Sharing the Love: New Program Infuses Art Throughout the City
Feb 14, 2022 / Blog
What’s better than a Valentine? Sharing the love 365 days a year! Blumenthal Performing Arts’ new Art-doption program helps do exactly that by repurposing art and other materials after a production ends.
Remember those gorgeous Van Gogh-inspired picnic tables painted by local artists for the Immersive Van Gogh exhibition? Fourteen of them now have new homes with schools and community organizations all around the city.
Other items too, from vinyl signs to kinetic sculptures, will soon be getting a second life thanks to the program.
The goal is “for people who would otherwise not have a chance to feel this art is theirs to be able to cherish these pieces,” says Blumenthal’s Director of Artistic Experiences Bree Stallings. “It’s a small but meaningful way to give back to our community that gives so much to us.”
Here’s a look at a few of these partner organizations, the important work they do, and what this new artwork means to them.
HOLY ANGELS
If you’ve ever wondered about the power of art to build community and create new opportunities, look no further than Holy Angels. The group recently received two tables from the Immersive Van Gogh exhibition. Beyond their functionality and beauty, the tables also symbolize its ongoing relationship with local artists.
TWO Immersive Van Gogh inspired picnic tables to our friends at @Holy_AngelsNC! #vangoghclt pic.twitter.com/Ghd1XscGrd
— Blumenthal Performing Arts (@BlumenthalArts) January 27, 2022
The Belmont-based organization provides a variety of services to people with intellectual developmental disabilities and fragile medical conditions. It also operates Bliss Gallery, one of several business enterprises developed to create employment opportunities for the differently able.
Throughout the year, the space hosts exhibitions featuring the work of Holy Angels Resident Artists alongside the work of local guest artists. Blumenthal’s Bree Stallings, who is an accomplished multi-media artist, educator and activist, and Elizabeth Palmisano, an award -winning mixed media/fiber artist and educator, were featured as part of an exhibition there back in 2019. That experience led to other collaborations with resident artists, including a 2020 public art project in downtown Belmont.
When Immersive Van Gogh came to Charlotte, Stallings extended an invitation to the artists of Bliss Gallery and others at Holy Angels to visit the exhibition and participate in workshop activities there.
“During the pandemic there were many restrictions placed and the residents were unable to visit many places,” shares Erin Smith, Holy Angels director of Business Enterprises, via email. “This was such a great experience and outing for them.”
Stallings also invited the Bliss Gallery artists to sell some of their own creative work at the Immersive Van Gogh retail store. That was an exciting opportunity, as hundreds of thousands of visitors passed through the gift shop during the show’s six month run at Camp North End.
Smith says her team was thrilled when Stallings offered to relocate two tables from the exhibition to the Holy Angels campus, one painted by Palmisano and another by muralist Luvly Moon. They are now part of an outdoor classroom specially created to accommodate some of Holy Angels’ most medically fragile residents, who are unable to go off campus for programs.
“[T]hese tables with their vibrant colors will be enjoyed for many years to come,” she says.
ourBRIDGE for Kids
Last summer, day campers at ourBRIDGE for Kids, a local non-profit that helps empower refugee and immigrant children, also visited the Immersive Van Gogh exhibition. Now, two colorful picnic tables from the show are helping to beautify the learning center’s backyard area, where students do homework, engage in creative projects and spend time with friends.
Located in east Charlotte, the organization provides free after-school programming for 150 K-8 students who are recent immigrants, refugees or first generation Americans.
“All the learning that we do through our curriculum is experiential and hands-on,” says Shani Mann, ourBRIDGE’S Community Engagement Coordinator.
Every member of the organization’s staff is also trained in trauma-informed care and art is an important tool in this pursuit; it provides a way for students to express themselves and work through difficult feelings in their new cultural landscape.
Right now, the organization is exploring a new project with Stallings, to create an art club led by a local artist. With a focus on textile art and sewing, club members would use recycled vinyl signs from Blumenthal as materials for their creations.
Meanwhile, Mann says she hopes the tables, designed by Chad Cartwright and Lo’Vonia Parks respectively, will inspire students as real life examples of how art can lead to “out of the box” thinking.
Not one, but TWO Immersive Van Gogh inspired picnic tables (painted by local artists) to our friends at @ourBRIDGEkids! #vangoghclt pic.twitter.com/G4aHieu40U
— Blumenthal Performing Arts (@BlumenthalArts) January 27, 2022
“We have such wonderful community partners that help us do what we do,” she says. “... We're hoping to continue working with Bree and the Blumenthal to bring art programming to OurBRIDGE.”
REA FARMS STEAM ACADEMY
Recently, Rea Farms STEAM Academy, a new K-8 magnet school in south Charlotte, welcomed a special guest. Artist Euli Orellana came to speak with middle school students who have selected a “mural art pathway” at the school. (Other students focus on pathways like roller coaster engineering, veterinary science, and theater as part of their studies!) Orellana shared examples of his own work and advised these young artists as they embark on upcoming art projects at their school.
What made the opportunity extra special was the connection these kids already have with Orellana’s work: his table from Immersive Van Gogh has found a new home right outside the art rooms at the school.
“It is beautiful!” says Assistant Principal Rebecca Grgurina, adding that the school, which is only in its second year, is looking forward to collaborating with Blumenthal on other projects to bring the arts to life.
One Immersive Van Gogh inspired picnic table for our friends at @ReaFarmsSTEAM! #vangoghclt pic.twitter.com/63VbZtoDAj
— Blumenthal Performing Arts (@BlumenthalArts) January 27, 2022
Garden beds will soon be added near the table, creating more opportunities for outside learning at the school, which focuses its curriculum on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
Wanna Share the Love too?
Click below for more information on donations and volunteer opportunities at these fantastic community orgs!