Get your art on Saturday, September 13, at the third annual Easter Seals West Kentucky Heart & Soul Art Auction and Show! Cocktails begin at 6 p.m., with the live auction at 7:30 p.m., at the Easter Seals' 2229 Mildred St. location. Reserve your tix, $10, by calling 443.1200, x117. And check out the event's MySpace page and the YouTube video by case manager Stephanie Benjamin!
This annual community art competition and show features art from fabulous folks with and without disabilities. Featured artist and client Christopher Thompson, 22, has several gorgeous pieces in the show and auction. Before last year, he'd never picked up a paintbrush. Today, he paints commissioned pieces from the center's leaky garage-turned gorgeous art studio."I think it's a very relaxing hobby to have," says the Reidland High School graduate. "Before, I didn't really think I had all that much talent. Painting taught me to believe in myself. I know that there's something I'm able to do."
And do he does! Here's "Flowers from the Garden."
And here's a winter scene, which is also featured in a series of holiday cards for sale at the center.Both will be included in the live auction, along with these beautiful pieces:
"Blue Soup," A collaborative piece by Amy Nolan and members of the Easter Seals Adult Training Program.
"Easter Lily," a collaborative piece by Amy Nolan and members of the Easter Seals' Dayfair Program.
"Driven to Success," by Elise Meredith Beattie
"Ultimate Derby Hat," by Peter O'Neill
"Four Fluid Faces," by Lorrie Cody
"Extend World Class Functionalities," by Nikki D. May
Ink on Paper, by Sara Black
Original Monoprint, by Charlotte Erwin
Bloom, by Aynex Mercado
Painting, by Jennifer Vaughn
Jewelry, by Freda Fairchild
Gift certificate from Philosophy GalleryArtists Clyde Lawter, Jenny Donaldson, Jane Gamble, Janet O’Rourke, Grace Clemency, Georgia Flarsheim and Teri Bybee have also donated pieces.
Bidding on Artwork
Easter Seals welcomes sealed bids on the auction items. If any of the above catches your eye, just send your sealed bid to:
Easter Seals West Kentucky
2229 Mildred St.
Paducah, Ky. 42001
Attn: Heart and Soul 2008/Bid
Independence Bank, Occunet and VSAThe event is funded by Independence Bank (rock on, Independence Bank!), Occunet (rock on, Occunet!) and Very Special Artists (VSA), an international nonprofit dedicated to promoting arts, education and creative expression for all, with an emphasis on folks with disabilities.
Easter Seals West Kentucky is completing an application for a special program that offers year-round art classes conducted by an artist in residence for participants of the adult day care and adult day training programs. The program allows participants to learn new creative and social skills that open doors to new opportunities in the arts. Trained professionals and volunteers direct participants in exploring drama, creative movement, music, visual arts, film, photography and other arts in a way that is fully accessible to all.
