Sue was so excited she messaged me in the late afternoon with this message from Bishop Gibbons  High school:

“I have to say the 7th and eighth graders were rocking today with pastels! And look what we made from the old jewelry and Altoids boxes your people sent us.!”

There are two common denominators here. This artwork is beautiful and part of Sue’s exciting and radically different art program.

And all the things the students can do in her art class happen because so many of you in the Army Of Good were generous enough to buy art supplies on an Amazon Wish List and ship old jewelry, paints, paper, used metal parts, and art books for her library from your homes all over the country.

Sue’s art program is magical and different, and you good people are providing the fuel for their imagination to bloom and flare.

Thank you, and please look at some of the beautiful creations you inspired and unleashed in these kids. “None of this would be possible,” said Sue, “without the support of the people who read your blog.” The art rooms are open to any student who wants to come. Many do.

She thanks you, the kids thank you, and I thank you. Many of them have suffered greatly, and it is a blessing to see the joy on their faces when they paint their pictures and plan their jewelry.

If you can, keep it coming: Sue Silverstein, Bishop Gibbons High School, 2600 Albany Street, Schenectady, New York, 12304. She finds creative use for everything she gets. I’ve seen how happy the students are with the things they are making. It builds confidence and community and lights the creative spark.

She is always looking for discarded jewelry, metal objects, art supplies, beads, and abandoned fabric. The art program is red hot.

Wait until you see what the art students are making with the sewing machines we purchased (above, Jazz Peralta and Nehemiah Cooper) donated or gathered for them (now up to 8).

The machines are always mobbed right after school. We are helping to repair two of them.

Sue keeps her art room open after school to anyone at Bishop Gibbons who wants to use it. We are going to visit it next week.

This art program is one of the most exciting things I’ve ever seen launched in a school, and the response has been electrifying.  Creativity rocks. Given the tools, Sue is running wild in the best way.