Grand Valley Artist's Newsletter

VSA was highlighted in "GVA Highlights: A Monthly Publication of Grand Valley Artists Inc."
See what was said:

Message From VSA
Making a Difference Through the Arts
VSA arts of Michigan- Grand Rapids (“VSA”) is a unique organization with
a unique mission. VSA provides access to and opportunities in the arts to
people with disabilities. Through their programs, VSA helps people with
disabilities gain self-confidence, become more independent and to develop
their creative voice. Each year, through its 16 programs, VSA provides arts
classes and other arts opportunities to over 4,000 individuals in our community.

Meet Alex*
In VSA’s Graduated Art classes for adults with disabilities, each week
student-artists explore new and exciting art projects, from creating candle
holders decoupaged with tissue paper or fashioning necklaces and
bracelets to painting beautiful watercolors. After the class, Alex and
several of his friends started keeping the plastic CD covers that they
were sorting, which are normally thrown away. When asked, Alex told
us that he was saving the covers in order to glue tissue paper to them and
create mobiles- a program he learned about during the VSA art class!

Meet the Puppets
In their early childhood special education art class, VSA introduces children
to the wonderful world of puppets. Using the puppets, the artist
teaches emotions, gender – “is Happy (the puppet) a boy or a girl?”,
colors and appropriate touch—“can you gently shake Sad’s hand?” The
puppets are also used to aid with singing, to help learn attention skills
and communication.
“It’s wonderful seeing Marcus* responding to the humor—he LOVEs
it” raves classroom nurse Pat. Classroom aid Kate adds “It’s been so
positive for our kids. Such a nice change to the normal routine and
something they look forward to. Even Molly*, who is blind, really tunes
in. You can hear her singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star long after the
song is done.”

How Can You Help Other Budding Artists like Alex, Marcus and
Molly?
VSA is always looking for interested community members to become
partners in our organization. If you would like to learn more, VSA offers
Very Special Tours to the community to see our programs and organization
in action. These tours are one hour long and are free to attend- all
you need to do is call VSA to set-up your tour time!

Volunteer
Are you interested in volunteering? VSA needs help in many areas.
Classroom assistants work alongside teaching artists to help students in
their art classes. These volunteers are friends and mentors to our students.
Office assistants help in the many tasks that are needed to
successfully run the VSA offices on a day-to-day basis, from website
and blog updates to mailings to correspondence. Board members and
planning team members help VSA to set and to carry out the strategic
plan to help the organization fulfill the VSA mission. Through these
jobs, you will have a voice in the path that VSA takes into the future.

Teaching Artists
Are you interested in teaching for VSA? VSA is always looking for new
artists to lead our arts programs and classes. We are looking for good
teachers, who have a passion for helping others learn about the arts.
These paid positions provide a wonderful opportunity for the right artists
to pass their wonderful talents and gifts onto others. Right now, VSA
has an immediate need for new photography teachers! (There is an application
and interview process required to become a teacher for VSA.)

Advocate for VSA
VSA needs other voices to join with them. Advocates help VSA by
organizing Very Special Tours, setting up art supply drives in the community
or even hosting a table at VSA’s annual Very Special Event Luncheon
in June of each year.

Want to learn more? Here’s how! Call or e-mail Michele or Katie
at VSA at #616-885-5866 or at vsagr@iserv.net to come in for a tour.
Check out the VSA website at: www.vsagr.org or the blog at www.
vsagr.blogspot.com. Become a fan of VSA on our Facebook page at
VSA arts of Michigan Grand Rapids.

*Names are pseudonyms
http://www.gvami.com/newsletters/january2010.pdf