ANNUAL REPORT2014

Our New LogoOur new logo was designed by Board President, Scott Shade, Associate Creative Director at Woodruff Sweitzer. Through a series of discussions and feedback with the board, staff, students and others in the community, we determined that the logo needed to embody everything that we are, as well as the things we aspire to be. We wanted it to evoke a spirit of inclusion and creativity while speaking to the upward journey everyone has in their artistic growth. Inspired by “The Lark”, a poem written by Naoma Powell, Scott designed a bird in flight, soaring and calling higher. We love our new logo so much we even hosted a printing party so everyone could have a shirt or bag to show off.

The Lark

I am the lark.

Rising from earth-bound field

In circles of song, without pause,

Lifting wings toward unseen height.

I rise with song

Spiraling upward to distant point,

Ascending

Singing ceaselessly as I climb to apex

Beyond sight

Where song is but whisper to sound.

Still singing, I return,

Circles of song, descending

With growing crescendo.

Wings gliding in expanding circles

Spiraling downward to base.

Song swelling to forte in descent.

Singing without reason

Singing the inner song

That finds release in flight.

I am the lark

Singing.

by Naoma Powell

Wood FiringAccess Arts Instructor Joe Walls hosted our students and other local ceramic artists at his property in May to participate in a three-day firing of his wood kiln. Temperatures inside the kiln reached over 2350 degrees, and it felt almost as hot outside. But we all persevered through the heat and saw the fruits of our labor in some really beautiful pots!

Sewer & Building RepairsThrough the generous support of Boone Electric Community Trust and Boone County Community Trust, as well as many private donors, we were able to make some much-needed building repairs. Renovations were made to two of our buildings, providing new classrooms, storage, and office space, while also creating four independent artist studio spaces for more advanced artists. The ever-cheerful experts at Tallmage Heating and Plumbing also replaced a sewer line for us.

Visiting Artist SeriesThis year we began our Second Sunday Visiting Artist series, inviting a different artist each month to talk about his or her work. Free and open to the public, artists spoke about their creative process, inspirations, challenges, and goals. Featured artists included: Bo Bedilion, Vicki Smith, Charlie Thompson, Bill Wilkey, Leandra Spangler, and several others.

BO BEDILION

VICKI SMITH

In October, we launched our signature fundraising event, CelebrARTy. We paired up six local celebrities (Kim English, Richard King, Emily Larkin, Jonathan Sessions, Meredith Hoenes, and Caleb Rowden) with six local artists to instruct them (Jennifer Wiggs, Mike Sleadd, Matt Moyer, Charlie Thompson, Joel Watson, and Jenny Sennott.) With the artists’ guidance, each celeb created a piece of artwork to auction off. The process was documented by local filmmakers who applied their own creative twists as well. You can see the artwork and videos at www.celebsmakeart.com. Apart from being tons of fun, this inaugural event raised over $3200 to benefit our programs. We’ve already begun working on CelebrARTy 2015, and it’s going to be even more spectacular!

Art for Autism PartnershipArt for Autism is back! This fall, Access Arts partnered with MU’s Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, hosting six workshops for children on the autism spectrum. The young artists came to our studios to create paintings and ceramic bowls. Some of the art was kept by its makers, while other pieces were sold to benefit the Thompson Center’s ongoing efforts to support families affected by neurodevelopmental disorders. This partnership will continue in 2015, with the next series of work-shops to be held in February.

This year we added another 2 weeks to our summer camp, especially designed for those with disabilities. Adapted projects and the option of attending mornings or afternoons provided new expanded options for summertime fun.

Adaptive Summer Camp

In the late fall of 2013, we began our School’s Out program. This creative day camp is available on days that Columbia Public Schools are closed for Teacher Work Days and Spring Break, enabling children to make projects using clay, fibers, and a host of other media. For the 2013-2014 school year, we had a total attendance of 87 students, many of whom attended multiple days.

School’s Out!

ArtTastic Summer CampTotals: 8 weeks, 74 students, ages 5-13Art for Autism Partnership

Scott ShadeBoard President,

Associate Creative Director at Woodruff Sweitzer

Angela LechtenbergBoard Vice President,

Digital Sales Manager at Sinclair Digital

Jeremiah TurnerBoard Treasurer,

Strategic Business Analyst at Data Comm

Erin PriesBoard Secretary,

Account Executive at Woodruff Sweitzer

Terry PhillipsC.P.A, private practice

Sherry WohlgemuthOutreach & Referral Coordinator at Boone County Family Resources

Doris AgwuMedical Department Chair at Bryan University

Joy BartlettIT Security Auditor at Assure Professional

Board Members

Thanks to our dedicated board of directors. Combined, they volunteered over 400 hours of service to our organization this year.

“...if you can change a classroom, you can change a community, and if you change enough communities you can change the world.”

(Pictures above and to the left were taken at Access Arts’ booth for the 2014 Art in the Park event. Picture below is of volunteers from Sunovion Pharmaceuticals.)

-Erin Gruwell

Jenny Sennott has been teaching and sharing her knowledge at Access Arts for more than 27 years. She is an expert in all varieties of weaving and related fiber arts. She has an extensive background in Multi-shaft Weaving, Felt-making, Dyeing, Spinning, Knitting, and Needlework. In addition to being an incredibly gifted artist, she has a gentle spirit and wealth of patience that serve her well in teaching. This year, Handwoven magazine held a competition, inviting students from across the nation to nomi-nate their instructors for Teacher of the Year. Jenny was praised in countless nominations from those who’ve learned from her over the years, but narrowly missed the number one spot. Still, Second place in such a competition is nothing to scoff at, and she is our pick for the Access Arts Teacher of the Year. She’s shown here with her apprentice, Rune Mussett-Sharp, and the Weaving Student of the Year, Michelle.

Michelle has been weaving with us for several years. This year she took a great leap in her development, tackling new weave structures and exploring color combinations that proved to be downright brilliant. She embodies the spirit of Access Arts, where we all believe creative learning is a lifelong process

Jenny Sennott

Michelle Arnold

Instructor,

Student,

HONORS