Art

Item Description

Artists from Creative Endeavors Art Center are donating a collaborative and highly popular, ORIGINAL, torn cardboard piece.  Creative Endeavors is Saratoga Bridges' Art Center, located at 49 Front St in Ballston Spa.  www.CreativeEndeavorsArtists.com  All pieces were made collaboratively by artists with disabilities during art classes.   Many artists enjoy working collaboratively. It provides structure and support to enable the artists to be successful and develop their artistic skills. Often times, working collaboratively allows artists to gain experience and confidence while developing their interest in the arts.
 
"Horseman Playing Polo" is an original torn cardboard collage which measures 46" x 38". A 16" x 20" print of the piece will also be given to the highest bidder.
 
Creative Endeavors is Saratoga Bridges' Art Center, located at 49 Front St in Ballston Spa. Creative Endeavors provides art classes, show opportunities, and a retail space for artists in our programs, as well as community members. Classes offered include painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media, photography, collage, papermaking, jewelry and ceramics, and beginners to advanced classes. Creative Endeavors Gift Shop is open M-F 10-5, or by appointment.

For more information, please contact Winnie Pino, Art Coordinator, at 363.0015x305 or wpino@saratogabridges.org, or visit www.CreativeEndeavorsArtists.com.

Item Special Note

In 2004, the Backroom Artist Group was founded in the Saratoga Bridges Day Services Programs. It included a small group of individuals in various programs who wanted to explore their talents for the fine arts. They began working on paintings and drawings and produced a number of art pieces that others found appealing and wanted to purchase. As time passed, different pieces were framed and sold.

When we opened the Day Program Without Walls in Ballston Spa, the interest in art grew. This programs’ office space is located on Front Street in Ballston Spa in the art and antique section of town. At that time, The Strolling Village Artisans Co-Op was located in the same building. The art group became members of the Co-Op and began volunteering in the Art Shop and Gallery. Eventually, the Strolling Village Artisans moved out of the building to a new location and we took over the space and opened our own gift shop and art center, called Creative Endeavors. What makes our art program distinct from others is that we are truly an integrated program. We have local community members, area school students and college students work along side our individuals as they pursue their joint interest in the arts.

Through the efforts of Day Services staff and the use of our Front Street Program, we have been able to provide our consumers with a studio space to create their art. We have continued to discover and nurture the individual artistic talents of a number of individuals through these activities, even though space and artistic staff support was limited at first. In order to move to a higher level of artistic productivity, we needed instruction from outside artists to help guide and extract from our individuals their true artistic potential. In 2006, we hired an art coordinator and expanded our space in order to offer workshops to teach the arts. We also expanded the types of art offered to include music development, poetry classes, woodwork and crafts, photography, and jewelry making. Through the efforts of Day Services staff and the use of our Front Street Program, we have been able to provide our consumers with a studio space to create their art.