Fresh Artists Blog 

World Cafe Live threw a fundraising party on September 18th to celebrate their new look!  A well-known venue for the hottest contemporary and alternative music at 3025 Walnut Street in West Philadelphia, the World Cafe Live recently made a major commitment to Fresh Artists by filling its building with art made by kids from 4th grade up to senior high school. All the artwork was chosen by the staff!  Cooks, bartenders, wait and kitchen staff spent an evening pouring over more than 300 bright images of children’s art.  The staff made a donation to Fresh Artists from their tips and wages, to show their support for the creativity of the youngest members of our community.  

Rob Hyman of the iconic Philly rock bank, the Hooters, was honored for donating the use of their hit, “I’m Alive” to Fresh Artists as our anthem.  Live music was donated by Wyld Lyfe, the popular Philadelphia hip hop group, just back from playing the Apollo in Harlem! The event was also generously supported by our friends at Goodwin College of Professional Studies at Drexel University, which also has recently filled its halls with 22 pieces of Fresh Artists’ work! Two posters of Fresh Artists work were sponsored by Goodwin for this event.

Linda Heeg with her student, artist-philanthropist Angie Hinson, admiring her artwork at the World Cafe Live

Thanks to World Cafe Live founder and President, Hal Real, and Lisa Margraff, Food and Beverage Manager, who personally organized the event.  Our thanks also to Drexel executives Sue Turk, and Denise McLeod helped show guests around and told the Fresh Artists story.  Our high-energy volunteer crew of Nancy Wolff, Laura Bernardo, Steve Trueman, Michael Durkheimer, Hilary Merzbacher, Quincy Ellis, and Roger Allen greeted the more than 200 people to attend the fun event, enjoyed seeing the art, and supported a great mission….to deliver art supplies to our most under-resourced public schools!

Each level of the well-known music venue is decorated with large-scale, vibrant reproductions of kid’s artwork.

World Cafe founder and President, Hal Real, joined WXPN’s Station Manager, Roger LeMay in welcoming Fresh Artists founder and executive director, Barbara Chandler Allen, and the infusion of “unexpected” artwork.

For more information, email us at info@freshartists.org

Thirty young artist-philanthropists will have the thrill of a lifetime watching their “mini masterpieces” decorate the construction fence surrounding the building site for the new home of the world-famous Barnes Foundation on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The Barnes invited Fresh Artists to create this innovative project in June.  Fresh Artists selected a small group of fifth and seventh graders from two Philadelphia public elementary schools to participate. 

The children were treated to two private tours of this famous museum in Merion, led by the Director of Education, Blake Bradford.  Each child adopted and interpreted a masterpiece from the Barnes collection. The Barnes chose thirty works which are being photographed and digitally enlarged to decorate the utilitarian, chain-link fence for the two years’ duration of construction.

Barnes senior staff member, Diana Duncan, admires Fresh Artists' interpretation of Renoir's Mlle. Jeanne Durand-Ruel

The entire collection of sixty-two works will be exhibited in late fall around the groundbreaking for the new museum.  The children, their families, teachers and school administrators will be invited to celebrate their artistic achievements at a festive reception hosted by Fresh Artists and the Barnes Foundation.

Shouts of “Mine’s over here!” and “Look how big MY picture is!” rang throughout the brand-new Comcast Center’s brilliant 5-story Atrium on May 19th as 87 young artist-philanthropists showed off the large-scale digital reproductions of their artwork to parents, teachers and corporate supporters. Fresh Artists’ second Annual Student Celebration honored the artistic achievement and generosity of these talented kids chosen from K-12 public schools throughout Philadelphia’s inner city.

Gary Steuer, the Mayor’s Chief Cultural Officer of the City of Philadelphia, was this year’s featured speaker, addressing not only the children’s artistic achievements, but also their roles as young philanthropists, “paying it forward” providing art supplies to other children in their city through the donation of their artwork.

Comcast Corporation and Liberty Property Trust invited Fresh Artists to install the entire new 2009 Collection in the Atrium and have it on display for ten days. Honoring both companies’ dedication to sustainability, the art show was installed on a green, 100%-recycled cardboard, portable wall-system provided by local design firm, MIO Culture.

The Barnes Foundation was recognized with the 2009 Fresh Artists Award for their commitment to making art and art education accessible to the children of Philadelphia. A select group of Fresh Artists students have been working with the Barnes to interpret masterpieces from their collection, that will be digitally-reproduced and installed on the fencing on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway during the Foundation’s two-year construction project. Fifth-grade artist-philanthropists, Alice and Syeed, along with their art teacher, Robyn Miller presented the Barnes’ Director of Education, Blake Bradford, with this year’s commemorative Fresh Artists poster.

The 40 selected young artists were treated to private tours of the Barnes Foundation out in Merion, where they were introduced to the Barnes approach to art history, and then each chose a masterpiece to interpret in acrylics and oil crayon. Alice chose Cezanne’s iconic “Pot of Flowers”, and went to work!

This year, Fresh Artists acknowledged some of the core founding professional partners who helped launched the organization. Professional photographer, Jeffrey Totaro and web designer, Nathaneal Pershall, were both honored for their outstanding contributions to Fresh Artists. Jeffrey donates all the digital photography of both the children’s artwork as well as corporate installations of that artwork. Nate designed, built and maintains the Fresh Artists website as a gift to the creative children of his city.

Art teacher, Darren Umble, of the Potter-Thomas Elementary School, presented the 2009 Inspiration Award to School District of Philadelphia veteran art education administrators, Tessie Varthas (left) and Emilee Taylor (right), for their inspirational leadership and coaching of the more than 200 art teachers in the District.

The Volunteer of the Year Award for Passion was given to uber-volunteer, Nancy Wolff (center below), retired art teacher from Queen Village’s Meredith Elementary School, who has logged hundreds of hours behind the scenes, checking lists, calling teachers, delivering artwork, helping to build Fresh Artists. Nancy was honored with a gift certificate to spend a day at a bead shop, to everyone’s amusement! Wouldn’t a wildly creative person rather spend a day making things than at a day spa!

Each young Fresh Artists wears their own artwork on their “front stage pass” name badge, which enables adult guests to engage the children in spirited discussions of their creative work. The badges exclaim, “I’m making a difference!” and acknowledge the children as the first givers in this unique circle of philanthropy.

The children also receive a limited-edition t-shirt bearing their artwork, as well as a beautifully-framed Certificate of Extraordinary Artistic Achievement. The certificate was designed and donated by the celebrated children’s author, David Macaulay, who used an interesting array of colored, torn paper as a border for the certificate, with a wink and a nod to “process”, which is the underlying objective Fresh Artists supports with art supplies! Fresh Artists Advisory Council member, Jennifer Braxton, of IKEA, graciously donates the lime-green picture frames each year.

Chef John Gallagher, Head of Pastry Arts at the Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College, baked and donated 600 Fresh Artists’ signature palette sugar cookies for the children and their guests!

Fresh Artists believes that art is a canvas that provides hope, purpose and voice to future generations of creative thinkers. We honor these creative, generous children!

Please read Chris Hepp’s wonderful article about Fresh Artists on the front page of the business section.

Philadelphia Inquirer article on Fresh Artists, 4/10/09

Thank you, Chris, for telling our story in such a beautiful way. And thank you to all the extraordinary people who so generously volunteer their time, talent and treasure to build this innovative organization.

Fresh Artists drew wonderful media coverage for the January 27th delivery of                                              art supplies at Potter Thomas School.  Please listen and look at this terrific                                           coverage of our first distribution:

WHYY Fresh Artists Story -audio clip

Philadelphia Daily News - article

Al Dia - photographs 

We are thrilled to announce that Fresh Artists made its first delivery of art supplies to Potter Thomas Elementary School in North Philadelphia on January 27.  This was the first of 150 grants by Fresh Artists totaling $40,000 for the 2008-2009 school year.  We are pleased to make these substantial gifts before the first anniversary of our organization’s founding!

Sandra Dungee Glenn, Bill George, Sara Hendrix and Darren Umble

Fresh Artists Founder and Executive Director Barbara Chandler Allen greeted Sandra Dungee Glenn (Chair of the School Reform Commission) and Shawn Crowder (School DIstrict of Philadelphia Chief of Staff), as well as the Mayor’s Chief Cultural Officer, Gary Steuer.  A brief presentation was held with Artist-Philanthropist Sara Hendrix (student Ambassador) making a ceremonial delivery of art supplies to Art teacher, Darren Umble, and his third grade class of young Picassos.  

The event garnered major broadcast publicity including segments on 6abc with Lisa Thomas-Laury, Fox 29 with Gerald Kolpan, NBC10 and an in depth interview Arts Reporter Alex Schmidt on WHYY.  Additional publicity included stories in the Daily News, Al Dia, Philadelphia Tribune, and the Metro.  The event was also captured for Public School TV.  

Health Partners CEO, Bill George, stopped by to be part of the fun. Health Partners, Fresh Artists first major corporate partnership, installed more than 60 works of student art in their 130,000 sf. headquarters at 9th and Market Streets.  Bill was delighted to see the faces of the children as they painted with supplies he helped provide!

Principal Tania Kukulski, was presented with artwork made by Fresh Artist-Philanthropist Alexandra Valles, a junior at the High School for the Creative and Performing Arts

We are thrilled to have been chosen the top winner in Adobe System’s “Show Your Impact” contest in the web category.  Chosen over more than 400 entries, Fresh Artists won this prestigious award by utilizing the design software in an unusual, innovative and impactful way….to save artmaking in inner city public schools.

Visit Show Your Impact site

“The May 19th kick off of your ambitious and most welcome endeavor, Fresh Artists, was terrific.”

As I came through the door, a young man named Rodney Clerge smiled at me and said, “I’m so glad to see you here.” He was one of your “Fresh Artists” and one of my favorite and most talented students from when I was teaching at Roosevelt Middle School.  He is now a junior at Central High School.

I can remember all he ever wanted to do was to draw with fine line roller pens. He drew on everything including his shoes.  I must have bought him a hundred of those pens over the course of the two years he was my student. 

It sure paid off.  I couldn’t have been more proud of him if he were my own son.  I thought he would make an extraordinarily good medical illustrator.  He is smart and can accurately pick out and draw the finest of details.  He says he is leaning towards architecture.  Seeing a student continue to pursue his talent is what makes teaching Art so rewarding and worthwhile.  Congratulations on launching this great event and thank you for Fresh Artists!  

All most kids need is a little encouragement                                                                     and the materials to do it.  ”

Judy Becker, Art Teacher, Greenfield Elementary School

Rodney Clerge, Graphite on paper, 2008

Fresh Artists, a new, independent non-profit organization dedicated to providing art supplies to under-resourced Philadelphia public schools, was officially launched at the organization’s first annual May Celebration drawing more than 400 enthusiastic art donors and their admirers.

Barbara Chandler Allen, the organization’s founder and executive director, was inspired to create Fresh Artists based on experiences she had as an arts consultant from 2005 to 2007. At the time, Chandler Allen was responsible for creating a permanent display of student art in the School District of Philadelphia’s then-brand new 850,000 sf. Education Center headquarters at 440 N. Broad Street. The photographic blow-ups of original  student art now permanently affixed to the walls range in dimensions from 30 by 40 inches to 6 by 9 feet. “So many people told me, ‘I’d like to own one of those,’ that I came to realize that there was a market for these vibrant, exciting images that could fund artmaking in inner city schools struggling with massive cutbacks in arts funding,” Chandler Allen explained.

Developed as a “Pay It Forward” program for inner city kids, Fresh Artists has two audiences—school students who donate (license) their art to be photographed and enlarged to raise funds for other children, and corporate donors, whose “thank yous” for contributions of $500 or more to Fresh Artists are large-scale digital reproductions of their choosing from their growing archive of almost 200 prize-winning student art works.

First distribution of art supplies to occur January 2009!

The contributions to Fresh Artists provide art supplies from the organization directly to participating Philadelphia public school Art teachers beginning in January 2009, barely one year from the organization’s founding.   Each Philadelphia public school Art teacher who registers with Fresh Artists by November 17th, 2008 will receive a pre-paid, personal on-line ordering account with Fresh Artists‘ national art supplies retail catalog partner.  Once teachers have placed their order, their art supplies will be delivered directly to them at their school.

Artist-Philanthropist with her “front stage pass

Kids “Pay It Forward” to other kids through art

The students who have donated use of their art images, and their parents, are thrilled to be part of this innovative concept.  Evelyn Jones, whose daughter, Joy Alexander, a student at Middle Years’ Alternative School, eagerly agreed to donate the use of her art to Fresh Artists, said, “To have my daughter’s artwork displayed in someone’s business is a treat in itself. It’s special knowing that her picture will raise money to help other kids who express themselves through their artwork. I’m so proud of Joy. To have someone acknowledge her art as a great is so moving to me. She’s living the dream I once had for myself, and that’s wonderful! “

Luminaries in art, leadership and business honored

At the May 2008 kickoff, Fresh Artists also honored patrons whose support has expanded access to art-making to children in Philadelphia.  The honorees were: Nelson Shanks, internationally prominent realistic portrait painter and founder of Studio Incamminati, Elizabeth Dow, ceramic artist and President of Leadership Philadelphia creator of the city-wide Pay It Forward movement which was the impetus for founding Fresh Artists, and Saul Ewing, a law firm that is a leader in support for the arts in Philadelphia and is the founding corporate partner of Fresh Artists.

Gifts for our young artist-philanthropists

Student Artist-Philanthropists were presented with t-shirts bearing their art work, framed Certificates of Artistic Achievement created for the event by famous children’s author and illustrator, David Macaulay, and special “front stage passes” with full color reproductions of their art images to identify the young artists to all attendees.   Six hundred Fresh Artists signature sugar cookies were made and donated by the Restaurant School and IKEA donated the bright green frames for the certificates.  Professional photographers Jeff Totaro, Heather Guidice, Pam Davidson, Lawrie Harris and the Big Picture Alliance all donated their time and talent to document the event. The event was generously underwritten by Binswanger, The Glenmede Trust, Saul Ewing LLP, Tevebaugh Architects, Tierney Communications, and Service Point USA.

  

Art Palette Cookies from the Restaurant School