The “First a Dream” mural commissioned by Blick Art Materials in Galesburg, Il by our Central Office was unveiled September 28th on the south wall of the Discovery Depot Children’s Museum. Created to commemorate Blick Art Materials’ 100-year anniversary and long-time history as an employer in Galesburg and surrounding communities, the mural emphasizes the creativity of children, with a special focus on those who teach, lead and inspire them.
The mural project was developed by Blick management and employees as a way to thank the Galesburg community for its support since the company began selling art materials to fine artists and art professionals in 1911.
The public work of art, created by Friends of Community Public Art (FCPA), is based upon a quotation by the American writer, poet and Galesburg native, Carl Sandburg — “Nothing happens unless first a dream.” Envisioned by FCPA Artistic Director Kathleen Farrell, “First a Dream” features selected images that portray 100 years of the arts, commerce, industry and education in Galesburg.
If you are ever in Galesburg, Il please drop by and view this beatuiful mural.
Throughout the year Blick supports the art community in the United States and abroad. We wanted to share some pictures of how art can speak in any language … one just needs the tools!
Below is a thank you we received along with these great images.
“Thank you for your generous donation to my school art project in Kazakhstan. The materials were put to great use in a mural project and summer Art-English camps for more than 40 local students. Our students were absolutely thrilled to open a box full of colorful new paints and pencils! We appreciate your interest and willingness to support youth in Kazakhstan. I have attached a few photos from our summer projects. Art can reach people and youth in every corner of the globe. Your kind, generous support has made our work possible here in Kazakhstan. Thank you!!!”
On April 22, 2010 students at Baton Rouge Magnet High School (BRMHS) received a special visit from nationally known chalk artist Lori Escalera. Ms. Escalera was in town to create a permanent street painting on campus to honor Louisiana State University’s (LSU) 150th Anniversary. Judith Stahl, LSU Student Union Art Gallery Director, and Ashley Scott, an undergraduate student, helped arrange for Ms. Escalera to visit BRMHS to share her expertise during a student workshop.
Both LSU and Blick Art Materials provided support for the workshop sessions, which were designed to provide education and raise awareness about chalk art street painting as a disciplined art form. Ms. Escalera taught students about the unique Madonnari style of street painting, developed in Italy during the 1600s. After watching Ms. Escalera demonstrate techniques, students in several art classes tried their hand at the medium and created their own chalk paintings. Some advanced students also participated in the creation of a 6 ft × 9 ft chalk mural.
This was an exciting opportunity for the artist, students, and faculty, and Blick is proud to have been able to be a part of it. View Lori Escalera’s video of the BRMHS workshop sessions on her Facebook page.
Are you looking for some fun, easy ways to celebrate Earth Day this week and to teach children about the importance of making eco-friendly choices? Check out some of our NEW lesson plans that incorporate recycled materials to make “green” art!
Designed for teaching recycling and renewal, this project allows children to create a handmade greeting card that doubles as a seed packet that can be planted to grow a beautiful garden!
Show children how they can become part of the solution instead of adding to the problem by utilizing plastic that would otherwise be thrown into a landfill to create an artistic collage!
In this project, recycled bottles or cups are used to create “frosted glass” vases! Ideal for a wide variety of skill levels.
How are you commemorating Earth Day? What are some ways you’ve come up with to teach our youth about the positive impact they can have on the environment?
March is Youth Art Month! Sponsored by the Council for Art Education (CFAE), Youth Art Month (YAM) was created to engage communities and organizations in the support of art education and programming for children. For more information about Youth Art Month, please contact the CFAE at 781-293-4100, or visit their website at http://www.acminet.org/youth_art_month.htm.
Activities are going on all over the country. For interesting project ideas, check out our collection of Blick lesson plans for a variety of age groups on our website at http://www.dickblick.com/lessonplans/.
How is Youth Art Month being supported in your community?
“When I Grow Up I Want To Be,” a nonprofit serving orphans in Ethiopia, was founded in 2004 by Erik Blome, an instructor at the Academy of Art in San Francisco. Operated entirely by volunteers, this amazing organization provides art workshops, food, and medical supplies to the children living in the underprivileged shantytowns of Ethiopia.
For these children, many who suffer from HIV, creating art provides them with an outlet for self expression and a source of hope. “When we do art with the children, it works wonders. It gets them engaged, opens them up. They use their hands, they discover they can create beauty,” remarks Blome.
All art supplies for the program are provided by Blick Art Materials. To find out more about what you can do to help, visit: When I Grow Up I Want To Be…
Blick Art Materials has donated $18,000 in art supplies to the School of the Art Institute (SAIC) in support of BareWalls 2009. This annual event supports the BareWalls Scholarship Fund, which benefits students pursuing their studies at SAIC.
During BareWalls 2009, faculty and alumni of SAIC will create original works of art before an audience that includes many of Chicago’s most prominent arts patrons, civic leaders and business leaders. A silent auction will be held to allow participants to bid on their favorite works while they are being created.
The art materials donated by Blick Art Materials include canvases, acrylic paints, acrylic brushes, palettes and water buckets. Participants in the event will also receive tote bags and discount coupons that can be used at Blick Art Materials’ Chicago Loop store, located at 42 S. State Street. Blick Art Materials and SAIC will donate any unused art materials remaining after the event to Chicago public schools, through the Chicago Office of Arts Education.
“The School of the Art Institute offers a solid education for young professionals pursuing careers in disciplines with art as their foundation,” says Bob Buchsbaum, chief executive officer of Blick Art Materials. “We are proud to be part of the effort to raise funds for the SAIC’s Student Scholarship Fund and believe that by supporting art education in schools and the community, we are helping to inspire individuals and support their long-term career goals.”
“SAIC is delighted to be celebrating the 15th anniversary of the BareWalls Benefit for Student Scholarships,” says Emily Chapman, director of alumni relations for SAIC, “Supporters of this annual event are contributing to the education of young artists and designers pursuing their studies at SAIC. In the last 14 years the endowed BareWalls Scholarship Fund has provided financial assistance to over 300 SAIC students. It is really energizing to see SAIC’s community of alumni, faculty and friends come together in support of the School in such an outstanding way.”
Blick Art Materials will help promote BareWalls 2009 with promotions and signage in its Chicago Loop store, which is located across the street from the SAIC Sullivan Galleries, the site of the BareWalls 2009 event. The event will be held on October 10, 2009 at 6 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-982-2787 through October 7 and on the day of the event at the door with cash, check and credit cards all accepted. For more information, visit SAIC’s BareWalls 2009 Web pages or call 312-899-1455.
On September 30th over 300 employees and volunteers participated in Blick’s 2nd annual charity walk at Lake Storey in Galesburg, Illinois. Participants from our Central Office and two warehouse facilities collected over $11,000 which the company matched. The event was comprised of two distances for walkers either 11/2 miles or 4 miles along the bike path, followed by lunch.
Over $20,000 will be evenly distributed between five local charities: FISH Food Pantry, Knox County Humane Society/Prairieland Animal Welfare Center, Guardian Angel Animal Shelter, Safe Harbor and Galesburg Rescue Mission.
Saturday September 26th associates from our Highland Park office walked in the Fourth Annual “Partners For A Cure” to help raise awareness and funding for the Scleroderma Foundation. To support one of our employees recently diagnosed with diffuse systemic scleroderma, participants drove to Lake Geneva, Wi to participate in the walk. This form of scleroderma affects around 300,000 people at any given time. With no known cure, funding and awareness are important.
For more information please follow this link:
http://www.scleroderma.org/
Al Roker hit the road for his annual “Lend a Hand” program to help those in need. In its eighth consecutive year, Lend a Hand continues its mission to help small charities across the country that work toward improving conditions in their communities.
Community School of the Arts in Charlotte, NC was the fifth stop in his amazing campaign and Blick was able to help with art supplies galore!
The mission of Community School of the Arts (CSA) is to provide artistic experiences that enrich lives, cultivate imagination and foster the development of healthy communities. They offer private instruction in 20 different instruments, band, orchestra, visual arts (including pottery), Artsreach (community outreach program), Early Arts (pre-school art lab, Music Together and Music Around), music therapy, family workshops and summer camps. Henry Bridges founded CSA in 1969 with 20 students at First Presbyterian Church. Henry’s vision was to provide music instruction to students who couldn’t afford lessons. Today CSA serves over 1,700 students in over 30 locations with a diverse faculty of 35 who provide the highest quality instruction.
Blick was proud and excited to participate in this wonderful surprise.
On September 30th over 300 employees and volunteers participated in Blick’s 2nd annual charity walk at Lake Storey in Galesburg, Illinois. Participants from our Central Office and two warehouse facilities collected over $11,000 which the company matched. The event was comprised of two distances for walkers either 11/2 miles or 4 miles along the bike path, followed by lunch.
Saturday September 26th associates from our Highland Park office walked in the Fourth Annual “Partners For A Cure” to help raise awareness and funding for the Scleroderma Foundation. To support one of our employees recently diagnosed with diffuse systemic scleroderma, participants drove to Lake Geneva, Wi to participate in the walk. This form of scleroderma affects around 300,000 people at any given time. With no known cure, funding and awareness are important.