Art lovers snap up works for a good cause at Ann Arbor Art Center's '30X30' event
Ann Arbor resident Michele Kelley, left, and Plymouth resident Sharon Bida look at art during the 30x30 benefit art sale at the Ann Arbor Art Center Saturday. Thirty artists made 30 works in 30 days to be sold for $40 each to benefit the center's Art for Kids Scholarship Fund.
Angela Cesere | AnnArbor.com
They came. They saw. They bought art.
Hundreds of area residents snapped up the work of local artists at $40 each Saturday at the Ann Arbor Art Center's 30X30 project to fund art classes for low-income children.
A sign at the event summed up its purpose: “2 works of art that you purchase=8 weeks of classes for a child.” For the project, 30 artists each created 30 works of art in 30 days.
“The purpose is twofold: To raise money for the kids’ program and to get to know new artists,” said Marsha Chamberlin, president and chief executive officer of the Ann Arbor Art Center. “Last year we sold $6,500 worth of work. That’s a lot of $40 items.”
This year, the art center sold even more, $13,000 worth, to be exact.
Participating artist Katie Halton is a big supporter of the cause.
“I’m inspired to help kids go to art classes who couldn’t otherwise afford it,” said Halton, who grew up in Ann Arbor and took art classes and attended summer camp at the art center. "Without those experiences, I wouldn’t have chosen art as a career path.”
Halton studied art and zoology in college and features animals as subjects in her brightly colored works of art.
Creations for the 30X30 project have to measure to be 8 inches by 8 inches, 10 inches by 10 inches or 10 inches by 12 inches. At least that was the rule for everyone except Ann Arbor artist Mark Ehrman, whose medium is clay. He was the only potter participating in Saturday’s benefit.
“Art is always the first thing to get cut from the budget and curriculum, but in Ann Arbor art is valued more than in other places,” said Ehrman. “This is good exposure for upcoming artists.”
Visitor Shawntel Williams certainly thought so. She and her two children had their hands full of mugs and bowls they were buying from Ehrman’s collection.
“It’s a beautiful blending of colors that he uses,” said Williams. “I want to open my babies’ eyes to art.”
Brianna Kenyon attended the event to support her artist friend Cayla Tinney from East Jordan, Mich.
“The art is eclectic here,” said Kenyon. “It’s a great idea and there’s so much to choose from. I’m really impressed.”
The Ann Arbor Art Center’s Kids Scholarship Fund awards close to 150 scholarships annually. For more information, go to www.annarborartcenter.org.
Lisa Carolin is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. To reach the news desk, email news@annarbor.com or call 734-623-2530.
Comments
hk
Sun, Apr 3, 2011 : 8:37 p.m.
As an artist, it was a great experience to participate and a WONDERFUL WAY BENEFIT TO HELP THE KIDS. I was happy to learn I sold 2/3 of my work - always a wonderful surprise! - and be invited to sell in the Gallery Shop. Bet an online Sale or Auction would go over great too!
jns131
Sun, Mar 27, 2011 : 3:11 p.m.
From what I heard people were wrapped around the block and nothing was left. Wish I could have gone but I don't do lines and I don't like crowds. But the artwork from what I heard? Was awesome. Great event for a great event.
BHarding
Sun, Mar 27, 2011 : 2:38 p.m.
Thank you, abc! I've always disagreed with that slogan "A great nation deserves great art" , I think a great nation MAKES great art.
abc
Sun, Mar 27, 2011 : 1:55 p.m.
In December of 2008 GM asked to borrow 18 billion dollars from the US government and in their apology letter to the American people they apologized for 'lackluster design'... among other things. In simple terms they apologized for BAD design. They went on to list as their first priority if they were to receive the money, "produce automobiles that you want to buy and that are exciting to own". In simple terms they promised GOOD design. One of the world's foremost engineers was Leonardo da Vinci. And if you think for a minute that my reference to da Vinci is too old to apply, I would challenge you to find one cutting edge engineer who would agree with you. These guys would not. Robert Maillart - Swiss bridge engineer Fazlur Khan - Bangladeshi / American structural engineer Santiago Calatrava - Spanish architect AND structural engineer John Roebling - American civil engineer Luigi Nervi - Italian structural engineer Just to name a few... We will need engineers who can design well. Art is anything but an indulgence.
braggslaw
Sun, Mar 27, 2011 : 7:05 p.m.
I do not disagree the difference is that they had technical backgrounds The gm bankruptcy was based on long term liabilities and the inability to shift money from pensions to product The same gm designers enabled today with money have generated great product
braggslaw
Sun, Mar 27, 2011 : 3:18 a.m.
Art is fun, art is great but it is also an indulgence. The state needs to find about 10,000 engineers in the next year to move the economy forward. I wanted to be a full time artist at one time in my life but I discovered it was not going to pay the bills and it was unfair of me to ask the public to support my indulgences. After a long career in engineering, business etc. I have gone back to metal smithing and lapidary work as a hobby and an enjoyable indulgence. People always say you should do what you enjoy. I say pay your bills, take care of yourself and then do what you enjoy.
xmo
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 11:51 p.m.
I wonder if the local engineers (SAE or something) would do something to support children getting a Science and Math education. We need more engineers than artist.