Fresh Artists Blog 

An ordinary day turned extraordinary this week.

We got a call from a wonderful art teacher who had just been transferred to an inner city school, and the art room shelves were totally empty! The principal had no money to give her for supplies. She was desperate, calling to see if we could help. I told her to come over at 4:30. I would scrounge around in our storage space to see if there was anything we could find to help her. Our yearly distributions take place in late winter, but I would see what we could do. I wasn’t feeling very optimistic.

Exactly two hours later, the phone rang again. It was a young suburban mother whose 7-year-old daughter had a bunch of art supplies to donate to a needy school. Turns out this young philanthropist, Annabelle, had a birthday party and instead of bringing her expensive toys that she really didn’t need, she asked all her pals to bring art supplies for kids who had none.  The guests all complied and Annabelle had a ton of  neat loot to pass along to some really lucky kids. They had heard about Fresh Artists, and figured we might be able to help.

I told Annabelle’s mom to bring her over at 4:00 with all her art supplies, that I had a surprise for her.

They arrived, little Annabelle struggling with shopping bags full to the brim with sets of juicy colored markers, glue, tempera paint, scissors, reams of paper, and tons of glitter! Journals to write in, kits to tie-dye t-shirts, stamps and block printing kits. It was a true bonanza! I asked her to unpack everything, laying it all out on the floor in the late afternoon sun.We chatted about art, life, and why she chose this unusual way to celebrate her special day.

Then Miss Jane arrived, the art teacher with empty shelves.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the joint. Jane told Annabelle all about her school with 400 children and no art supplies. Annabelle heard how much her gifts would mean to so many children. She realized the power of her generosity and the circle of her philanthropy was complete.

Miss Jane met her little Art Angel, and was thrilled with the wonderful supplies that would delight her children the next day and days to come.

We were honored to play a small part in this happy serendipity.

Thank you, Annabelle, for making a difference in so many children’s lives, and helping a wonderful art teacher.

We are thrilled to announce Fresh Artists is a $75,000 winner in the Miami-based  for “best ideas” in arts innovation. With the additional local match of $75,000 from the CHG Charitable Trust we will develop the Fresh Artists Print Studio where inner city teen apprentices will learn large-format digital art printing by producing our signature Fresh Artists work for corporate client/donors. This is the next step in our original vision to have Fresh Artists be a child-centric philanthropic social business. Thank you, Knight Foundation and Carole Haas Gravagno for taking us into this next, exciting phase of Fresh Artists!

Read more…

And the same day that we won the Knight Arts Challenge Philadelphia, we were covered in a full page article in the Wall Street Journal!
Read on…

Fresh Artists Angel Carole Haas Gravagno with board at Knight Foundation announcement event NEW ART ACQUISITIONS FOR 2011

This year’s new Collection is the strongest ever.  125 new pieces of art have been donated from delightful 2nd grade interpretations of beneficial bacteria to several astonishing charcoal self portraits created in senior art classes. We have invited the Norristown Area School District to join Fresh Artists and 15 students have donated their artwork to this year’s collection.

Self-Portrait by Lawrence Cryor, Norristown Area High School, Grade 12, Charcoal on paper

"Good Bacteria" by Jack Chen, Grade 2, A.S. Jenks ES

Intern Andrew Diemer, Creative & Performing Arts HS helps Laura Bernardo catalogue new accessions

FRESH ARTISTS MAKES THIRD ANNUAL DELIVERY OF ART SUPPLIES TO TEACHERS

We delivered the retail value of more than $17,000 in art supplies to Philadelphia’s most severely under-resourced art teachers this spring. This brings the the total retail value of art supplies delivered in our first three years to $117,000.

Julia deBurgos ES art teacher Jeanne Fontaine collects art supplies from Fresh Artists, with Tessie Varthas of the School District of Philadelphia

COSMIC CAFE AT LLOYD HALL OPENS WITH FRESH ARTWORKS

Chef Peg Botto has been following Fresh Artists for years.  As soon as she sealed the deal to rent riverside space in Lloyd Hall through Fairmount Park, she contacted us for healthy food Sign Studio artwork.  We installed 16 large images…here are tossed salad, club sandwich, tomato soup and garlic made by 3rd thru 5th graders at Hancock ES. Pretty cool, eh?

Upstairs at Cosmic Cafe, Lloyd Hall, Boathouse Row, Philadelphia

SERVICEPOINT USA EXECUTIVE VISITS FRESH ARTISTS

Alex Brame of Service Point USA came down from New York City to see the work his company printed for the Fresh Artists-Barnes Foundation Project Exhibition. The Philadelphia office of Service Point USA provides the high-quality, large-format ink-jet prints that have become Fresh Artists’ signature in the corporate workplace.

Alex Brame of Service Point USA's New York office marveling at Fresh Artists children's interpretations of Cezanne's masterpieces. Holding the "original" child's work, the large-format digital reproduction is on the wall behind them

SIGN STUDIO WORKING ON THEIR FRESH SPRING LINE

The ever-expanding collection of healthy food artwork now includes radishes, asparagus, watermelon, a citrus medley and baby lettuces.  All will be available this summer at the Fresh Artists Virtual Farm Stand!

Radishes by Janine B. and Nina C., grade 6

Kathleen L. with her watermelon in process

SIGN STUDIO KIDS DELIVER THE GOODS

The young artist-philanthropist-entrepreneurs delivered $500 in art supplies to Art teacher Andrew Zimmerman and his 2nd graders at Howe Elementary School in North Philadelphia. This was the culmination of Fresh Artists Sign Studio, the year-long pilot project where 3rd – 5th graders at Hancock Elementary voluntarily made healthy food artwork for a “client”, Weavers Way Co-Operative. Funds were raised to cover the cost of the food signs to be made and installed in the new little grocery store and the kids were honored by the co-op in October. A needy school in North Philadelphia was identified, and the kids delivered the art supplies purchased with funds they raised.  After hauling the hundreds of pounds of supplies into the school, they taught Howe’s second graders how to make the beautiful paper mosaics that Sign Studio has become famous for…thus passing along not only much-needed art supplies but also a precious skill they have acquired from their beloved art teacher, Robyn Miller. It was pretty moving.

We are grateful to professional photographer, Joan Cimino, who volunteered to document this important day for us with sensitivity and skill.  Look at these brilliant photos!  And to talented writer Maureen Neville,who captured the children’s impressions in words. Thank you, Joan and Maureen!

Part of the fun was struggling to carry the pounds of art supplies they brought! photo: Joan Cimino

Fresh Artists' kids help open the Art Kits they brought. photo: Joan Cimino

Marium A. teaches Howe School student her techniques for mosaic magic photo: Joan Cimino

from a tiny backyard birthday "Clothesline"...

to a huge community “Clothesline” at the Chestnut Hill “Fall for the Arts” street festival

we’re off and running with our new grassroots initiative in children’s philanthropy!

When Juliana turned 9, she asked for an “art” birthday party and wanted to help other children less fortunate than she. Fresh Artists provided a template for a small, simple art activity for 8 young girls to do at the sleep-over, and was such a success the girls went right back to making the bright paper mosaics as soon as they awoke the next morning. After pinning their artwork up on the clothesline, they invited their parents to view their show, and make donations for art supplies for children in severely under-resourced public schools in the inner city. Proud to send in their donation, the girls had fun and were thrilled to know they provided watercolor sets for a whole class of elementary school children through their generosity.

The First Annual Chestnut Hill Fresh Artists Clothesline Art Show and Sale was also a smash success. More than 400 children donated their artwork for the benefit of under resourced public schools and generated over $800 in donations.  26 private and public schools answered the “call for donations” as well as many home-schooled children throughout the area. Weavers Way Coop sponsored the event, and provided refreshments for the Sign Studio children who made the artwork decorating their new grocery store.

Sign Studio artists with their artwork installation in the produce department of Weavers Way Food Coop

Patrons from Rotary and Electrical Wizardry honor the generous children

young artist-philanthropist hanging her art

Our message to the world is clear and unequivocal!

Kids were our biggest customers for art!

Volunteers Sue Davis and Ken Johnson with Fresh Artists founder Barbara Chandler Allen

Thanks go to our generous patrons of Sign Studio: The Rotary Club of Chestnut Hill, Electrical Wizardry, Inc, and Carol Tyler for making this innovative pilot project possible.  Also thanks are due to the Terrific Clothesline Team, Merry Wiggins, Andrew Diemer, Evelyn and Hoagie Bock, Sue Davis, Ken Johnson, Anne Galbally, Lucretia Robbins, Roger Allen, Robyn Miller, Eileen Rudnick, Valerie van Pham, Dylan Spellman-Hall, and the Weavers Way team led by Glenn Bergman, Annette Aloe, Pat Evans, and Kim Spellman-Hall.

Any child, family, scout group or school interested in holding their own Clothesline Art Show and Sale, please call us at 215-920-3317 and we will provide all kinds of help to you.

June 10, 2010, Philadelphia – A bumper-crop of 180 new Fresh Artists were honored at our annual “Sprout Fest” (annual celebration to honor our new, young artist-philanthropists) on June 10th in the beautiful Atrium of the Education Center. Young artists from kindergarten through 12th grade received thunderous applause from the more than 250 adults who came to congratulate them for their philanthropic gifts and extraordinary artistic talent.

This year’s Collection adds work from the partnership with the world-famous Barnes Foundation (mini-masterpieces “adopted” and interpreted by K-7 Fresh Artists kids).

Fresh Artists' 4th grade artwork coming soon to an installation on the Barnes Foundation construction fence

This year, we were proud honor Josh Giblin, Merchandising Manager of Weaver’s Way Food Co-op in Mt. Airy for helping us develop our new K-5 student-centric nonprofit design initiative called “Fresh Artists Sign Studio“, our new K-5 student-centric nonprofit design initiative.  The 18 children who made the vibrant paper mosaic pictographs of fruit, veggies and other healthy grocery store items were acknowledge by their “client” and the crowd assembled. All images are now available to our donors and will be seen throughout the little cooperative grocery store within the next couple of weeks.

Installation Fresh Artists work coming soon to the produce department of the new Chestnut Hill store of Weaver's Way Co-op.

The adoring crowd of parents, aunties, principals, corporate donors, art teachers and press were treated to the premiere dramatic reading of Fresh Artists first children’s book, Pablo, the Philly Philanthropist, written by Stephen Trueman with founder Barbara Chandler Allen. The book was illustrated by Gardner Allen and art directed by Roger Allen, Fresh Artists Design Director. The cast of readers was headlined by the unsinkable sparkle-plenty Molly McQuoid (grade 3) reading the part of Pablo.  Molly is an accomplished actor, currently appearing in Carousel at Plays and Players Theater!  Stephen Trueman, author, narrated. This wonderful children’s book can be read on our website by clicking the Pablo button on the front page.

Molly McQuoid and Steve Trueman reading "Pablo"

A cast of Fresh Artists community champions and volunteers played roles in the dramatic reading of Pablo, with Fresh Artists board member Nancy Wolff (above),playing Ms. Clarke, art teacher Robyn Miller, playing Pablo’s beloved art teacher and Ludy Soderman (head of the School District’s Office of Translation) as Pablo’s Tia Carla. Ludy personally translated “Pablo” into Spanish for us.  Jason James, Quincy Ellis and Luis Hernandez also did a terrific job reading parts.

Cheering the children on was Philadelphia School Reform Commissioner Johnny Irizarry, who also spoke directly to the children about staying true to their creative natures. Mr. Irizarry, himself an artist, spoke about how painting has enriched his life over the years. Head of the District’s Department of Creative & Performing Art, Dennis Creedon, also had inspiring words for the children.

Philadelphia School Reform Commissioner Johnny Irizarry spoke passionately to the children

An inscribed first edition of “Pablo” was given to every new Fresh Artist, as well as to their art teachers.  The kids kept author Trueman (below) autographing their copies for over an hour!  We are grateful to Jim Pinheiro of Pearl Pressman Liberty (PPL) Communications Group who helped with the printing of Pablo. PPL has filled their new headquarters/plant near the airport with Fresh Artists artwork.

Publication of the new book ”Pablo, the Philly Philanthropist“ was made possible by generous gifts from Barbara and Isaac Clothier in memory of their daughter, Melinda Clothier Biddle and Elizabeth Beatty, by C. Gloria Akers in honor of Delta Sigma Theta, and by Health Partners Foundation. The new book is available for a donation of $25 plus $5 postage by sending a check to Fresh Artists, P.O. Box 44, Lafayette Hill, PA 19444.  It will be available on our website as soon as we can get an e-commerce capability on the site! Any web developers out there who would like to make this happen for Fresh Artists, please let us know!

Pablo donors meet: Gloria Akers greets Barbara and Quartie Clothier

Each young artist-philanthropist went home with a 2010 limited edition t-shirt with their artwork on it and a framed “certificate of extraordinary artistic and philanthropic achievement” designed for us by well-known author David Macaulay, Advisory Board member and long-time Fresh Artists champion.

Each young artist-philanthropist wore the special “front stage pass” lanyard emblazoned with a full color reproduction of their donated artwork, so that all guests would be sure to talk with the youngsters about the art they donated.

NEWS FLASH! Within 24 hours of being inducted into Fresh Artists, the artwork (shown below) of kindergartener Rovic Merginio (shown above discussing his artwork with founder Barbara Allen) was chosen to be installed in the front hall of Drexel University’s Goodwin College of Professional Studies!

Kindergarten artist-philanthropist Rovic Merginio's artwork

This year, an new tradition was inaugurated: the gift of two little art kits, each containing a set of 12 professional oil pastels and a sketchbook, one for each of the Fresh Artists to keep for themselves, and one for each child to “pass along” and give to another child as a tangible, active symbol of the philanthropy of children. This idea came from Meredith Allen Wiggins, the editor of “Pablo“.  Art supplies were generously given by the Fresh Artists Business Advisory Council led by Bob Reid (Elevate Architects + Collaborators) and Heather Gibson (Sentry Art Advisors), as well as Merion Art and Repro (our art supply vendor), and Jan Van der Lande and Laura Kellner, of global design-leader, Kikkerland Design.

Fresh Artists  granted  its first Scholarship Award of art supplies  to Senior Fresh Artist Alexandra Valles. Alex will start her college career as an art major at Penn State Main Campus. Beginning in the 6^th grade, Alex donated four pieces of her artwork to Fresh Artists, and 15 corporations have chosen her artwork over the past three years. Alex’s philanthropy has made it possible to deliver art supplies to thousands of children in Philadelphia, and we are grateful for  her generosity. Senior Fresh Artist Alexandra Valles was given a scholarship of art supplies to start her college career as an art major at Penn State Main Campus. Alex has donated four pieces of her artwork, starting with piece she made as a sixth-grader at Greenerg Elementary!  Alex’s philanthropy has made it possible to deliver art supplies to thousands of children in Philadelphia as a result of 15 corporations choosing her artwork over the past three years. Fresh Artists wishes all its graduating seniors the very best as they go forth into the world.

We thank Chef John Gallagher, Head of the Pastry Department at the Restaurant School, whose students made and donated 600 special Fresh Artists signature sugar cookies in the shape of artist’s palettes in honor of the children, and to Jennifer Braxton, IKEA North America, for their delicious cookies.

At the end of the program everyone who had made and donated art, corporate and individual donors, parents and art teachers and all Fresh Artists’ staff and volunteers were asked to stand. That left very few sitting!

Barbara Allen asked everyone present to “Close your eyes…tight! No peeking,” and to imagine a gi-normous mountain of art supplies in front of them:

- 981 jars of tempera paint,

- 320 pounds of clay,

- 10,104 sticks of oil pastels,

- 25,016 sheets of heavy white drawing paper, and

- 5,800 juicy new colored markers

Barbara continued, reading from their newly published book, “Did I do this?” Pablo asked. “Yes,” Ms. Kelley says, “You did this!  Your art and your giving made a difference!” Barbara went on to say, “Now open your eyes. Everyone standing actually made this happen.  The children who made and donated their artwork… the teachers who guided these children in new techniques, skills and creativity… the parents who encouraged and praised them, putting their artwork on the fridge with big, fat magnets…and the generous corporate, foundation and individual donors who gave money to purchase the art supplies.”

Sprout Fest 2010 celebrates the powerful philanthropy of children, leading us all to be more generous change agents.  Thanks to all the generous children and all who support them as they go forth to make a substantive difference in the world!

(Special thanks to our talented photographers, Seth Shimkonis and Andrea Tucker, who generously donated their services for the Sprout Fest)

As a way of sowing the seeds for a grassroots initiative to empower children as philanthropists, we are launching our first national initiative to help any child or children, anywhere, provide art supplies for schools in need. The Fresh Artists Clothesline Art Show program springs from the publication of our first children’s book, Pablo, the Philly Philanthropist.  The book tells the story of little 8 year-old Pablo who was always getting in trouble for drawing when he ought to be doing something “more important”. In the story, Pablo’s artwork is discovered by Fresh Artists. He learns how Fresh Artists works, consults with his aunt about being a philanthropist, and readily agrees to include his picture in the Fresh Artists’ collection.  As Pablo learns about “philanthropy”, he sees that his artwork has the power to bring art supplies to hundreds of children in need.  As we developed the story, we realized that not every child’s artwork could be invited to be part of the Fresh Artists’ collection, so we designed a way for any child, or groups of children, to make, show, sell and donate the proceeds from the art sale to purchase art supplies for a school in their community that is struggling with severe under-funding of their art program.

The Fresh Artists Clothesline Art Show program will provide suggestions for organizing the show and a simple, fun “kit of parts” with templates to download from our website. The kit will contain sheets of Pablo-branded art labels, name tags, certificates of artistic and philanthropic achievement, and a simple reporting form to send back to Fresh Artists so we can keep track of the good works of children around the country…and the world!  We are designing a blog for children to post their experiences showing and selling their artwork to help other children, as we are interested in their response to this innovative call to social action.

We are hoping this program will encourage, engage and empower children of all ages to hold a little clothesline art sale and see the fruits of their creativity and generosity. We will be offering this program to one or 100 kids, in neighborhoods, scouting programs (wouldn’t this make a terrific Brownie or Cub scout badge!), faith-based organizations, public and private schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, PAL centers, and through the network of Big Brothers and Big Sisters.  A Fresh Artists Clothesline Art Sale can be one child making artwork, hanging it up in the back yard, and inviting his or her family and neighbors to come, see and buy…or an entire school could embrace this effort supporting schools in need.  The sky’s the limit!  We don’t know where this will go, but we have a hunch it will spread quickly as it is simple, direct, and effective.

Photo courtesy David Cruz, AL DIA

Please email ideas of how we can spread the word. We are interested in your feedback as we design this engaging little grassroots initiative to empower children as philanthropists.

As part of our program of “Conversations with Children” about social activism, Fresh Artists has designed an innovative way for a creative group of kids to be philanthropic: a miniature graphic design business for 3rd-5th graders! Twelve kids at Hancock Elementary School are piloting the new Fresh Artists “Sign Studio” in their after-school Art Club and producing in-store signage for the new Weaver’s Way Food Cooperative opening in Chestnut Hill in June.

The young designers work with their “client”, Josh Giblin, graphic designer and Merchandising Manager for the 35-year-old food co-op, and make paper-mosaic signs that will be used to identify products within the new store.  Apples, bananas, tomatoes, peaches, peppers, garlic, collards, blueberries and toilet paper are some of the first pictographs to come out of Sign Studio.  The kids make art on cut up cardboard boxes pulled from the recycling dumpster at the Co-op. Each piece of art will be photographed at high resolution and the digital images will be available to co-ops, restaurants and cafes for a donation to Fresh Artists. A full line of more than 50 images will be available within the year.

The kids learn about graphic design as a profession, working with a client to achieve objectives, and have a weekly “crit”, just like in art school, where they show their on-going work to Josh, and get feedback from him on technique and design.

Hancock Elementary’s amazing art teacher, Robyn Miller, has perfected the art of teaching mosaics using cut-up hardware store paint sample chips to make brilliant artwork. She eagerly agreed to trial this pilot program in her after-school Art Club. Although Weaver’s Way is our first client, we have discovered hundreds of small, community-owned food cooperatives across the country providing a potentially lucrative niche market for the children’s artwork. We feel that the values of small member-owned grocery stores featuring healthy, locally-sourced food is an excellent fit with Fresh Artists’ values.  Conversations about healthy food are heard while the kids work and fresh fruit samples from the Co-op fuel the Studio’s work sessions. We, too, are “locally-grown” providing a vibrant alternative to traditional “corporate” artwork to businesses needing decoration for their facilities!

The young artist-philanthropists are donating their time, and the funds raised in placing their artwork in Weaver’s Way will be used to deliver many boxes full of much-needed art supplies to a severely under-resourced public school in Philadelphia.  The children will be honored guests at the opening of the new store, and will physically make the delivery of art supplies to the children in the selected school.            We welcome inquiries about using this unique artwork in your business.

Sign Studio with finished artwork

We have just completed the second annual delivery of art supplies to Philadelphia public schools. Added to last year’s grants, we have now exceeded delivering the retail value of $100,300 in much-needed art supplies to 265 severely under-resourced K-12 public schools!

Art teachers thrilled with supplies to freshen up their shelves!

This year Fresh Artists streamlined the delivery process by creating Art Kits from data obtained from last year’s orders and a questionnaire asking art teachers exactly what they most needed.  Twenty-four themed kits were created, all exactly of the same value. Teachers simply applied for a grant on our website, specifying the Art Kit they needed.  The delivery was simplified as well, with the Art Kits available to teachers on three pick-up dates at the School District’s central loading dock.

Temi Allen loads watercolors and Prismacolor sets for her art classes at Washington High School

Fresh Artists board member Nancy Wolff welcomes Linda Chen (Head of Teaching and Learning), Shaun Pritchard (art teacher for blind and partially-sighted students) and lead art content coach, Tessie Varthas, to the loading dock festivities