DRAWBRIDGE WELCOMES NEW YEAR WITH DONATIONS OF ART SUPPLIES TO CHILDREN

Diana Petrova, Children and Volunteer services Manager, Hamilton Families, distributes backpacks filled with art supplies to children at domestic violence and homeless shelters, affordable housing facilities and community centers. – Photo courtesy of DrawBridge

Staff and volunteers from the arts nonprofit DrawBridge are delivering hundreds of high quality backpacks filled with art supplies to children at domestic violence and homeless shelters, affordable housing facilities and community centers across seven Bay Area counties.
“We are delighted to provide these gifts for our youth artists,” said DrawBridge Executive Director Tracy Bays-Boothe. “Thanks to the generosity of the action sports brand Vans, FLAX Art & Design and community supporters, children across the Bay Area will enjoy a creative start to the new year.”
DrawBridge’s 2021 holiday campaign marked the end of an exciting year of partnerships, raising almost $80,000 in donations to support the supply giveaway and fund ongoing expressive arts programs for Bay Area children. Other notable program partnerships in 2021 included:

Participation in the de Young Museum’s “De Youngsters Art Party,” which connected local artists and educators with children for activities inspired by the museum’s permanent collection
Partnership with Silicon Valley Open Studios, whose artists donated a generous portion of their art sales to DrawBridge
Launch of free online Summer Arts Adventure program across DrawBridge partner sites, allowing children to experienced the fun of summer camp, despite distance
Participation by DrawBridge youth artists in the creation of a 56-foot mural in San Rafael’s Canal neighborhood with the Canal Arts Initiative
Partnerships with the Center for Domestic Peace to raise awareness for domestic violence, Día de los Muertos community celebrations and the 10th Annual Great Kindness Challenge, joining 16 million students nationwide.

“DrawBridge continues to demonstrate how art truly brings children, families, and communities together,” said DrawBridge Program Manager Sarah Yazdani. “I hear it from families, volunteers, new and long-time partners, who understand how crucial DrawBridge’s mission is for children, especially in these times.”

Since 1989, DrawBridge has inspired creativity and self-confidence in tens of thousands of children at homeless shelters, affordable housing sites and community centers across seven local counties. Through weekly expressive arts programs offered free of charge, children ages 5 and up are given the opportunity to connect with their community and explore the playful creativity that is so important to healthy development. Learn more at drawbridge.org

MarinMOCA pays tribute to artist Wiley

The Marin Museum of Contemporary Art announces “What Is Art For?” opening on Saturday, Feb. 5, featuring works created by MarinMOCA’s artist member community. The exhibition theme is inspired by William T. Wiley and Mary Hull Webster’s 1999 Oakland Museum of California exhibition of the same name. It pays tribute to Wiley, who died in Novato earlier this year, and is one of the Bay Area’s most legendary artists hailing from Marin County.
The original Oakland show “What Is Art For? William T. Wiley and Mary Hull Webster and 100 Artists” resulted from Wiley’s own invitation for a solo exhibition at the esteemed museum. Declining the opportunity, he instead turned the offer into a platform to showcase the breadth of art being produced across the region.
A small group of works by Wiley will accompany the exhibition that point to the artist’s distinctive blend of wit and wisdom.
MarinMOCA’s “What Is Art For?” invites both artist and viewer to consider, and reflect on, the role that art has in our lives. Spanning all galleries, including the recently remodeled Main Gallery, this exhibition includes work in a variety of media and genres.
The museum is located at 500 Palm Drive, Novato. Visit marinmoca.org.