Maria And I spent the afternoon at Bishop Gibbons High School with Sue Silverstein, the art genie, and students taking her art course. Everything they have made since school began in the summer was made from discarded objects of all kinds shipped to Sue at the school by members of the Army Of Good.

It was as joyous and uplifting a visit as I can recall making. Photo Above is the living angel, Sue Silverstein, an artist who has created this fantastic world for their students.  She cares very deeply about them.

I hope you can see how happy and excited they are to be doing the art they want to do and the art assigned to them. So many of them want to come after school and work on their art. Sue is exhausted but very happy. I am blessed to call her my friend. And so many of these students now think of themselves as artists.

I don’t know how to thank you; they all have asked me to thank you also.

The very best way I can think of to thank you is to show you the art they are making thanks to you. Sue says she could never have been  successful without the stream of old and discarded objects you have sent and are still sending: Sue Silverstein, Bishop Giggons High School, 2600 Albany Street Street, Schenectady, New York, 12308.

(Above, paintings made from puzzles donated to the class.)

One young artist I am profiling on Monday – Isaiah – is the one making pants for the loving grandmother who has raised him since childhood. It’s the best imaginable Christmas story. You made that one possible, also.

Many of these objects will help the school’s poorer kids. Some are going out of the school to help people in need. Some are going home as Christmas presents. Student after student told me the same thing today: what is unique about these art classes is that they have excellent  and diverse tools and objects to work with, paint and brushes to use, wooden objects, fabrics, lamps, and even furniture to rebuild and restore.

Please keep the donations coming, and please take a look at what they are doing.

(This group of friends came together in their love of art. I call them the Five Imagineers; their enthusiasm and imagination shine. They work together when they can.)

(Maria helping out the Five Imagineers.)

Sue tells me the one thing she always needs are acrylic paint, canvases, and brushes. I sent her some this week, but if you feel inclined, please send her more.

I hope these photos make you feel as joyous as they make me. Perfect for the holiday season. Come and see.

A donor sent a huge box of pine cones; they are being transformed into sparkling Christmas wreaths.

This is a display – a kind of museum in the hallway –  donated to the art program’s many donors. Every item was discarded and donated and, when necessary, restored.

This is one of the donated discarded furniture pieces the art students are restoring. It looks great.

Isaiah is a senior who tells me he loves the freedom he has to do his artwork as long as he gets the art assignments done. I’m writing about him on Monday, he is a remarkable human. He runs his program for bringing food to the hungry. These pants are for his grandmother.

A refurbished desk goes to Bishop Gibbons students who need one but can’t afford one.