Art with Heart has been invited to host an art activities table at a Lunar New Year Celebration on Saturday February 6th, and we are in need of volunteers to represent Art with Heart.

For the art activity we will have Color of Hope Hearts (paper hearts that kids color on the front, and then describe why their image represents “hope” on the back), as well as some loose pages from Oodles of Doodles. You would be there to greet people as they come to the table, help them with their hope hearts, and tell them about Art with Heart.

This is a great opportunity for any parents who have been thinking about volunteering, or who have kids that need volunteer hours for school, because your kids can come with you! There will be food, games, crafts, art, displays, music, and dance, so it should be really fun. They are expecting about 2,000 people.

The Details:
Event: Lunar New Year Celebration
Date: Saturday 2.6.10
Time: 5-8:30pm (plus set-up and take-down of supplies)
Location: Westminster Chapel (Bellevue)
http://www.westminster.org/2010/01/28/lunar-new-year-celebration/

Please email Zandi Salstrom (zandi@artwithheart.org) for details!

Evi Feltus is a Child Life Specialist at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle. She became interested in becoming a Child Life Specialist when she volunteered for Art with Heart at Children’s Hospital several years ago. She had nannied for many years and found her volunteer time through Art with Heart to be a great way to combine her passion for children with her passion for creativity.

Evi brought Art with Heart’s “Art Buddy” program to Swedish when she was hired and has been working with volunteers to bring creativity to children in the hospital.

She relates the story of an 18-year-old girl with Friedrich’s Ataxia that she gave the Chill & Spill journal to, in order to help her cope with the effects of the disease. Although the patient had difficulty writing her name, speaking clearly and even sitting up, she was able to paint.

Inspired by Chill & Spill’s “Safe Place” activity, she painted a fall scene and wrote a poem about where she felt the safest. Later when she felt overwhelmed by the progressive nature of her disease, she had visual mementos of her “safe place” to keep with her and use that as a tool to help her release her anxiety.

Evi is excited to have more Art with Heart volunteers. Evi wants to remind everyone, though that “you don’t have to be an artist yourself to facilitate creative expression.”

Art with Heart is deeply grateful for its long-standing partnerships with hospitals and organizations, like the Starlight Children’s Foundation of Canada. The Foundation has been using Art with Heart’s therapeutic books for over five years, and most recently ordered nearly 2,000 Chill & Spill journals for hospitalized teenagers in its network of more than 100 hospitals and medical clinics throughout Canada.

The Starlight Children’s Foundation of Canada sent 100 kits, including a copy of Oodles of Doodles and various art supplies. Hospital Program Manager for the Foundation, Cathy Diamond, shared a story about a cancer clinic in Ottawa that came to her looking for a creative tool for the children in treatment. The Foundation provided 100 kits to the clinic which included a copy of Oodles of Doodles and various art supplies. The kids loved having something that was given to them during visits to the clinic and belonged to them.

“There is such a positive benefit for the kids who use the books,” says Cathy. “A strong part of Starlight’s mandate is to provide distractive entertainment and distractive therapy, which helps kids cope during difficult times. The books also provide a great icebreaker for child life specialists to help start a conversation with a child who is shy or frightened.”

For more than 25 years, Starlight Children’s Foundation has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses and life-altering injuries by providing entertainment, education and family activities that help them cope with the pain, fear and isolation of prolonged illness. To learn more about how Art with Heart supports the work of organizations and foundations, like Starlight Children’s Foundation, visit www.artwithheart.org

PRESS RELEASE: On Tuesday, February 2, 2010, from 6:30 – 9pm, Teatro Zinzanni will host an “Exotic Wines Festival,” the 1st annual winter wine tasting event in Seattle.

More than just Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah and Chardonnay grapes are growing in Washington State vineyards these days.  With 23 Washington wineries featuring their new “exotic” varietals, such as Mourvedre, Cinsault, Malbec, Sangiovese, Petit Verdot, Tempranillo, Cabernet Franc, Roussanne, Viognier and Albarino as well as some interesting blends, guest will be treated to the ever growing array of unique wines from around the State.

Teatro Zinzanni artists will be on hand to mingle and entertain guests to a few random “exotic” performances from their new show, “License to Kiss.” Some culinary treats will also be provided from the TZ Kitchen. This festival of the exotic will be the perfect way to have a fun break from the dreary days of February in Seattle!

Proceeds from this event benefit Art with Heart to help children in crisis. Tickets are $40 and available at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/93806.

Teatro Zinzanni is located at 222 Mercer Street, Seattle, Washington, 98119 and directions can be found at dreams.zinzanni.org/info.htm.

“Exotic Wines Festival” is produced by Sommelier David LeClaire of Wine Events & Promotions and Seattle Uncorked, a new social club for wine enthusiasts and resource on classes, tasting events, and local wine stores and wine bars.

Talese Heckler is professional artist, designer and teacher in Seattle. She’s also been a friend to Art with Heart for several years. She recently decided that in 2010, she wants to give 10% of all proceeds from her “Heart Art” series sales to help the efforts of Art with Heart.

We had a chance for some Q&A with Talese and here is what she had to say:

How did you get involved with Art with Heart?

I met Steffanie (the founder) about 6 years ago at a holiday dinner. Since our first meeting, we’ve run into each other at various times – I was a co-captain at the breakfast and have donated a percentage of my sales in the past. After a while, I began to feel like a fair-weather friend and wanted to do something more routinely, which is how I decided to donate a percentage of sales in 2010.

Why did you choose Art with Heart as the beneficiary?

Their work has so much integrity and passion, and I have been lucky to see the organization grow and get stronger each year. I wanted to support the misson – what Steffanie is doing is so fabulous. The idea of giving back to support the community – especially youth – is really a team effort. Anything I can do to foster that is beneficial.

In your own experience, do you see that the use of art can be therapeutic?

Absolutely – any time you are experiencing, producing or learning about art, there is a natural connection with yourself. My own personal teaching style is to first create a safe space for the artist, then provide guidance and support to help them go deeper into areas of their inner self to help them connect and heal.

Are you planning more hearts to add to the series?

Oh, yes! I’m always painting hearts. Its an ongoing series of mixed media – I use fabrics, found objects and wire in addition to the paintings.

If people want to see or purchase your artwork, what should they do?

There will be a February launch for the Hearts series at my studio in West Seattle and I’m planning a show in Queen Anne for the early spring. Also, I have various shows around town, as well as a new website. People can contact me through the site. In the future, I hope to create a way for people from out of town to make purchases through the website. For those of you interested in seeing Talese’s work or finding out more about her upcoming show, please visit her website at www.taleseheckler.com.

Thank you Talese for taking the time to talk with us!

Last year, Shirley Chiu came up with the Recycle Circle Project during an airplane ride and this year, Art with Heart is the happy beneficiary of that idea! The Project encourages professional designers to create works of art from unused material samples. The art is then sold to the public and 100% of the profits are donated to a local nonprofit that advances the creation of art and works with children.

Shirley says that the main idea for the project stemmed from a love of creative thinking and the art of making things. She knew that many designers had boxes of unused materials that were too beautiful to throw away and decided to motivate them to do something about it. Knowing that artists work well under a deadline, Shirley spends all year collecting donations of materials, then gives the independent designers 8 weeks to create a piece of art for the holiday sale. Each work is beautiful, unique and created from recycled materials.

This year’s Recycle Circle Holiday Charity Show will be held at ai Design Studio at 81 Vine Street, Suite 308 at the cross streets of Western & Vine in downtown Seattle. Artwork can be purchased on Friday, Dec 11^th from 5 to 9 pm or Saturday, Dec 12^th between 11 am and 3 pm. Last year, almost all of the art sold out, so get there early for the best selection!

Shirley and Art with Heart would like to send a special thank you to all of the independent designers who created work, as well as the design firms who donated materials to make this year’s event a success.

Hotel 1000 really knows how to throw a party!

The kick-off celebration of their “12 Days of Comfort, Joy & Cheer”  came to life with a fashion show and live auction, which raised over $8,000 to support Art with Heart’s programs to help children in crisis.

The evening began with snowflakes that fell outside the doors. Guests enjoyed scrumptious hors d’ourves from  BOKA KITCHEN + BAR.The auction offerings ranged from a weekend away to Napa Valley to tickets to see Oprah in Chicago!

The celebration continues through the rest of the month with 12% of the proceeds from the sale of the 12 Days hotel packages, spa treatments, BOKA menu items and gift cards that will be donated to Art with Heart.

Hotel 1000 is also  featuring its second annual 12 Days Shopping Passport Program with participating West Edge neighborhood boutiques and specialty retailers giving a 12% donation to the charity on purchases made this month. For more information, please visit Hotel 1000.

We’d like to thank the Sammamish Club for their recent donation of over $5,000! Art with Heart was chosen as the beneficiary of The Sammamish Club’s first-ever community-building fundraiser. The month long event would not have been possible without the efforts of several amazing staff members who worked diligently to organize a series of activities in which Club instructors and members donated their services and activity fees.

The fundraising efforts culminated with an Art with Heart weekend, which featured a mini-triathlon, a children’s art night, a raffle with fabulous prizes, and an open house with a wonderful selection of wine and appetizers.

Thank you so much to John McKinnon, who inspired and paved the way for this first fundraiser, which will now become an annual event. Thank you also to the Sammamish Club Staff and Club Members who worked to make this such a successful event!

For more information about the Sammamish Club, located in Issaquah, visit them online. http://www.sammamishclub.com/index.htm

Art with Heart invites you to join us at an

Exclusive Art Angels Reception

At Hotel 1000, Seattle’s premiere luxury boutique hotel
Benefiting children in crisis through Art with Heart’s Programs

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

VIP Guest Reception in the Grand Suite begins at 5:30 pm

General Admission begins at 6:30 pm

Hotel 1000’s second annual 12 Days of Comfort, Joy & Cheer is being kicked off with an Exclusive VIP Reception in Hotel 1000’s Grand Suite. The evening offers VIP Guests specialty cocktails, festive appetizers from BOKA KITCHEN + BAR, as well as get an opportunity to pre-bid on fabulous auction items that benefit Art with Heart, such as:

A Premiere Napa Valley travel experience to the Bardessono in Yountville • Destination packages to Willows Lodge in Woodinville, Woodmark on the Lake and Cave B at SageCliffe •
Private dinner experiences with local chefs • Fine Art • Trip to see Oprah!

In addition to the private reception, VIP guests will enjoy a spectacular fashion show orchastrated by The Finerie and Gene Juarez, featuring unique items from West End neighborhood boutiques and specialty retailers. Please join us, along with your friends and family, for this wonderful opportunity to kick off the holidays and support Art with Heart’s work with high-risk youth.

♥

Tickets are only available online at Brown Paper Tickets

$150 Exclusive Art Angels VIP Reception (Code: ANGEL)
$40 General Admission

For more information, please contact us at info@artwithheart.org or 206.362.4047