Home Art Programs   Teaching     Artists    Volunteer Opportunities    Donation Opportunities   An Evening to Remember   Enrollment   Contact Us Arts From The Heart Press Releases April 2006 Arts From The Heart Students Create Exhibit for Library    An art exhibit of Vietnamese Water Puppets, created by sixty 3rd -5th grade Arts From The Heart students, is currently on exhibit at the Wimberley Village Library. The colorful exhibit is being displayed in the children’s library room throughout April.    This special exhibit is one of several that have resulted from Arts From The Heart and the Wimberley Village Library joining efforts to provide local youth with educational experiences in the cultural arts. Prior Arts From The Heart student exhibits at the library include ceramic animal sculptures, English tunnel books and artistically designed book covers.    Monica Rasco, library youth specialist and an artist herself, taught the workshops over a two-day period. Prior to making the puppets the students learned about the Vietnamese culture and were treated to the puppet show “Toad Visits The Emperor”, an adaptation of a Vietnamese folktale. Puppeteers were students Ria Hodgson and Samuel, Melody, and Suzie Valadez. For information about AFTH workshops, field trips, and student art exhibits call Valerie Meek at 847-8500. April 2006 …OF TRAINS AND ANGELS* Pat O’Bryan, musician and CEO of Portable Empire, donates $3,250 to Arts From The Heart. By Valerie Meek    When Pat O’Bryan, creator and CEO of the highly successful Portable Empire internet marketing business recently gave an unexpected donation of $3250 to Arts From The Heart (AFTH), there was more than funding for which to be grateful. The seemingly overnight success story of this artist-turned-angel to the non-profit organization is actually the culmination of his lifetime journey through the creative process.    O’Bryan’s donation came about after his latest Portable Empire Un-Seminar immediately sold out with a full waiting list. He decided to sell one additional ticket and announced online, “All the money goes to a very cool charity – Arts From The Heart, right here in Wimberley.” With an ensuing bidding war to win the coveted extra space, the ticket sold for $3250.    In the lean years when the grass roots AFTH had nothing but dreams, determination, and passion, Pat O’Bryan regularly volunteered his fine musicianship skills to teach guitar and songwriting to teenagers. Back then he was cash-broke, talent-rich, and 40-something. He also performed for AFTH’s special concerts held at the elementary school, reaching audiences of a few hundred children each time. It was not the easiest of circumstances. He was a mentor in an organization with little funding and large numbers of students with unbridled enthusiasm and hunger for the arts.    Those were indeed the lean years; lean for the upstart AFTH, lean for O’Bryan as a musician despite the respect he had earned in the regional music business, and lean in the cultural art opportunities for youth. Some things change.    O’Bryan moved on down the track after AFTH gained the funding ability to issue deserved modest honorariums to its teaching artists. He took his music on a European tour and was received with wide success. Return tours established him as a sought after musician overseas. In 2003, he signed a production/distribution agreement with ZYX Records, a large German independent label. ZYX distributes his six CD’s worldwide.    After discovering his audience in Europe, O’Bryan returned home to Wimberley and began focusing his writing abilities on developing an internet marketing business to teach beginners how to create their own online businesses. Rather than writing songs and producing CD’s as he had for years, he wrote e-books and produced audiotapes that became the economic engine for what has become a highly successful multi-faceted marketing business. Within 18 months, he created 40 different products and started a global publishing empire.    With his subscribers requesting more information, O’Bryan responded by developing his Portable Empire Un-Seminars. His live seminars consist of a respected panel of top online professionals who provide one-on-one mentoring to the participants.    O’Bryan, by the way, has been fortunate to have his own angel on the ground over the years. Betsy Blaydes, a speech pathologist by profession, has been the muse beside him, always encouraging him to stay the course with his creative pursuits. Betsy was also a frequent volunteer in AFTH’s early years, giving her time to the visual art programs while Pat focused on the music workshops. *story title taken from Pat O’Bryan’s recording “…Of Trains and Angels” Music Lovers Tip:    For those who have not heard Pat O’Bryan’s music recordings, and if you enjoy blues based music, you might start with “Of Trains and Angels”, recorded in 1998. His lyrics and music are some of the most beautifully composed I have ever heard. As a purely lay-person, I’ll just describe it as the kind you put on and suddenly find yourself removed to a far away and very good place. VM    Information about Pat O’Bryan and future dates for his Portable Empire Un-Seminars TM can be found on www.portableempire.com or by emailing pat@patobryan.com His marketing books are scheduled for availability through Barnes & Noble and Amazon in April. Negotiations for hardback publication are underway with Morgan James of New York. Arts From The Heart is celebrating its 8th year of providing cultural art workshops, field trips, and student art exhibits for Wimberley youth. The501(c))(3) organization has never charged students to participate in any of its numerous programs and relies solely on donations to sustain its efforts. To learn about AFTH, to donate, or to volunteer write Arts From The Heart, PO Box 581, Wimberley, Texas 78676 or call 512-847-8500 April 2006 ”Wimberley Impressions” Show to feature Arts From The Heart Students Painting    This year’s Wimberley Institute of Cultures’s (WIC) Pie Social being held Sunday April 23 at the historic Wimberley Winters House from 2-5 is certain to be another “Norman Rockwell’ experience for the community. In addition to the multitude of delicious pies being delivered fresh from Wimberley home kitchens, organizers have once again planned a fun slate of wholesome activities for the annual community gathering.     A new addition to the event this year will be the “Wimberley Impressions” art show, displaying works by local artists. Headed up by Merry Krueger, the art will be sold at the pie social with the artists generously sharing a portion of their sales to help raise funding for WIC.    Featured in the art show will be a large collaborative oil painting by Arts From The Heart (AFTH) junior high students. Fresh and contemporary like the twenty teenagers who created it, the painting will be a unique addition to the art exhibit.    Although AFTH junior high students exhibit artwork at WIC’s Pie Social each year, this is the first time they have entered a collaborative piece. The painting was created in AFTH oil painting workshops taught by Wimberley Valley Art League members Betty Rhodes and Merry Krueger who have taught the students oil painting techniques in numerous workshops over the past two years. October 2005 CREATING ART FROM THEIR HEARTS Story by Jodi Tidwell    After seven years of service and hundreds of children attending, Wimberley’s Arts From the Heart is still beating strong.    Last week two groups of third, fourth and fifth grade Arts from the Heart students learned to mix their own colors of acrylic paints and then painted white ceramic tiles. The weekly classes, along with a weekly Jr. High level class and other activities geared to both older and younger students demonstrates the organizations goal to provide a fine art experience to the young people of the Wimberley community.    “I cannot believe the quality and professionalism they provide. It’s on an entirely different level of any children’s art group I’ve seen,” said parent volunteer Kelly Mann.    Mann and her family recently moved to Wimberley from California. Her 8-year-old son Ryan enjoys art and joined the program this year. He participated in a program in California that focused on arts and crafts activities rather than on creativity and learning. He is looking forward to more painting activities in the future with the program.    “I really like to paint and draw. I hope we get to do more fun stuff next week, “ he said.    Arts From the Heart encourages young Wimberley students to learn various artistic techniques from professional artists. Through interaction with these artists, the students learn more than technique, but also to explore the creative process and think outside the box.    Painting is one of the most popular activities for the students each year. Most children worked on painting their tiles for an hour before returning them to the artist instructor who will bake them and bring them back to next week’s meeting. Many students painted abstract designs, landscapes and still life paintings on their tiles. Fifth-grader Madison Duncan mixed her own colors to paint a large purple and gold sunflower.    “I love to paint, I get to show my feelings; this says I am happy,” she said.    Arts Education Coordinator and artist instructor, Kerry Christensen, began last week’s class with an explanation of the program’s beliefs and values. Creating a fun, artistic learning environment where children are free to express themselves without criticism is a top priority for AFTH. She explained this important rule to the children before they started their projects.    “We all create art from our hearts,” she said; “We don’t make fun of each other and we don’t criticize other’s art work even if it is different from yours.”    Thirteen-year-old volunteer Tess Allen believes this is one of the most important aspects of the program.    “Because there is no criticism from anyone you really learn to appreciate your own art without worrying about what someone else might say.”    Tess participated in Arts From the Heart during the third, fourth and fifth grade. She now enjoys drawing and painting in a school art class, and is interested in pursuing art as a career. She believes meeting professional artists helped her develop an appreciation for fine art.    “It is so cool to meet people that get to do this for a living,” she said. “I hope I am able to do that some day.”    Her mother, Terri Allen, is impressed with the after-school program because it exposes children to different kinds of creativity than a school art class would. Her third- grade twins Grace and Emma remembered the program from their sister’s involvement and were excited to register.    “They brought the application home on the first day for me to fill out right away; they were worried they might not get in,” she said.    The classes are limited in size and fill quickly each semester, but students are never turned away from the program. This semester there are 95 children participating in three different after school groups and 30 more students are on a waiting list for the spring semester. Applications are coming in daily according to AFTH founder and Executive Director Valerie Meek. The group also sponsors occasional workshops during school hours so that more children are able to participate.    Bowen Intermediate School Principal Linda Land believes AFTH offers an excellent learning opportunity for children in the community.    “The kids love it, the parents love it, and the quality of the artists who volunteer is simply amazing,” she said.    Bowen does not have an art class, but incorporates art, theater and music into the curriculum mandated by the State of Texas. For many of the children, such as third-grader Collin Mims, that is not enough. He was happy his parents signed him up for the program because he loves art but doesn’t have much time for it during school.    ”Sometimes my teacher lets me draw when I finish my work or have a break,” he said.    This is precisely why Meek founded Arts From the Heart in l998. Scudder Elementary School had no visual art program and Bowen Intermediate School had just lost its art program due to funding cuts when she moved here with her family. Her beliefs about the importance of the arts for children gave her the idea for creating a program. With the encouragement of school administration as well as former Wimberley View editor Louie Bond she created a pilot program for the elementary school.    “It was absolutely clear that this void needed to be filled. We really wanted to bring art back to the children of Wimberley,” Meek said.    The success of this pilot program with children and parents impressed the community and helped to create a broad base of support for the organization.    “The kids loved it and the artists were all extremely willing to share their time and talent,” Meek said.    By l999, AFTH had committed to providing free weekly after school mentoring through the arts to third through eight graders. They also offer cultural art assemblies, field trips, and student art exhibits. In later years, AFTH expanded with the help of advisory member, Carl Lasner, through a partnership with the Performing Arts Center in Austin to give Wimberley teenagers an opportunity to experience professional ballet, theatre and music in a performance hall environment. Through this partnership, complimentary tickets and transportation are provided to a few select concerts. Often, when the show is over, these older students are invited to the stage to speak with the professional performers.    The AFTH Board of Directors is committed to its policy to not charge for participation in any of its programs so that all students, regardless of circumstances, have the opportunity to attend. They are funded through private donations and fundraising events. More than one hundred and fifty community members and parents support the program by volunteering as artist helpers, providing snacks, or volunteering in other ways.    AFTH also presents the Wimberley Valley’s elegant fundraising gala, “An Evening to Remember” that offers fine dining and dancing. Believers in arts education have shown their support by making this an extremely successful fundraising event according to last year’s gala chair, Gina McClure. The organization will host next year’s limited space event on Feb. 25, 2006.    AFTH is open to children in the Wimberley area from all local schools including home-schoolers. It is a 501 c 3 non-profit organization. For more information, to donate, or to volunteer for Arts From the Heart, please contact President Pat Appleman or Executive Director Valerie Meek at 847-8500. September 2004 ARTS FROM THE HEART INUNDATED WITH REQUESTS    For any parents and children not aware of the art cut backs before the school year started, they are well aware now. Although Arts From the Heart (AFTH) after school workshops for third through eighth graders have always filled rapidly, this year is reminiscent of the almost overwhelming response the organization received when it first started in 1998 and arts curriculum in the schools was severely anemic. Within a few days of their workshop applications being made available, 92 students had enrolled and AFTH organizers are anticipating that enrollment requests will continue to pour in over the next two weeks. The organization has expanded their services to meet the greater need.    “This shows the importance that Wimberley families place and most importantly, the desire students have for arts education and opportunities for creative expression,” states AFTH Executive Director, Valerie Meek. “Fortunately, we anticipated there would be an increased need for our services this year due to the district art cut backs and began making plans to expand last spring to prepare for it. Over the past several years, we have been able to accommodate every student who applied to our arts programs and we are committed to doing our best to make that possible again this year.”    “It is very important, however, for the general public to realize that art enrichment programs do not fully meet the needs of students to be properly or fully educated in the cultural arts and should not be viewed as a substitute for this. We encourage parents to take their children to museums, plays, art exhibits, dance performances, and concerts as often as possible. Finances need not be an issue as there are no-admission family nights at museums, many free quality outdoor concerts, festivals, or plays in Wimberley or surrounding cities, and libraries with selections of books and tapes encompassing all of the cultural arts.”    Meek commends Dr. Strauss, school principals, and the school board for building up the arts in the regular school curriculum for the past several years and knows they are extremely disappointed that cut backs were necessitated this year due to lack of funding. I trust we will see more art curriculum return to the classrooms as soon as funding is available.” She does note that KAP High School, which also struggles with funding issues, is maintaining their excellent offerings in the arts.    AFTH has never charged students tuition for instruction or fees for materials in their art programs over the past six years nor does it receive tax money from the district. They have provided services to literally hundreds of youth over the years. The organization relies solely on donations and fund raising to sustain its on-going efforts. In addition to art teachers and materials, students are provided with snacks. The non profit organization established its tradition of not charging to insure that all children wishing to participate were able to do so regardless of family financial circumstances.    In addition to the teaching artists, a low student-adult ratio is maintained in each workshop so that all students receive the attention they deserve. Volunteer non-artist adults assist at each workshop so that the artist is able to focus on the teaching. The organization has a large base of volunteers in their workshops who find it rewarding to be a part of mentoring youth through the cultural arts and hands-on art experiences.    AFTH will also hold workshops during school hours at Scudder Elementary and the Katherine Anne Porter High School at various times throughout the year. The organization will continue arranging student art exhibits at different local venues throughout the year and provide field trips to artist studios or galleries.    For the past two years and continuing this year, AFTH utilizes its partnership with the University of Texas Performing Arts Center to provide older students with tickets, chaperones, and transportation to major performance events in Austin. AFTH is usually able to distribute about 30 tickets for each performance. This year students will be treated to attending the Martha Graham Ballet, a jazz performance by Ornette Coleman, a dynamic recitation by Poet Laureate Billy Collins, and a concert performance by Peru Negro.    A few of the artists and classes lined up for the AFTH fall semester include Kerry Christensen teaching clay sculpture, Sally Brown teaching print making, Monica Rasco teaching arts in literature, Bill Meek teaching glass sculpture, Sally Jamieson teaching painting to music, Payton Lawrence teaching creative presentation in the culinary arts, Susan Biggs teaching art history, Lee “Eppy” Epstein teaching about Groucho Marx and Laurel & Hardy, and Char Moreland and Betty McGuire co-teaching painting.    To volunteer or become involved contact AFTH at PO Box 581, Wimberley, TX 78676 or call 847-8500. Website donated and maintained by icom-design - Wimberley, TX 78676