artCamp Abundance Every morning at artCamp before class we gathered “for porch time, setting each day’s tone talking about the meaning of abundance defined by artCampers as “a lot of” and “plenty”. We chatted about how we experience abundance at artCamp with “a lot of” art, friends, classes, teachers and interns plus “plenty of” fun, new experiences and happy times. |
Following two weeks of full-on artCamp, my spirit, like my wee totem visitor’s, is swooping over artCamp’s lush garden of abundant, pleasing, nourishing memories:
The memory of a first-time, 8-year-old artCamper exclaiming, “This is the best artCamp ever! I’d pay a thousand dollars a day to get to come here!” The memory of another young artCamper, frustrated with the difficulty of a project, being encouraged to “do her own thing” with the materials of her choosing and turning her creative day into a grand success.
The memory of afternoon treat time announced by an ice cream truck’s unmistakable looping music, driving up to artCentral’s porch steps where each camper, intern, teacher and the director patiently waited to take a turn selecting their favorite confection delivered through the generosity of artCentral’s newest Board member, Lee Pound, and her husband, Mike.
Memories of classes—sometimes serenely silent with campers in focused concentration; sometimes rather raucous with stories passed around as exuberant discoveries are made; sometimes lyrical with a class selected soundtrack softly streaming on a teacher’s or intern’s digital device.
All my memories are abundantly infused with deep appreciation to our teachers, interns and donors to whom I send my heartfelt gratitude.
Teachers: Deb Bentlage assisted by Mark Adams, Alexandra and Sam Burnside, Sandra Conrad, April Davis-Brunner, Teri Y. Diggs, Anne-Marie Gailey, Kahlie Jones, Tom Jones, Tiffany Kunkler, Sam Lewis, Jane McCaulley, Sarah Serio and Landon Stark.
Interns: Maddie Capps, Sydney Hartless, Diane Heisner, Allie Lambeth, Owen Platt, Emma Pound and Katie Watson.
Donors: K. D. & M. L. Steadley Trust, Bank of America, N. A., Trustee; Helen S. Boylan Foundation; Ruth I. Kolpin Foundation; S & S Computers; Walmart; Carthage Council on the Arts; Crackpot Pottery and Art Studio; Phoenix Fired Art; Sandy Higgins; Bren and Betsy Flanigan; Ida Ruth Locarni; Elliott and Ruth Potter; and Mike, Lee and Emma Pound.
Thank you each and all for creating artCamp’s abundance!