ART MAKES YOU ART CAMP. First one in Riga, Latvia.

Hello friends!

This is it – the culmination of our hard work; together we believed, and now we’re making it a reality!

A few months ago, we shared our vision about our art camps – special programs where children could go and be exposed to various forms of art in a safe and welcoming environment. A place where they could be free to escape the challenges in their lives, and for a brief moment, explore their creativity without any walls – emotional, mental, or financial.

We’re delighted to announce that the first Art Makes You art camp is going live – in beautiful Riga, Latvia!

Thirty children (twenty more than our original plan!) will be participating in a two-day art program coached and mentored by ten amazing artists at the beautiful Latvian National Library. The program will cover different forms of art like photography, crafts, and much more (full list below), giving our children insights into these fields and providing the foundations they need to follow their interests. The children will also learn about the library itself, a prominent symbol of education and the arts, enjoy dinner on the top floor, and be treated to a play at the Latvian National Theater. We couldn’t be more excited!

Photo by Indriķis Stūrmanis

All of this couldn’t have happened without a team of friends believing in our vision and making this a reality. Our heartfelt thanks goes to:

·      Antra Savlevica for her organizational skills

·      The Latvian National Library for providing accommodations

·      Our talented artist volunteers making a difference in the lives of thirty young teenagers: 

o   Andris Bulis (Acting)

o   Agnese Rakovska (Music)

o   Anna Panna (Anna Birmane) (Culinary Arts)

o   Andris and Inguss Reizenbergi (Beverage Crafts)

o   Miks Dukurs (Music)

o   Evita Staģīte (Fashion Design)

o   Līga Liberte (Dance)

o   Andrejs Zavadskis (Photography)

o   Lindards Augusts (Fashion Arts)

We’re also exploring how we can support the children beyond the art camps in the field of art that they choose. We’ll keep you updated!

Thank you for your generous support – we’re making this vision a reality.

 We hope you’re as excited about this as we are – our next stop for art-camps: Bellevue, Washington in November 7 & 8th working with Atlantic Street Teens!    And Kharkiv, Ukraine December 5th, 6th, 12th and 13th, where we have invited children from families of fallen soldiers and refugees. 

Thank You All! 

Art Makes You

We did it!!!

Hi Everyone!

Fall is always a beautiful time. Leaves are changing, children are back in school, and there’s a crispness in the air that sends a gentle sign of change. We couldn’t be more inspired about how seasons tell us about new times & opportunities. At Art Makes You, this change is upon us as well.

It’s been a week since our amazing fundraising event in Bellevue. As we look back, three things happened:

You saw…the generosity of artists like Barbie Liefert, Brian Monroney, Eva Stephanus, Maja Arnold, as they shared their passions with us through their craft.

You heard…the impact of art as Sandis Kondrats , Tony Simpson and Olga Rublinetska shared how sculpture, photography, & drama respectively gave them a voice and vision, and allowed them to impact lives, starting with their own.

You gave…to our cause of helping children discover their voice by exposing them to the power of creativity through various forms of art.

We are humbled by the results:

·       70 individuals representing over 20 companies attended the event

·       80% of all artwork was successfully auctioned

·       $12,000 was raised, exceeding our stated goal of $10,000!

It all happened because of you - our friends, sponsors, and supporters.

We couldn’t be more grateful – thank you!

The photos from the event came out beautifully – you can find them below.  Thank you Mallory MacDonald! 

Changing our focus, & getting to work

With our generous donors and supporters putting resources in our hands, we’re now turning our hearts and hands to the work that needs to be done!

Our Art Camps will serve fifteen kids in three countries (45 together) with one mission – to expose them to different types of art.  We are working with Atlantic Street Center children here in Seattle, with SOS Families from Riga in Latvia and fallen soldier families children who have been relocated due to the war situation in Ukraine.  We expect them to be engaged, delighted, & inspired by what they see and do – and that’s just the beginning! 

Please stay connected with us as we share their stories on our blog and Facebook pages.

We can’t thank you all enough for your incredible support – please share our story with your friends and families…we couldn’t be more excited about the future!

We are thankful to our amazing supporters! 

Art Makes You Sponsors 

Xoxo,

Inese & Eva.

www.artmakesyou.com 

Speech by Olga Rublinestska for Art Makes You 3rd Fundraising Event on September 19th.

/Olga Rublinetskas speech for Art Makes You/ 

Good evening.

When I was in my second to last year at the University of Washington studying psychology, I decided that I wanted to get more involved in the community and try something different. That’s when an advisor connected me with Circle of Friends for Mental Health, a fantastic organization that offers various arts classes for individuals with mental illnesses and those recovering from addiction. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I agreed to become a drama teacher, considering my drama experience was limited to an improv class in 7th grade and a summer camp at Seattle Children’s Theatre. Nevertheless, I agreed to teach drama weekly at a psychiatric community center in Wallingford and to this day, it has probably been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. After a few months of charades, improv games, and short skits, my regular students and I decided to write a short skit - what became known as “The Healing of Arnold.” One of my students did a killer Arnold Schwarzenegger impression, so obviously he had to be a character pioneering an intense physical work-out as a sort of “cure” for mental illness. Pretty soon, Obama made it into the script, along with some free-spirited hippies who challenged Arnold to access his internal strength through yoga and meditation. Oh, and naturally there was a dance number to the YMCA in it too. The play was ridiculous, to say the least, but who was I to stand in the way of their creativity? After weeks of rehearsals and crazy plot alterations, we performed it at the center and it was a smash hit. After we performed it and were parting ways for the day, the star of the skit, Arnold, came up to me and said something that I think will stay with me for a long time to come. He said, “Thank you for letting us be ourselves.”

I let him and my other students be themselves? What does that mean? And why is it something to be so grateful for? These are thoughts that went in and out of my mind for days after he said this. I soon realized, though, that for my students, our drama group, which took up a mere hour out of the week, was special because it allowed them to open up and express themselves completely, without fear of judgment. It was a place of comfort and solace in a world where their voices were often shunned and ignored.

This is what art has the potential to do for people, for everyone - regardless of age or mental ability. Whether it be drama, or painting, or writing, or playing music, these crafts allows people to be themselves in a world that often encourages conformity. It allows them to discover themselves and build a stronger voice, which is nothing short of empowering. 

And you know who really needs this, even more so than the Arnold of my play? Kids. Whose lives and voices have been largely torn apart and silenced by a horrible war. Kids, whose greatest supporters may not be around for them anymore. Kids, who are hurt and confused, and have no real way to express these emotions or even begin to try and resolve them. Allowing kids to create something of their own that they can be proud of is empowering and strengthening. It is therapeutic while creatively stimulating. I have no doubt that we’ve all experienced these same feelings as kids and adults - after drawing a picture, or composing a piece of music, or writing a poem, or whatever other piece of work you’ve created in your lifetime that you’ve been proud of.

I wholeheartedly believe that it’s our collective responsibility as compassionate human beings and as supporters of the next generation to allow these kids to experience these same feelings. It’s these same feelings and experiences that will provide them with the strength they need to heal, to develop their own unique voices, and to live happy, fulfilling lives.

Thank you. 

What's happening on September 19th!

We are getting very excited about our upcoming event! 

To get you all warmed up, we would like to share a couple of things that will be happening during the evening. 

We are very proud to present local wines from Lauren Ashton Callers! 

The fantastic musician guitar player and composer  Brian Monroney !!! 

We are having Barbi Leifert join us with her contemporary painting “Vibrations”, a 40x30" mixed media on canvas that will be put up for silent auction!

The painting will be accompanied by a special DANCE by two professional dancers, Amelia Claire Bolyard and Ian Howe, choreograped by Barbi Leifert. Make sure to bring you dancing shoes to join them! ;) 

We are also having Sandis Kondrats, an accomplished sculptor and author of a book telling his remarkable story!  

Our very own Eva Stephanus will have her hand painted garments demonstrated for the auction.  

Inese Photography 

A silent auction with opportunities to purchase several items, including your very own art piece by Maja Arnold design. 

MARA Threads a fantastic hand crochet garments and much more! 

We are very lucky to have our amazing photographer Mallory capturing all the great moments of this event!

And the fantastic Story Tellers Genevieve Pierson and Jen Utley is going to video all the fun happening. 

Don’t forget the fabulous company of our special guests, as well as great food and wine! 

Make sure to purchase your Event Ticket! 

BIG thank YOU to our amazing sponsors and supporters! 

See you all on September 19th! 

Inese & Eva 

Save The Date!

Hello Art Makes You friends!

We hope you are enjoying the beautiful Seattle summer that we are having.

We are delighted to extend an invitation to you, our special supporters, as we share exciting news about a new initiative - the Art Makes You Art Camp Program! 

We’ve designed the five-day camps to focus on introducing various forms of art to children. They will have the unique opportunity to get first-hand experiences and learn to create artwork from professional artists across a wide range of fields like photography, painting, drawing, and much more. Even more exciting, we’ll be holding these across three countries - the United States, Latvia, and Ukraine.

We’ll be sharing more details at our upcoming 3rd Art Makes You fundraiseron Saturday, September 19th @ 7:00 pm!

Please save the date! 

We believe that creativity and art have the power to help children see beyond their circumstances. We believe that by exposing them to various forms of art and supporting their creativity, we set them free to discover their unique voices. We believe that with the right influence, this process sparks the beginning of a journey of fulfillment and purpose in the lives of the children we serve! 

Details, details, details! 

The event will be held at one of the most celebrated galleries in Bellevue, the Gunner Nordstrom Gallery. The guest list is already filling up, and our team is planning what will be an enchanting evening -  one that will be fun and memorable in our very own Art Makes You way!

As always, all the proceeds from the event will go to support an amazing cause. Join us for a special evening that will not only be entertaining, but meaningful!

Want to help? We’re glad you asked! :) 

We’re always on the lookout for people that are passionate about our cause and want to help. Interested? Please reach out at inese@artmakesyou.com!

We’re looking forward to seeing you all very soon. Please follow us on Facebook and on our blog (www.artmakesyou.com) for more information!

Also, if you haven't seen this yet, here is a video story how Art Makes You came about! VIDEO STORY 

Next time you will be receiving info and updates from our new email addresses -  Inese@artmakesyou.com and Eva@artmakesyou.com

 Love,

Inese & Eva,

Founders, Art Makes You. 

Getting To Work

Sveiki visiem/Привіт всім! (Hello Everyone!)

 What a journey it’s been since we saw each other at our 2nd Annual Art Makes You event!  We exceeded our fundraising goals, raised the adoption funds for Ingus & the Boothby family (including a VERY generous match from a special supporter) & gained a new set of friends! Words can’t express how grateful Eva and I are for your support. Thank you so much!

 Getting to Work

 After the event, we got to work right away.  We split up our tasks: I (Inese) would head to Latvia and visit some of the sites during a scheduled vacation. Eva would reach out to the families of the fallen soldiers.

Here are our stories!

 Calling the Ukrainian families – Eva

 I was excited to call the families and share that we successfully raised the funds they needed. At the same time, I knew it was going to be difficult. Why? I realized just how fortunate I have been to have my loved ones around me, and that the people I was going to be talking with recently lost someone they loved.  I breathed deeply, and picked up the phone.

 I spoke with all the three of the wives. Words can’t express just how emotionally overwhelming the calls were. These women - so broken, so emotionally and physically exhausted, were so incredibly touched by the generosity and attention we shared with them. I was deeply moved as I heard their responses to our gifts, thoughts, and prayers. It was simple, but powerful:

“Я отримала гроші. Хочу висловити Вам подяку в такий важкий для нас час. Дай Бог Вам здоровя за вашу доброту.”

“I received the money. I would like to express our gratitude for your help during such difficult times. May you be blessed for your kindness.”

One of the families in Ukraine sent us a thank you photo. 

 I am keeping in touch with the families through texts and phone calls. What you all did for them is immeasurable – and they are incredibly grateful!

 Going Home, Touching Hearts – Inese

 During my recent trip to Latvia, I met with Amanda Grase from the Labdaribas Lapa charity organization, a special group that helps families with children during difficult times. We shared our stories and passion for serving children (what a great time we had!) and agreed that the best way to help is to organize experiences, rather than supply gifts. Our brainstorming led to an “Art Camp” idea, an experience spread across our three countries - Latvia, Ukraine, and the USA. We talked about giving children art supplies, connecting them with artists and teachers, and helping them learn more about visual and performing arts.  By providing them with the resources they need to create – we give their creativity wings…and who knows how high they will fly? That’s what Art Makes You is all about! I’ll keep you updated on the Art Camp planning – we’re working on doing this before Christmas!

 Keeping our promise

 Eva and I are determined to keep our commitment to you – that every dollar raised goes to helping serve the children and families in need. We’ve maintained that commitment from the beginning and will continue to do so. We’re humbled to be in a position to help others and to have earned your trust.  On behalf of the families we serve and from the bottom of our hearts – thank you. 

What’s next?

We’ve started planning for our next event in September. With so many talented artists, designers, and creative friends among us, we’re exploring putting on a unique fashion show – something out of the ordinary that brings together our artistic talent in a fun way! We’re also working on an internationally coordinated Art Camp across Seattle, Ukraine, and Latvia. We can’t wait to share more with you!

 Make sure you follow us on Facebook, as well as on this blog to learn about all the latest crazy ideas we come up with. We’d love to hear your ideas on how we can make these events even greater! 

Talk with you soon!

Love,

Inese & Eva

 Photos from the event taken by Mallory MacDonald. For more info visit: www.mallorymacdonald.com

What are we supporting at the #2 Art Makes You Charity Event

   As many of you know, over 4,000 lives have been lost in the war happening in the southern and eastern parts of Ukraine.  Many of the fallen soldiers families have not received any support from the government, and are deeply affected in need of basic support.

It’s all about the children, and my friends from Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, America, and all around the world have refused to be distracted by the politics of the situation. We’re standing together in compassion for the affected children, and are doing what we can do support the children affected by the war.

These photos are collected from several families we have contacted to reach out and help. More detailed info to follow. 

Behind the amazing photos of our Art Makes You t-shirts

Sometimes things just happen for a great reason.  And so did this!  

My friend Agris from Latvia ordered several hand painted t-shirts created by our amazing artist Eva Stephanus.   Agris has a great sense of style, he loves and appreciates clothing that is unique and different.  Since I know Agris for ever, I could pretty much ask him anything... and so I did.  He agreed to be our Art Makes You model with his beautiful friend Katrina ( I think you can sense the spark in the photos ;)). 

I am also lucky to know a top photographer in Latvia, Andrejs Zavadskis http://andreart.net . Andrejs works in advertisement and is traveling the world to photograph amazing weddings.  

From this February we are raising money to support several families in America who are planing or in a process for international adoption from Latvia and Ukraine.  These are orphans 6 years and older, who most likely will never be adopted in their countries.  The expenses for adoption are about $35 thousand dollars!!!   And for a families who has already hosted orphans, adoption is their next step.  They have fallen in love with the children and want to bring them in their families for good.   We want to help.  And so can You, by Donating or purchasing Art Makes You t-shirts.  We ship worldwide.  Every single dollar/Euro is going towards the cause. 

One of the family who are in the process of adopting Ingus from Latvia story read here: http://www.bringingingushome.blogspot.com

I am always so grateful to know people who want to be a part of something that is my biggest passion - Create Art and help children in need. 

Thank you Agris, Katrina and Andrejs for awesome work! 

And thank You Eva Stephanus for creating these masterpieces.  Every t-shirt is hand painted, every one is different then the other. 

Looking back

As we are preparing for the next charity event in April, I wanted to post couple photos of our last one in September.  

Art Makes You Charity Event / Inese's bday party!

Hello from Art Makes You!

Hope everyones New Year has started well.  New year, new goals. Life goes on! 

We are beginning to prepare for our next charity event on April 4th.  Please SAVE THE DATE!  It is going to be a FUN event! I will also be celebrating my BIRTHDAY!!! :)))  Why not come together, have a great time seeing everyone and the same time make a big difference in someones lives. 

We have several ideas in mind to who we want to contribute this time around. One of them will be to the families that are in the process of adoption, but could use some financial help towards the adoption process. 

As some of you may already know, we were hosting an orphan from Latvia for a month thought Project 143 http://www.projectonefortythree.org  As I got to meet several of the families here in US, I learned that the adoption process is quite expensive, as well as the travel expenses are not small. We decided to help several families who are ready to adopt, but could use some help. 

One of the families I got to meet and get to know better is amazing Boothby family who are in the process to adopt Ingus from Latvia.  Dad is in military and mom is raising their own two children. They hosted Ingus for the second time and is considering him as their own son.  I was at the airport when they had to say goodbye to Ingus, it was very hard to explain him why he needs to go back again as the adoption process is not as easy and Ingus is only ten years old. Here is Jenessa's blog with the adoption process updates.  http://www.bringingingushome.blogspot.com

At this point, we are starting to gather auction items and would be VERY HAPPY if you have anything to offer?  Please contact us through email, Facebook or call us. 

This is our last years "Look back and see what we have done" post. 

http://www.artmakesyou.com/blog/2015/1/5/what-have-we-done-so-far

We have still T-shirts available in our online shop as well. http://www.artmakesyou.com/shop/

Please share this information to any of your friends and family who would like to be a part of our Art Makes You family! 

Art Makes You is going Bigger and Beeter then before. Growing and learning. 

Thank you and have a fantastic 2015!!!!!  

Inese and Eva  

ART MAKES YOU

What have we done so far?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

  We wanted to look back and see what we have accomplished this past year and share it with you.  

Our main goal since September was to make sure we can make Christmas brighter for "Strazdes" orphanage.  By selling Eva's designed shirts and having our very first charity event, we made it happen, and more then that. 

Click on the gallery.  Photos taken by my Dad and my awesome friend Antra, she was making sure every child gets what he wanted from Santa and delivered in person. 

This was my second year as oficial photographed for amazing organization Toys for Kids based in Seattle and started by Rick Rizzs & Dave Henderson. http://www.rickstoysforkids.org/  Click on the gallery. 

With my friends help, (thank you ladies) ;)  we also were able to gather lots of clothing for kids at Atlantic Street Center in Seattle. 

We also had a chance to support Labdarības Lapa.  This is a great organization in Latvia started and organized by amazing Amanda Grase. It is simply a Facebook group page that helps connect people with families struggling for various reason, mostly single mothers with children. 

It has been a great start for Art Makes You.  We are happy to use our talents and time to make it happen.  We have big plans for 2015. Our next Charity event will happen in April in Seattle. We are starting to work on new artwork and gathering items for silent auctions and inviting YOU all to be part of our Art Makes You family. 

On a personal note, we have been hosting our awesome host child from Latvia's orphanage. He is a 17 year old fashionista. It's been so great to have him here. This is our last week together before he needs to return back to Latvia.  I am planing to write a separate blog about our experience and really encourage more families to consider hosting orphans.  If you'r talking about "Making a difference in someones life" THIS IS TRULY THE CASE.  More about it in the next blog. 

HAPPY AND HEALTY 2015!   MAY THIS NEW YEAR BRINGS ALL THE CRAZY COLORS TO YOUR LIFE!  :))) 

Inese 

Thank You!

We want to thank you all who have supported our project "Through art to hearts". 

There is so much to be thankful for! Your generosity has already made a difference in many childrens' lives. 

Our journey in helping orphans has just begun and we have big plans for the upcoming year. Our next charity event will come up on April. Follow us and spread the word. Happy Thanksgiving from Artmakesyou team! 

"Silent Night" Kids T-shirt

Charlie is VERY PROUD to present his friends Markuss from Latvias orphanage screen printed drawing on t-shirt! It is on sale now! Every $ goes to our charity for orphanage. A CHILD CAN SUPPORT A CHILD THROUGH ARTS! 
Click for more photos and info here:
http://www.artmakesyou.com/shop/silent-night-kids-t-shirt