The Votes Are In!

Flash! From "Art Comes To The Arc" voting central, here's Art.

Input Needed

We have a disagreement brewing at the OTC. It involves the Kingsway Learning Center "Here Comes The Sun" painting. The question is, should this work be displayed without a frame as it is shown here, or should it be displayed with a frame? What do you think?

A Random Act of Kindness

A group of students from the Kingsway Learning Center recently toured The Occupational Training Center (OTC). A few weeks later, the students from Room 11 donated this beautiful painting entitled "Here Comes The Sun". They said that it was a "Random Act of Kindness" from them to our facility. This was a wonderful gesture that we are very grateful for. "Here Comes The Sun" proudly hangs in our cafeteria area to brighten our days and to remind us of the generosity of these great students. Thank You!
Art would like to weigh in!

Art Likes His Job

Art had a great first day on the job. He is sure that he is going to be successful in getting lots of folks to visit our blog.

Meet Art

I am pleased to introduce you to Art.
He is joining our "Art Comes To The Arc" team. Stop by often and see what Art has to say!

How To Use This Blog!

I have received a number of comments from people that they are having a difficult time leaving comments or maneuvering around the blog. I will try to provide some really basic info for those who need some assistance.
Definition: Post- a post is one of the articles

1. At the bottom of each post, the word "comments" with a number is displayed. If you want to make a comment about the post, click on that word and you will be able to do so.

2. Right beside the "comments" is the picture of an envelope with an arrow. If you click on this, it will allow you to send this post to a friend's email address.

3. In the right hand column, you will see Topic Categories. The posts are categorized according to the subject matter. If you click on "Imagination at Work", the blog will display all of the posts that are about the upcoming art show, one after another starting with the most recent.

4. Right Under Topic Categories, "Links to Check Out" appears. If you click on one of the listed names, you will automatically be taken to that website.

5. Next in line is "Followers". These are people who have read read the blog and have decided to keep in touch with new posts, etc. If you wish to be a follower, click on the word "Follow" that is in the box. Follow the directions.

6. "Blog Archive" is the chronological listing by name of each post by year and month.

Walter Bell Returns To Perform!

Jazz flutist Walter Bell and his group will be performing at the art show and sale again this year. Last year, his performance added just the right touch to the show's ambience to make the event a really class act. This will be Walter's third appearance at an Agency event, having also performed at the agency's 50th anniversary celebration. Not being a music critic myself, all I can say is that he is a wonderful performer who is great to listen to. Shaun Brady of Music Picks says's of Walter's 9th CD "Live in Sedona" "Bell is a tireless champion of his much-neglected instrument, taking any opportunity to tout himself as one of the rare jazz performers who play flute exclusively. And it shows; being completely self-taught, Bell's sharp lines never collapse into the thin breathiness that mars many sax player's attempts." You can see and hear Walter perform on You Tube!

Art Goes To Washington, DC

It was a thrilling day for former OTC participant Michael Jackson as he presented Congressman Rob Andrews with a copy of a pastel crayon drawing that he created featuring President Obama receiving a haircut in his Camden barbershop. Michael attended a breakfast hosted by the South Jersey Chamber of Commerce with OTC Director Dan Ravasio where the Congressman was scheduled to speak. Congressman Andrews was very touched and impressed with Michael's work and said that he was going to make sure that the President had an opportunity to see the work and was sure that he would enjoy having one of his own. Michael was assured that the picture would be displayed in Congressman Robert's office. Hopefully, one will be hanging in the White House soon! Thank you Michael for sharing your talent with all of us.

What Is "Art Comes To The Arc"?

The idea of Art Comes To The Arc was concieved a couple of year's ago when we were looking to improve the feel of our meeting room which is used for trainings, board of director's meeting and like gatherings. It just so happens that we have an excellent artist, Hoover Brandon, that attends one of our programs. His work is fantastic and it was decided to display his work in the room. Well, as a result of that display, one of our job coaches at the time, John Wesolowski arranged for Hoover to have a one man show at a local library. It was a great event and a great experience for the artist! And that is how Art Comes To The Arc started.

What About A Name ?

Last year's show was named "Any Theme Goes". This name was suggested by our Residential Service's Director Mary Sharkey when she heard that the show was wide open in terms of the theme of the art work accepted. A play on "anything goes".

This year, the show is also going to be an open themed show because of the variety of styles displayed in last year's show. It didn't take our OTC Production Manager Joe Conroy long to come up with a name for this year's show. "Imagination At Work" said it all. It is a great name because of the double meaning that is implied. First - imagination coming out of our many workplaces is the hope of the show. Secondly - imagination is at work whenever pleasing artistic results are produced. Good work and thank you Joe Conroy. Thanks twice!

Joe's photgraphs were a real hit in last year's show. Looked great and sold big to benefit us. They are currently on display in the agency board room as part of the "Art Comes To the Arc" program.

And We're Off!

The planning for this, the second annual, art show and sale at The Arc of Camden County has begun. The event will be held on June 10, 2010 in the same location as last year's inaugural show - the Berlin Adult Training Center's annex area and the surrounding grounds. At least on paper, we are planning on having a much easier time of handling the logistics and systems of the event because we became "experts at art shows" our first year!