What A Day of Volunteering Is Like...
A day of volunteering with Artists Paint for Peace may look like this: On November 7, 2004, we arrived at Green Chimneys School in Brewster, NY at 9am, and 2 artists and 2 assistants began working on preparing the mural background.
10:30 am: 2 more artists and 1 assistant arrived to begin sketching the design onto the wall. We built scaffolding to enable us to reach the highest sections of the wall, extending to the ceiling of the building. (Children, and anyone not comfortable with heights will always be expected to remain on the ground!)
12pm: 1 more artist arrived with 2 assistants to begin the actual painting of the mural, and several students arrived to assist us with painting as well. Our group completed the mural at 6:30pm.
Linda Miele, Volunteer Coordinator for Green Chimneys Children’s Services was surprised at how much we were able to accomplish using our system, and said the following:
“I don’t think there’s anyone; staff, students, or visitors, who can look at this mural and not have an understanding as to what we’re about as an organization. You’ve managed to capture our mission very clearly, and I know that it will have a huge impact on everyone who sees it.”
Jennifer Ditacchio , a Brooklyn artist who designed the Green Chimneys mural said, “It’s amazing what 10 people can accomplish in one day when you have a solid plan of attack! I feel great about what we’re doing here, and I know that I made a huge difference for these kids and teachers. The dining hall is so much more cheerful and welcoming now.”
For more information on Green Chimneys School and programming, please visit their website: www.greenchimneys.org
To see what we have planned in the future or to search for volunteer opportunities, please visit www.idealist.org and search under our organization’s name. Email us for current opportunities at info@artistspaintforpeace.org
