Katy ARTreach

WOW! Outreach Worldwide –Mural project shares art and cultures with children around the world

November 11, 2008 - Children from around the world and in Texas will be working together this year to create a unique and very special mural that will be donated to the Texas PTA and their offices in Austin, Texas.  This is a Texas ARTreach Cultural Arts Project facilitated by professional artist Vickie McMillan of Katy, Texas. The mural’s design reflects the blend of unique cultures from Africa, Asia and Mexico with the melting pot of America as represented by our children, parents and teachers in Texas.

This is an ARTreach project running in concurrence with the National Reflections Program. The theme this year for the Reflection Program is “Wow!”  Vikki McMillan is an ARTreach mission artist inspired by the theme. McMillan will be traveling to Africa, the Philippines and Mexico this year to share American culture with families and children in impoverished regions of countries struggling with poverty and devastation.  She is combining her outreach with arts education that includes lessons that involve painting expressive works of art that focus on hope, health, world peace and understanding. Children, parents and teachers from around the world will be painting panels that will be installed as part of this WOW Mural to be unveiled in Austin summer 2009.

Texas is home to Vikki McMillan and when she returns to the state, ARTreach will offer a series of workshops organized in Austin, Katy and Lufkin to represent urban, suburban and rural communities and include Texas children, parents and teachers in the project. Vikki’s workshops share the stories, music and photos that detail her journey as an artist. Students are inspired to paint about their own unique American customs while exploring the customs associated with other cultures from around the world.  The project traces the combined journey of every student involved to create a statement that reminds us of the bigger picture. “We are all in this together!” says Texas PTA President Jan Wilkerson, “Texas PTA is excited to be a part of this project because it demonstrates that everyone is a piece of the puzzle and offering a part of the solution.” The WOW Mural will be unveiled in Austin in June, with plans in place for it to travel to Dallas to be featured as part of Texas PTA Centennial Celebration in October, 2009.  

This ARTreach Project is made possible by grant from the Allen Morris Foundation. Contact Terri Bieber for more information or to find out how your child can participate in the project when the WOW workshops come to your town.  To learn more about this WOW Outreach Worldwide Mural Project and other International ARTreach Projects visit www.artreachonline.org. 

December 4th, 2008 ARTREACH Mural Workshop at Agave Road in Katy
February 1, 2009 Workshop for Katy ISD Students /Local Campus Reflections Program Awards of Excellence at the ARTreach Studio
February 27, 2009- March 1 – Austin, Texas PTA and Mural Project Workshop
March

“Rhythm Journey” featuring performing artist Dan Egger-Belandria takes children and adults on a musical adventure

Katy, Texas Sept. 24, 2008 - ARTreach has successfully piloted a series of percussion-based music programs designed by professional musician and teaching artist Dan Egger-Belandria of Austin, Texas. Dan’s unique program is titled “Rhythm Journey” and supports early childhood development, social skills development, and education. ARTreach was able to bring this talented teaching artist to Katy to conduct his workshops for free and for children and adults who would not otherwise be given an opportunity to experience the arts in this unique capacity. ARTreach implemented the pilots in order to measure the impact this type of art programming has on cognitive and development skills.

Rhythm Journey was piloted for Katy ISD for preschool children at Mayde Creek Elementary and PPCD students at McRoberts Elementary. Additional workshops focusing on team building and group interaction were piloted for the Arc of Katy, and residents of Sunrise Assisted Living Community in Cinco Ranch.

    
ARTreach Program/Katy ISD Early Childhood Development Preschool Program – Photos by Gail Zaruba

In Katy ISD, Dan Egger- Belandria’s Rhythm Journey focused on early childhood development and explored learning concepts through movement, reading, listening, and music making. His program shared techniques that integrated music as an easy way to uncover learning differences, and nurture the creative side of students in a classroom environment.  Both the teachers and preschoolers at Mayde Creek Elementary and McRoberts Elementary benefited from the experience. “Dan’s workshop was very interactive and engaging for the kiddos and the teachers as well,” said Sharron Appel of MCE, “there are many languages spoken in this classroom, the music brought everyone together. It truly is the universal language!”

    
ARTreach Program/ARC of Katy       

ARTreach piloted Rhythm Journey as an interactive social skills and team building opportunity for adults with intellectual and physical disabilities. The ARC of Katy participants benefited. “We love it whenever ARTreach comes here, said ARC Life skills teacher, Therese Lattel, “But this was one was extra fun and involved everyone in a complete percussion music concert! Their faces and body language, told the story.”  

    
ARTreach Program at Sunrise Assisted Living Community    

Dan’s Rhythm Journey was also used to introduce rhythm and movement as a creative way to increase heart rate and circulation as demonstrated at the Sunrise Assisted Living Community in Cinco Ranch. “We see good things happen whenever ARTreach brings us a new program, but this one was surprising,” said Shannon Prejean of Sunrise, “rhythm filled the air, residents were attracted to the workshop, they came out of their rooms smiling and wanting to join the drumming circle.”

Dan Egger-Belandria is a professional musician and on the Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Artist roster, he offers numerous programs available to be booked by PTAs through Young Audiences of Houston.  Dan Egger Belandria is also developing new programs for ARTreach in Austin serving children at risk in the school districts. (www.artreachonline.org)  

This unique Katy pilot project was made possible by ARTreach thanks to a grant from Houston Endowment Inc., and additional support provided by Extreme Technologies Inc. and Lisa and Craig Guidry of Katy.  It is through individual donations, corporations and foundation grants like this that ARTreach raises the money needed to bring the arts to underserved communities. An individual workshop like Dan Egger Belandria’s Rhythm Journey can be sponsored for any community in need for just $240.

ARTreach programs are designed to support educational objectives, with aspects that focus on self esteem, team building and social skills development.  New ARTreach Programs are being developed and piloted this year for PPCD and Preschool Programs serving at risk children including ESL classrooms, Special needs classrooms, and life skills. Additional workshops and programs are being designed for the Elderly in Assisted Living, to support Alzheimer’s reminiscence and memory care.

These innovative programs are available to students in Katy ISD and Fort Bend ISD and through a list of ARTreach social service agency partners and assisted living communities. Please contact Terri Bieber at art.reach@earthlink.net  or call 281-392-5341 for more information. Learn more about the impact the arts have on children at risk, special needs groups and the elderly and consider sponsoring ARTreach Programs in your community.

Because Art Works!  www.artreachonline.org

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Katy’s own master designer and quilter, Martha DeLeonardis of Cinco Ranch has been selected as one of the 40 finalists across the world to participate in an exhibit showcased at this year’s International Quilt Festival being held in Houston, Texas at the George R Brown Convention Center on October 30-Nov 2, 2008. Her quilt titled “Houston…I think we have a Quilter” will be a featured star in “The Sky’s the Limit” Exhibition and Gallery.

The International “The Sky’s the Limit” Quilt Exhibition will tour cities around the world for a three years. Katy’s quilt will land back at home in 2011. 
     What would Mission Control’s response be if the first pictures from a manned mission to Saturn looked like this? This whimsical moonscape of Saturn was inspired by a neon photo of Saturn taken with an infrared lens by NASA’s Cassini Orbiter. “After seeing photos of Saturn in bright neon colors rather than muted earth tones,” explains DeLeonardis, “it occurred to me that the only limit to my design was my imagination!”

Arts-in-Education projects like this help kids reach for the moon and stars!
ARTreach is recognizing this impressive work of art it for its creative link to educational objectives associated with science and math. Martha DeLeonardis is the first recipient of the 2008 ARTreach Arts in-Education Award for her quilt project demonstrating a creative and artistic link to math and science educational TEKS objectives (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills).  Katy as a community appreciates the influence and impact the arts have on our children’s education. Parents, teachers, PTA volunteers, and local artists are encouraged to promote the arts-in-education in their own school community and apply for this creative Arts-in-Education award. Winning projects and programs will address Fine Arts TEKS and incorporate science and math TEKS K-12. The ARTreach Arts-in-Education Award applications can be requested via the ARTreach website www.artreachonline.org or by emailing art.reach@earthlink.net. Learn more about building community partnerships supporting arts education by visiting www.ArtGives.org and completing their brief form - Your Arts Connection - http://artgives.org/connections.htm .

National Charity League Katy Chapter/Azelea Chapter

Katy Rotary Club

 Katy Area Exchange Club

Katy Area Chamber of Commerce

Tradition Bank of Katy

Fish City Grill

Hasta La Pasta

Pulcinellas Ristorante

Absolutley Magazines

Extreme Technologies, Inc.

Ceramics by Tess

Silver Eagle Gallery and Framing

Agave Road

Katy YMCA

Crosspoint Community Church

Grand Vision

Katy ISD

Arc of Katy

Sign A Rama

Katy, TX (July 20, 2008) –  On August 4, Pulcinella Ristorante will host a very special event, “The Art of Hugging,” to benefit ARTreach. At the one-time event, Michelle Nichols, a former Katy resident and BusinessWeek.com columnist, will talk about her new book Hug Your Kids Today! 5 Key Lessons for Every Working Parent. Performance artists will also create art and guests can sip wine and eat delicious Italian food.
 
Nichols is the founder of National Hug Your Kids Day, held on July 21, with something happening in 17 states for the first celebration. She will share why all the talk about “work-life balance” is the wrong goal. Instead, she recommends working parents prioritize, and put “family first and work a close second.”
 
She speaks from credibility. In 1998, her 8 ½ year old son, Mark, died suddenly from brain cancer. She now shares the five key lessons she learned in her journey back “from Hell to happiness.” As it says on the book’s back cover, “these lessons can help attendees be a better mother, father, stepparent, grandparent, employee or employer….And it all starts with a hug.”  www.HugYourKidsToday.com. The book is available at the website or on www.Amazon.com . Nichols now lives in Reno, Nevada.
 
Humorous speaker Rebecca Fox will also be on hand to share her entertaining observations on parenting and working. Fox is well-known for making women laugh at their daily challenges.
 
ARTreach has a unique community partnership with Pulcinella Ristorante. The world class Italian restaurant has locations in Dallas and Katy. The Katy location hosts monthly ARTreach dinner events, beginning with a Founders Day Event held on February 4th. The events help to build local awareness for the social and educational benefits associated with ARTreach programs serving the needy in Katy, Fort Bend County and the Houston area. www.artreachonline.com “We wanted to help our community and help ARTreach” says Pulcinella owner Dwight Sellers, “and hosting a wonderful dinner comes naturally to us.”
 
“The Art of Hugging” event is on August 4 and begins at 6:30 p.m. Pulcinella Ristorante is located at 6455 South Fry Road, in the Grand Lakes subdivision.  Tickets are $25 and guests will receive an autographed copy of Nichols’ new book “Hug Your Kids Today!” Space is limited to 40 guests. Reservations can be made with Terri Bieber, Executive Director , ARTreach at (713) 444-1897 art.reach@earthlink.net or Rebecca Fox at (281) 684-9966rebecccafox2@comcast.net .
 

Katy, Texas (June 30, 2008) A community partnership Between The Cinco Ranch Property Association, LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch and ARTreach is bringing a special cultural arts series to Cinco Ranch this summer that includes storytellers, puppeteers, musicians and dancers.  The performances are being held on the third and fourth Saturdays in June, July and August at 10:30 a.m. at Simply Cinco and Heritage Square located in LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch. 

“We’re thrilled to offer this type of quality series to Cinco Ranch residents, as well as residents in the greater Katy area. With the common goal of community enrichment, the partnership between Cinco Ranch, LaCenterra and ARTreach came naturally” says Lori Curtis, Newland Communities Special Events Coordinator. 

Storytellers, puppeteers, musicians and dancers

The summer series kicked off on June 21st with children and families welcoming Dan Gordon as Dante, Teller of Tales at Simply Cinco in LaCenterra. Dan is professional storyteller from Young Audiences of Houston. He took the audience on an exciting and interactive voyage to the Land of Stories.  Dante recounted stirring tales which taught lessons in understanding the differences in people and finding good in all.  The audience was encouraged to participate in the tales with movement and voice.  By the end of the adventure, everyone began to feel as if they had become storytellers themselves.

The beat of the African drum

On June 28, Drummer Joseph Dixon arrived to perform his “Village without Music” in the Heritage Square. This presentation explored the impact music has had on Africans and Americans of African descent throughout history.  Audience members were invited to take part in a drum circle and learn of “Congo Square” in New Orleans, where traditional African rhythms and elements of modern jazz fuse together.  Dixon’s presentation also explored the impact the Black Arts Movement (BAM) of the 1960’s and 1970’s had on society at the time and its present influences, including today’s hip-hop culture.

More to come!

Jean Kuecher- Rumplestiltskin
Jean Kuecher brings the art of puppetry to Simply Cinco July 19 with the tale of “Rumplestiltskin.”  This classic is performed featuring delicately hand-crafted marionettes in sparkling costumes on an elaborate stage complete with lighting, scenery and curtains.  Master puppeteer, Kuecher will reveal special effects and backstage secrets immediately following the performance.  For information on Jean Kuecher and the Marionette Playhouse, visit www.marionetteplayhouse.com.
 

Dance of Asia
East meets west with “Dance of Asia” presented by Dance of Asian America July 26 in Heritage Square. The vast land of China consists of the Mainland and 56 ethnic sub-regions each with dance forms that directly reflect their individual lifestyle and customs.  Classical and folk dance offer insight into the traditions, history and culture of each region.  Dances performed include authentic Chinese costumes, music and detailed information intended to offer guests a better understanding of China’s rich cultural heritage.  Learn more about Dance of Asian America, log onto www.danceaa.org.

JAWAD

Summer Saturdays continue with jazz musician JAWAD presenting “The Roots of American Music” August 16 in Simply Cinco.  This Young Audiences offering focuses on the artistic and historical contribution Jazz artists Paul Robeson, Robert Johnson and Duke Ellington have made to American music. This musical lesson is sure to enlighten and entertain.  To learn more about Young Audiences Houston, visit www.yahouston.org.   For information and a sneak preview of JAWAD’s music, log onto www.jawadmusic.com.
URGEWORKS

The series ends in Heritage Square with the high-energy dance of URGEWORKS! Presenting “Be You!” August 23. Guests of all ages will be amazed by these professional hip-hop dancers from Houston.  Internationally renowned for their positive, inspirational and motivational performances, URGEWORKS! will ensure the series ends on a high note.  Visit www.urgeworks.com  to find out more about this talented group of performers.

ARTreach events like these are designed to increase awareness and appreciation of the arts within the community.  Visit www.artreachonline.org to learn more. LaCenterra, Katy’s premier place to shop and play, is located at 23501 Cinco Ranch  Boulevard at Grand Parkway in Katy, Texas.  For information including center hours, upcoming events and directions, please visit www.lacenterra.com.  Information on Cinco Ranch and Newland Communities can be found at www.newlandcommunities.com

Katy Rotary members and National Honor Society Volunteers joined ARTreach for a special Day of Caring at the Brookwood Community featuring the international visual performance group URGEWORKS on Saturday, April 12th.

The Brookwood Community is an educational, residential, and entrepreneurial village for adults with functional disabilities. ARTreach organized the event as an opportunity to invite new volunteers to Brookwood to share an afternoon of music, dance and friendship with the citizens.
 
URGEWORKS presented their positive message through hip hop and took the community of Brookwood and the volunteers on an exciting journey that encouraged individuality, acceptance and understanding. 

Over twenty volunteers attended. “I had an awesome time today at the Brookwood Community,” said Eric Hornsby, National Honor Society Volunteer from Cinco Ranch High School “I learned a lot about myself and others. The time I spent today was very eye opening for me.” He added, “I felt appreciated by everyone, and I felt like I was everybody’s friend.”
Eric Hornsby of CRHS National Honor Society learned how easy it is to make a difference in his life and the lives of others by volunteering.

Visit www.artreachonline.org to learn more about ARTreach Days of Caring in the Community and other projects. Learn how you can get involved! Call 281-392-5341.  ARTreach Days of Caring Sponsorships are $250- $500 and help to raise awareness for the arts and the need for volunteers in our community. Thank you for your support!

    
This ARTreach Day of Caring at Brookwood Community was made possible thanks to the Katy Rotary Club, The Capshaw Family and The Charles Schwab Charitable Fund, and Janice Ratliff and Ron Johnson of Bernstein Realty.

Katy TX- The Katy Family YMCA and ARTreach are partnering to introduce Art and Business combined with Health and Fitness in a unique Summer Camp benefiting youth in the Fort Bend County Probation Department’s Project L.E.A.P. (Leadership- Education-Action Program).

This is a one week day camp serving youth at risk ages 14-17 that will introduce graphic design and screen printing combined with marketing techniques associated with the wholesale tee-shirt industry. The ARTreach Art and Business Program will teach skills for living in the real world and is taught by professional artist, Danny Russo of Young Audiences of Houston. The ARTreach program at the Katy Family YMCA is made possible thanks to the YAH Assistance Fund, Fort Bend Partnership for Youth and Tradition Bank of Katy.

Project LEAP students will learn basic screen printing techniques and be given an opportunity to create an original line of tee-shirts and fitness totes. They will learn how to cut and produce stencils and burn images using lamps and light-sensitive emulsion on silk screens to create a number of designs that can be reproduced and sold.  The Katy Family YMCA will be supporting additional camp activities for the youth focused on health and fitness. This ARTreach Program at the Katy Family YMCA is designed to incorporate health, education, business and the arts to promote productive, creative and healthy lifestyles.

The winning tee shirt design created during the camp program will be donated the 2008 Partners of Youth Campaign and sold on tee-shirts an fitness bags to support programs serving children at risk in the Katy and Fort Bend County area.

The ARTreach Art & Business Program at the Katy Family YMCA is made possible thanks to the Fort Bend Partnership for Youth, Young Audiences of Houston Assistance Fund –Imagine. Create. Educate. Tradition Bank of Katy- Local answers.

Michael Averitt of Morton Ranch Junior High is pictured with ARTreach Teaching Artist Vickie Mcmillan. Michael is being presented with a 2008 ARTreach Program Award issued through the KEYS ARTreach Program. Michael won a six week art and journaling course called “Out of Africa” for his painting of an African Elephant selected and exhibited in the ARTreach Gallery currently on display at Tradition Bank.

About the Program
 
“Out of Africa” is an ARTreach Cultural Arts Program taught by Professional Teaching Artist Vickie McMillan. This 6 week art course combines Watercolor lessons with stories, music, photos and facts that details Vickie’s own journey as a missionary and an artist through Africa. Vickie is teaching applied watercolor techniques while inspiring students to paint African wildlife, Sunsets, indigenous trees. She introduces creative writing and journaling techniques that explore the unique customs associated with the African people and their culture. The students will create a world tour portfolio and watercolor journal that traces their own unfolding and imaginative journey through this unique country and culture.

“Out of Africa” supports educational objectives aimed at social studies, world geography and fine arts. The program also supports ARTreach objectives aimed at self awareness, self expression, environmental awareness, cultural differences and social compassion.

This artist offers a similar program based on her Art Journey through the Philippines, Mexico and Thailand. Her programs are also available for professional staff development.