December 19, 2010
Artistic Abandon, a new endeavor that combines, friends, food, your favorite beverage, and fantastic art instruction, will hold a fundraiser to help Camp Holiday Trails, a camp in Charlottesville for special needs children. On December 19th at 1pm, artist Emily Page will walk everyone in the class step-by-step through creating his or her own painting of the Artistic Abandon painting, Moo Cow, in roughly a 2 hour period. The cost is $40 to attend, snacks and beverages will be provided, and children ages 8 and up are welcome. 25% of the $40 fee will be donated to Camp Holiday Trails.
Camp Holiday Trails’ (CHT) mission is to empower, encourage and educate children with chronic illnesses, their families, and healthcare professionals by providing year-round programming and camps aimed at personal growth. Page volunteered with the horse program from age 10 to age 18, at which time she became a camp counselor there for two years before moving out of state. Now that Page has returned to the Charlottesville area to help care for her father, who has frontotemporal dementia, she is eager to get back involved with CHT. “CHT helped shape me growing up. Seeing the courage of so many of the campers – some of whom were terminally ill – taught me about the value of life and of living in the moment. It also taught me that we are all stronger than we may think we are, and, if you’re determined and resourceful enough, ‘disabilities’ don’t have to define your life. CHT has to be the most inspiring place I’ve ever seen.” Unlike most other camps, CHT allows campers with various diagnoses to attend camp together, to see that they are not alone, that they could have a diagnosis that would challenge them in other ways, that they are loved, and that they have more physical and emotional strength than they or their parents thought.
“As an artist and now new business owner,” said Page, “I don’t have the extra money I’d like in order to donate to camp. Throwing one of our art parties is a great way to give money, but it will also remind people year-round of CHT every time they look at the painting they created and took home with them.” In the future, Page hopes to work with other charities, as well, but for now she says, “CHT is near and dear to me. It feels good to have it back in my life.”
Throughout the month of December (and possibly beyond), Artistic Abandon will not only continue to bring private art parties to peoples’ homes, it will also host art parties that are open to the public at its Nelson County location, 8350 Faber Road, Faber, VA 22938. These parties are as much about having fun as they are about learning to paint. Page starts with a blank canvas just like everyone at the party, then she breaks down the painting chosen for the event so that even someone who has never painted before comes away with a finished piece. At Artistic Abandon, they emphasize letting go and having fun and enjoying the company around you while you tap into the inner artist you may not have known you have. Also at its Nelson County location, Artistic Abandon will host several Family Fun Days. “We know that parents often have a hard time keeping the kids entertained while they’re out of school for the holidays. This is a great afternoon getaway where kids can paint on their own or with their parents. It’s also a great way to create a one-of-a-kind gift for grandparents,” says Page.
Art parties are ideal for anyone who has wanted to try painting, but cannot commit to several weeks of classes. They are also a great way to shake up the average dinner party, holiday party, bridal shower, fundraiser, office party, team building event, sorority party, red hat group meeting, child’s birthday party, girl scout or boy scout meeting, or just about any other event you can think of!
Prices for both private and public events vary depending on the painting you choose, but generally range from $25 – $40 per attendee. You can choose from Artistic Abandon’s selection of paintings, or they can create a painting specifically tailored to the theme of your event.
To reserve a space at the Camp Holiday Trails fundraiser or other parties open to the public, or to book your own private party, email ArtisticAbandon@gmail.com or call (434) 906-6210. For general information, visit www.ArtisticAbandon.com.
