Over the last 10 weeks, residents at Givens Gerber Park have greatly benefited from art classes facilitated by volunteer art instructors from All Together Art. Brandon Daughtry Slocum, Board Chair, described All Together Art, “As an all-volunteer nonprofit dedicated to providing free art instruction to under-resourced people in our community. We currently serve veterans, LGBTQIA+ teens, older adults, children in foster care, and elders in assisted living and memory care. We are celebrating our second anniversary this month. So far, we have provided over 2,000 hours of free instruction including all materials and supplies. We are funded by individual donations, local business sponsors, and fundraising events.”

Brandon went on to describe the importance of art in the Asheville area and the barriers of accessibility, “Asheville has a vibrant and thriving arts community, but many people cannot afford access to it. Eight-week classes average $400, with another $200 needed for supplies. People on fixed incomes simply can’t do that. Art can heal. It can provide calm and comfort. Classes are a great way to meet people and make new friends. We want everyone to be able to participate.” Brandon went on to describe their time working with our residents, “The community at Givens Gerber Park has welcomed us and worked with us to provide the best experience we can for the residents. Our pilot program included acrylic pouring on glass, watercolors, ceramic glazing, painted bisque ware, and mixed media collage. The residents have created some beautiful and imaginative art. We look forward to sharing their work at the art show and reception on August 23rd.”

We asked Ms. Haynes, a current resident and participate of All Together Art what her experience was like, and her gratitude and appreciation for the program was infectious. “This experience has been personally amazing. I have dabbled in some artwork years ago and had lost all my “how-tos” regarding various mediums. So much has changed in the art world and there are many different products you can use and new ways to design artwork. The teachers from All Together Art were absolutely amazing and were able to work with a lot of different personalities. Brandon was amazing in the way they put things together and allowed us to truly express ourselves. Each class was different, very well explained- I essentially would forget where I was or what I was doing for two hours! Art has so much to teach us, and we have so much to learn. It’s all about expressing yourself. They were amazing to work with and allowed us to move at our own pace, encouraged our creativity, and we had ample time to practice and have fun.”

The next session of All Together Art at Givens Gerber Park begins September 20th! Residents will be doing workshops including sculpture with polymer clay, faux terrariums, decoupage picture frames, suncatchers, collage journals, and watercolors. If any resident is interested in signing up, there will be a lottery drawing for interested participants. We will be posting information in our internal newsletter and residents are always welcome to contact their Resident Service Coordinator for more information. We’re so fortunate for organizations like All Together Art making art more accessible in our community and grateful for their dedication to serving and inspiring our residents.