It is overwhelming to me the sense of unity and spirit which have evolved from the annual Chair-ish The Kids Art Auction set this year for Thursday, March 25 at the Loveless Barn in Nashville, Tennessee. Benefiting our amazing Kids On The Block program, this is my second year to work on this remarkable event which has brought to us amazing artists and patrons like Andee Rudloff, Frist Center for the Visual Arts’ community relations manager. She shared with us recently her insightful perspective on the power of art impacting change.
“I am so proud of our artists who are uniting to help teach tolerance and acceptance while promoting a healthy community through the Chair-ish The Kids Art Auction. In an ideal world, no child would suffer and charitable instincts and education would prevail with global acceptance of all different types of people. Our community is so lucky to have Kids On The Block to help make our world a better place,” Rudloff said.
Andee has done an amazing job in helping to recruit a collection of impressive and award-winning artisans we are calling our “invitational artists” including “Lost Boys” photographer Jack Spencer, concrete artist Sherri Warner Hunter, media dimensional artist Don Evans, photographer Stacey Irvin and crayon sculptor Herb Williams.
Today, Don Evans and his wife, Sheryl, came by our office to deliver his creation and we had the opportunity to visit with them. His art explodes with connection and happiness and something playful. Clearly, I am no art critic. This is just how his art struck me. (Check it out for yourself in our Silent Auction Preview photos on our Facebook page – STARS (Students Taking A Right Stand) Nashville or http://www.facebook.com/STARS-Students-Taking-A-Right-Stand-Nashville/.
What struck me even more was Don’s ability to make connections with those of us whom he met. He truly wanted to know about each of us….why we chose our line of work, were we happy with our work. How often do you meet someone genuinely interested in what makes you tick? He cared. This kindness immediately brought to my mind the beautiful words of Andee Rudloff I mentioned above. And, she is completely right that “our community is so lucky to have Kids On The Block to help our world a better place.” Our community is equally as “so lucky” to have artists, like Don, Stacey, Sherri, Jack and Herb who care about keeping our community one of acceptance and kindness.
And it struck me how much unity is created when true care is involved. This event is so much more than a fundraising event. It is a community-care raising event.
As Don and Sheryl were leaving he asked me if I was an artist. I stumbled. “Well, I do like to paint.” I felt sort of like a ding-dong for even saying this. I quickly added, “My children really love to paint. Their works are incredible to me.” He nodded. “Yes, each child is a great artist. Somewhere along the way it gets shaken out of them. It is my job to shake back.”
Please join us on March 25th. Don will be there.
