Way back in 1998, I was walking down the street in Carytown, and one of my friends, Marlene Paul, approached me with the most glowing and excited look. She was giddy with excitement as she introduced me to her friend, Kathleen Lane, and told me all about a new non-profit venture they planned — ART 180.
For Marlene, It was huge. She had been working in various industries, trying to find her meaningful role in this world. And you could just tell — after many years of searching, she had found it. Her idea: go into the most impoverished, violent, and poor parts of Richmond. Find kids who desperately wanted to find hope, and give it to them — through art. Let them express themselves in a way that maybe they never had. Let them see that there work and ideas were important….that they were important and that even one person can make a difference.
Fast forward, almost 10 years….and ART 180 is a thriving non-profit. Probably one of Richmond’s most popular and successful for being around for such a short period of time.
After volunteering at several Art 180 events, I had my own children and drifted away a bit from Marlene. But ART 180 just kept getting stronger and stronger. Reaching more kids, and endlessly thinking of new ways to reach them and new projects for the kids to conquer. Recently, ART 180 was awarded a HUGE (for them anyway) $200,000 grant from Bank of America. They just published a great cookbook with great but simple recipes from Richmond’s art and culinary community with classy and absurd recipes .
And, the piece de resistance is coming up on November 29th — Art Karma, a silent auction, party, and celebration of all ART 180 has achieved. For $5 you get entrance to one great little party with some of the most creative people in Richmond. While you are add it, sample food from the cookbook, buy beautiful art, including offerings from artists Cindy Newschwander, my husband, John M. Holland, and Fiona Ross and 7 quilts by the talented Heilbron Rushing-Cooper.
As for Marlene, she is glowing once again, this time, due to motherhood…..she’s due a week after Art Karma with her own little bundle of joy. And life in Richmond, has again come full circle.