that the kids at Whittier use on the last day to give their presentations after the parade.

What has been your most memorable experience as an Art Buddy?
Getting a letter from a parent at the end of a session telling me how much the program and my help did for her daughter. She said her daughter had so much praise for me and the program… it was very touching.

Why did you decide to become active with Art Buddies?
My own children were getting a little older, and I missed that age. A co-worker was involved with Art Buddies and suggested that I try it. I loved it and have been with them ever since.

What advice would you give to rookie Art Buddies?
To have fun and not worry about trying to make the best costume. Let the kids make the decisions about style, color, etc. and don’t worry about how it looks or how realistic it might be. None of that really matters… what matters is that the kids have fun and feel like they are involved.

Define what one-on-one mentoring means to you and how it can impact the lives of children.
It is a chance to get involved in the life of a child by donating a small amount of time while having a big impact in their lives. I know I have made a difference in the life of each child I have been partnered with, whether big or small.

What are some of your favorite costume creations, and what inspired your Art Buddy to choose that costume?
My all-time favorite was with a boy named Brian who wanted to be a “musical soldier." We created a soldier costume, complete with a guitar to replace the gun, and everything covered in camouflage. He chose this because he wanted to be in the military and serve his country but he didn’t like guns and killing people, so he wanted to serve his country with music… it was very cool and very creative.

Art Buddies accepts mentor applications ever fall and spring. Learn how you can volunteer with Art Buddies at http://www.artbuddies.org/volunteer/.

Posters & Pints: Art Show and Beer Tasting Benefitting Art Buddies

ART SHOW. BEER TASTING. FUNDRAISER.

If you're an art enthusiast who loves a good craft brew and the opportunity to give back to the community, then you will not want to miss the first ever Posters and Pints event on Saturday, June 21!

If you're a fan of Art Buddies, you will be even more excited about this event because a portion of proceeds from ticket sales along with $7 from each poster sold will be donated directly to Art Buddies!

Attendees will have the chance to sample local brews, grab food from some great venders and browse an exclusive collection of beer-themed posters from local artists (which can be purchased for just $30 each).

Date: June 21
Time: 6PM - 10PM
Place: Uppercut Boxing Gym
Place: 1324 Quincy St NE
Place: Minneapolis, MN
Tickets: $20 (includes pint glass & beer samples)

Buy tickets now!