Our Art with Buddies program

We are proud to share that we have again teamed with the Rosewood Art Centre in Kettering in creating Art with Buddies, a special art class for kids on the Autism Spectrum.

In the class, each child, with the aid of their own “Buddy” (caretaker), will get individualized attention from our art teacher, Jess.  We know how important it is for parents with a child with ASD to develop effective parenting strategies for early intervention. Many studies have shown that these early interventions greatly impact the child’s entire life.

Art with Buddies is a special partnership between Rosewood Arts Centre and We Care Arts and funded by the Tait Foundation and PNC.

The classes are on Saturdays and this winter’s classes are January 28 to March 18, from 11 to 11:45 am at Rosewood Art Centre in Kettering .The fee for the class is $30 for Kettering residents and $35 for non-residents.

Let's Get Our Creative Juices Flowing For Valentine's Day!

Bring your sweetie and join us for another fun Creative Juices Studio Event class on Thursday, February 9! The class is going to be something really unique and romantic for Valentine’s Day. You and your favorite Valentine can each create their own beautiful birch tree painting on wood, and they come together to make one painting with both your initials in the heart shown carved into the center tree.

The class on February 9 is from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at our main studio at 3035 Wilmington Pike. The cost per couple is $60, and it’s BYO wine, with coffee, tea and water being provided. Deadline to make a reservation is February 8 at 4pm.

Just like this class, our Creative Juices Studio Events can provide a wide range of art experiences for you here at We Care Arts, or one of our professional artists can travel to you with art supplies in tow. We can accommodate up to 20 people per session, and can teach classes featuring a variety of mediums including painting on canvas, glass fusion, fiber arts, jewelry making, and much more! Classes are typically just $35 per person and we provide all of the materials you’ll need to create your masterpiece!

You Are The Artist of Your Own Life!

 

We Care Arts teaches people with many levels of ability to create art, but some of our artists already have a very clear vision of what art that they would like to create. Nowhere is this seen more than our clay program led by art teacher Bruce Rill. He understands in the value of art and thinks that when people engage in art, miracles can happen. He believes that they find aspects of themselves that they didn’t know existed and find their own personal power.

One of our artists who work with Bruce is Kathleen Lorring. A graphic designer, she owned her own business for fifteen years, but retired after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Her art reflects the passion that she holds in life, such as creating ceramic serving bowls, which she envisions will be used by people coming together and sharing food and fellowship. She always has a clear vision of what she wants to create, also reflected in her paintings of endangered species, which reflect her concern that we are depleting our natural resources and wildlife.

 

 

Kathleen comes to us to create her art because she feels that it is easier to be creative in a creative environment. She finds that she gets a lot of support not only from our teachers but also from the other artists here. She enjoys developing her own unique styles of art and finds Bruce to be a positive factor in her artistic growth.

 

For Bruce, some moments here make him feel a real sense of camaraderie and community. He loves being a mentor and empowering people to produce something beautiful and meaningful and to discover the empowering power of creating art. He believes that God has given us all the power to be the artist of our own life.

 

 

 

Upcoming Spring Auction to We Care Arts

Have you wondered what exciting opportunities will lead us into the new year?  We Care Arts has developed an exciting relationship with Bockrath Flooring and Rugs! For the second year, the Bockrath Cares Design Challenge has asked our clients to design rugs. Then Bockrath selects their favorite and creates it. The rug will be auctioned off at our Spring Auction event on March 10, 2017.

Our last year’s winner of the initial Bockrath Cares Design Challenge was Nicholas Tapley, a student from Stebbins High School. He was very thrilled that his rug design won the contest, and Bockrath personally made him a slightly smaller rug with his design, which delighted him. When presented with the rug, he said, “I am on the top of the earth!” His parents were so happy and grateful and the whole experience made the people from Bockrath cry!

This year’s winner is a student of We Care Arts who attends Stivers High School.  (We’re not saying who since we will surprise the lucky winner with the announcement and rug presentation at a later date, but before the Spring Auction). The rug is still moving from the initial design to a computer model ready to be manufactured, and we can’t wait to see it! It is such a thrill for our students to be singled out for their creativity and being rewarded for their hard work!

Our 25^th annual We Care Arts’ Spring Auction is on Friday March 10 at the Presidential Banquet Center in Kettering. The fun-filled evening will feature a terrific dinner, and a silent auction with dozens of fabulous gift baskets from which to choose. This year’s live auction will include a chance to bid on a beautiful rug, designed by WCA high school client and created by Bockrath Carpets, a get-a-way vacation, and much more! Last year, the auction raised over $60,000, which helped over 1,300 adults and children with disabilities realize their personal potential through art. Call We Care Arts at 937-252-3937 for tickets and more information.