Happy New Year to you, and thanks once again for supporting Sue Silverstein and her art program at Bishop Gibbons High School in Schenectady, New York. Your gift card donations have gone a long way, as you can see. Every one of them will be put to good use and stir the artistic motions of children who are giving up TikTok time for her art projects. If you can, please keep them coming. In a month or so, Sue and I will post an Amazon Wish List to help her get some of the art supplies she urgently needs, which few people have. If you wish to contribute something, please e-mail Sue at the number at the bottom of her post; she’ll let you know what she needs and what she doesn’t get, and we’ll try to catch up with our Wish List. I’m confident. Have a great year. Sue’s Column will be here every Friday for as long as I am alive and breathing, and she wants to do it. – Jon Katz.

News from the Art Room – It’s a New Year!

It is so hard to believe that it is already January! Christmas break has been a lovely two weeks of family time, cooking, organizing, planning, and preparing for a new semester.

Several exceedingly kind parents, family members, and members of the Army of Good sent me gift cards for Christmas. I have had the best time shopping for supplies for the new classes. Thank you so much. I caught up on my thank you notes over break. If I missed anyone, please know how grateful I am for every donation and support.

I am excited to return the following Monday. As tired as I was and as much as I needed a rest, I missed the kids a lot! 

 At the end of January, we will be gearing up for a new course featuring the art and photography of food. If you have unused baking tools lying around, I would be happy to find a use for them. We plan to do some baking, food decorating, food art, and photography. It is a new course, and I would love to hear any suggestions that have worked for others. I spent a lot of time over break looking at videos for ideas, and we will have a blast! I found a recipe for perfectly frozen crystal bubbles made from corn syrup and a few other things.

The weather in January will be cold enough to accommodate. 

Advanced Painting starts in January as well (a favorite of mine). The art exhibit at the Empire State Plaza happens at the end of the month, too. Of course, we cannot forget Catholic Schools Week and Cupcake Wars for the benefit of the Rice Bowl. No child in any part of the world should die from hunger. It is an extraordinary mission for us to support. I always tell the kids that there is real hunger in the USA and that it is a mission we must always be aware of. In many parts of the world, children continue to die from starvation, and that should be unacceptable. All the kind people who support the fight against local and global hunger are doing the work of goodness.

We always seek donations for anything you feel could be made into something new! Rolled gauze, wire, glassware, canvas, art supplies, heavy foil, pinecones, glue sticks, baking tools, seashells, sea glass, bottle corks, sandpaper, and wood. I love hearing from you. My email is [email protected]. 

Have a blessed day! Happy New Year!

Sue

ND-BG

2600 Albany Street

Schenectady, New York 12304