Big Fun in Wyandot County

Had a week of art at Angeline Industries- Thanks for inviting me! We painted, drew and imagined…Spent a day with the staff talking about art projects- and the next day came in early and chatted with Dan, the custodian. We had collected scrap wood from a local cabinet maker—and we were looking at it and talking about possibilities and he looks at me and says “Have you ever seen the corn hole game for little kids?”- and I looked back at the wood and it was the perfect size for his idea. I yelped! And think scared him a little bit…and asked if he could help with cutting and figuring out a prototype- and he just laughed and said sure- I believe that successful programs and projects grow from people who are open and interested in trying and talking about new ideas. Dan quietly went to work- and developed a design with the materials we had in house.

I began working with staff and workers at Angeline- we made drawings, painted fabric- made quilts, potholders…cornbags for the game…the group was cutting out coupons to send to people in the military—so we made coupon wallet/holders. Remembering the stencils we made at Creative Foundations- Now renamed: Our Town Studio---- We enlarged some drawings, made stencils and spray painted them onto the wood- and then DAN cut out the holes and made the corn hole boards. Thank You Dan!

This was a very busy week- it is so much fun to begin working with an organization- and then discover where their talent, resources and enthusiasm takes them. With continued effort Angeline will be able to improve on the prototype, breakdown the steps and get the product onto the work floor. The goal was to come up with engaging activities and a product for the sheltered workshop. With a little marketing and sales- Angeline is on their way!

New Skills

I Believe in the power of learning new stuff- Last week four visiting artists did a residency with Ohio University’s Aesthetic Technologies Lab http://www.ohio.edu/atlab/. The focus….They all work with balloons- all of them play balloons- and for the week they got together, practiced, recorded music- Wild!
One of the artists, Addi Somekh, is a professional balloon twister and gave a workshop last Wednesday…have you ever participated in something- knowing that it was going to change your life? I had this feeling with a pop-up book workshop, the first time I developed negatives and they came out of the tank—and seeing a photograph develop on paper…HOOKED! http://newballoonart.com/addiontv.html
http://www.balloonhat.com
So, I learned your classic dog and hat structures- from Addi- and he showed us his work….he has traveled the world with a photographer making balloon hats for people. Genius. He took one idea and just kept going with it—and these hats make people so happy- so quickly- and it is so easy! Once you get a few of the basics…off you go- and off we went.
It was Halloween and we made hats for Trick or Treaters- and there was a CROWD! A child frenzy- and there was FREE candy at every house—but these kids were waiting for their hat… I couldn’t believe it—a Mom even tried to hire us to do a birthday party! And Addi said this would happen- he encourages young people- to learn how to twist- and instead of getting a part time job at a coffee house—stand on the corner, do parties—hire yourself out…make more money and more fun!
Addi made balloons at Atco- our local sheltered workshop- and I asked him how much time he needed….”The time it takes to make everyone happy.” And so we went and for two hours he made hats for about 30 people with developmental disabilities. Big beautiful hats and flowers…I thought it was a lovely morning- and then I talked with a staff member a few days later- she said that a few of the clients have been feeling really depressed- hardly talking…and this workshop had them smiling and talking about the experience for DAYS! And all it took were some balloons and connecting to one another… and that is the secret I think…figuring out how to connect to one another—I don’t care if it is through drawing or talking--- what ever it is that helps us listen and respond…makes us feel better—Art just seems to be the best thing I’ve found so far.

Back to the Balloons….With this new found technique—I just kept making and making—practicing. Looked up “How to Make Balloon Hats” on www.Youtube.com learned more…and did up some costumes for the Uptown Athens Halloween Extravaganza… and then blew up balloons on the street corner-and made hats for the partygoers -- You’d have thought we were passing out gold! People were so happy and it was so much fun- We were interviewed by radio and newspaper- it was wild- Imagine a fundraiser-- add a balloon twister- and you have instant fun, decorations....charge a buck a hat- and generate more fund raising!
My suggestion….take a workshop- learn something new…then DO IT BIG and see what happens.

Next Think Tank December 2nd!

The Ohio Association of Adult Services
Presents
Art Think Tank Three

Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Franklin County Board of MRDD
2879 Johnstown Rd.
Columbus, OH 43219

9:00am – 3:00pm

Facilitated by: Patty Mitchell, MFA
Patty Mitchell is a working artist and social entrepreneur specializing in collaborations between artists with and without developmental disabilities. Designs from collaborative artworks are translated into product with a focus of creating employment for underserved populations and funding streams for continued programming. Mitchell started Passion Works Studio through an Ohio Arts Council Artist in Residency, in Athens Ohio (1996), where today 40 artists with cognitive disabilities work as artists and have generated almost a million US dollars since 1998. Mitchell is now sharing this model throughout Ohio and internationally with Handikos of Kosovo and Flor de Arte of Coanil in Santiago, Chile.
Mitchell has received a Distinguished Alumna Award from Ohio University’s College of Fine Art, Individual Artist Award from the Ohio Arts Council, Citizen of the Year from Athens Civitan and The Keystone Award from Ohio University for outstanding community service. Passion Works has received the Governor’s Award for the Arts: Community Development and Participation and Distinguished Organization for Art Education from the Ohio Art Education Association.

Registration Information: On-line registration only
Agenda: Patty will send the agenda out prior to the meeting
Registration Web Site: www.oaas.org
OAAS Member Organization Fee: $25 (If your Adult Services Program is an OAAS member- please use the OAAS Member Rate)
Non-Member Fee: $35
Lunch: Brown Bag – Beverages supplied by OAAS