Originally posted on www.kateandsuz.com

When Creative Mornings Ottawa approached me {kate} to work with Wallack’s Art Supplies to design, curate, and run an interactive art wall for an upcoming event, I didn’t hesitate. And of course Suzy was there to support & celebrate.

Giving Back

The event:: ArtThrob, an art party + fundraiser for the Creative Mornings Scholarship for the Inspired. It quite literally reached in and pulled on all my h’art strings. This is what we’re all about.

Approaching their 1-year Anniversary, Creative Mornings didn’t feel they could rest on their laurels. Sure, it was a year filled with success after success, creatives pouring in from across the city for great speakers, great community, and great ideas — but it was time to give back.

Teaming up with Ottawa School of Art (OSA) and the School of Photographic Arts (SPAO), one scholarship will be awarded to each school. What better way to give back to the creative community than helping to pave the way for two inspired students each year.

This scholarship is also the first of its kind in Creative Mornings history — setting the bar for CM chapters across Canada, and abroad.

H’art Wall

The mandate:: an interactive art wall where event attendees could paint, draw, and play with abandon. Working with Michael Wallack (Wallack’s Art Supplies) was an absolute blast. He stocked us up with piles of neon paints, Sharpie paint pens, UV lights, and lots of UV reactive goo. Not to mention three 6-ft black form core boards!

Propped up on easels, these boards became the perfect backdrop to the urban streetscape I brought to life before the event began. We turned every ArtThrobber who stopped by the wall into street art experts and graffiti artists. I lured them in to put their “tag” on the buildings, streets, and signs. No rules. All play. Barriers down. Creativity at it’s best.

Working side by Side with Robbie, from Fall Down Gallery and other local artist drop-ins made for the perfect marriage of focused art installation and raw free-spirited play!

“I am so happy with how the night turned out this year; I think the interactive element of the art wall was crucial to reminding people why they were there,” says Claudia Gutierrez, Development Officer at OSA.

Get Your Hands On That Scholarship!

You say: “I’m not a student. I’m not creative.”
We say: “What? You didn’t get the memo? You ARE creative. And after all, aren’t we all students?”

It is never too early or too late to tap into that spark within and see where it takes you. The Scholarship isn’t just for typical “student-aged” people or so called “artists”. It’s for anyone and everyone who has the potential to be inspired; anyone who wants to access their creativity, and is curious about learning.

What is creativity? It’s being inspired by the everyday and doing something about it. What’s your paint brush — the creative tool that YOU use to do your job … to live your life? Whether you’re a scientist or a computer programmer and everything in between. Creativity exists in all of us, and is the magic ingredient in every job and every life.

So Apply Would Ya!

What do you have to lose?This may just be the sign you were waiting for, the added incentive you need. The application process will open at the end of April, and will remain open for about a month.

The criteria are loose by design; a combination of written, interactive, and interview components. Super chill. Super fun. Super inspired. For more details and to apply, you want to click here (as soon as the site is live, we’ll update this link).

Inspired to donate?

Although ArtThrob pulled in a whopping $1,000, we can’t stop there. Creative Mornings wants to double that … ensuring that each student receives $1,000 towards his/her tuition.

Missed ArtThrob? You went, but didn’t think $10 was enough to toss in? Here’s your chance. Please give generously. Any funds raised over the $2,000 goal will be placed in trust towards next year’s scholarships. Donation site will be up in about 2 weeks. We’ll update it here and here.

Respect For Our Roots

Of course we can’t cover ArtThrob without paying respect to its roots. Claudia, and then student at OSA, hosted the first ArtThrob last year as a way to raise funds for her graduation exhibit. Now the Development Officer at OSA, Claudia joined forces with Creative Mornings to bring ArtThrob back with a new and exciting purpose, but same underlying vision.

Gutierrez says OSA is a “[safe] haven, where anyone at any skill level can come and express themselves while learning new skills,” and that’s what this event and this scholarship is all about.

What’s Next?

If you haven’t heard about J’adart, you have now. Remember the love tub from ArtThrob’s photo booth? Well, this rockin’ vintage tub will be making it’s second debut at the 8^th annual J’adart, an OSA fundraiser and roaring 20’s styled cocktail party, MC’d by our very own Suzy Kendrick and Liam Mooney.

OSA believes in “teaching art to everyone,” and this event helps make that possible. Amen.

Please come out for what is sure to be an inspirational event, incredible party, and an opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to art education and culture in Ottawa. J’adart is taking place on Thursday, May 9^th from 6:30pm at the Karsh-Masson Gallery. Check out the Facebook invite for more details and buy your tickets here.

Big Thanks

As most of us know, a lot of magic happens behind the scenes so that events like ArtThrob can happen. Volunteers and sponsors are the lifeblood of organizations like Creative Mornings.

Special shout outs must be made, and appreciation paid to::

Michael at Wallack’s Art Supplies | @wallacksart
Sheena & Paul at Kitchissippi | @Kichesippibeer @HarveyandVerns
Scott and the staff at JunXion Public House | @JunXionOttawa
All 3 bands: Zoo Legacy, NDMA, and Silkken Laumann
Creative Mornings Volunteers:: Zara (Vj Ina) & Melanie Yugo (Photobooth Goddesses)

Photo Cred:
Suzy in the {love tub} = Joel K Photography
The rest = me, Kate 

                                                

Get Connected::

Ottawa School of Art
www.artottawa.ca
Twitter: @ArtOttawa

School of Photographic Arts
www.spao.ca
Twitter: @SPAO_613

Kate Durie
www.katedurie.com (coming soon)
Twitter: @kateudurie