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/.