Cardinal Services Expands Art Class To Include A Studio
Cardinal Services Expands Art Class To Include A Studio
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Dan Spalding-dspalding@timesuniononline.com
Cardinal Services Expands Art Class To Include A StudioSomething special – maybe even a little magical – began happening in April at Cardinal Services when officials decided clients could benefit from more than just a simple art class. Instead of having a small art room where disabled clients were directed to participate in specific art projects, they decided to establish a studio that would offer free-wheeling, independent artistic expression. Within months, RedBird Art Studio began to catch on so much they had to expand the studio twice and are now located in what had been a gym years ago. Today, every square inch of the studio is being used to let clients try their hand at a variety of art forms. There are opportunities to paint, draw, make jewelry and even design stuffed pillows packed with artistic flare as well as purses and painted furniture. A $25,000 start-up grant from AWS of Fort Wayne helped establish the studio. Next year, with the help of a $10,840 grant from a fund at Kosciusko County Community Foundation, the studio will expand to include ceramics. The grant money came from the William and Helen Dye Endowment Fund. Another $5,000 came from two other funds at the foundation. During a recent visit, the studio was bustling with clients and volunteers as music filled the air. One entire wall has become a display of the clients’ art while the other three walls are used to store supplies. In the middle are tables where the artistic works come alive. So far, it has produced dozens of new artists and hundreds of works of art and Cardinal picked up the support of four volunteers who wanted to specifically assist in the studio. In just a few months, the program has exceeded expectations with side benefits nobody expected. During a recent First Friday event in downtown Warsaw, some of the best art was featured at The Vic, which is part of One Ten Craft Meatery at 112 S. Buffalo St. By the end of the night, they had sold $1,500 of artwork. “We were shocked,” said Michelle Boxell, community relations manager for Cardinal. Boxell does not think the sales are just charitable acts, either. “I don’t think they’re buying it and putting it behind the couch,” Boxell said. “Honestly, I think they’re really buying pieces they love. They’re happy knowing the money is going to an artist with disabilities.” Other art is on display at several businesses and coffee shops as well as the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce and the Warsaw Community Public Library. “We’re getting so many calls now we have to be a bit cautious about our inventory,” said Vickie Lootens, director of development for Cardinal. On Tuesday and Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Cardinal, 504 N Bay Dr, Warsaw, will host a Holiday Art Boutique – an open house – for the public to browse and even buy, if they are so inclined. Michele Fanfair-Steury, the community integration coordinator who oversees the studio, says the idea of clients using their creativity caught on quickly. Fanfair-Steury, who has a background in recreational therapy and considers herself to be an artist, was hired specifically to run the studio. She said she was unsure what to expect when the endeavor began. “At first, they were just painting the outer edges, now they’re covering and throwing paint and mixing colors,” Fanfair-Steury said. “We do very little prompting any more for certain artists.” “I think artwork invites people to slow down and laugh a little bit … It’s a nice pick-me-up.” Sixty percent of the sales go to the clients and the remaining portion is used to purchase more art supplies. Clients are excited about the notion of making money and the fact people like the artwork. But more importantly, it’s having an impact on the clients. Nino Islas, a 20-year-old client, has risen to the top. Islas struggled with communication, but his art has given him a sense of confidence and is more willing to reach out and talking with people about his art, Boxell said. “He’s never done anything like that before,” she said. Another client, Andrew, was shy and rarely interacted with Boxell until one day in the art studio she asked if he liked it. He replied by signing the word yes, a move that floored her and others who were unaware that he could use sign language. “It’s been an eye-opener for the staff to see how much growth there is from the art,” Boxell said.
