From the President

“Look what I made!”

Words all of us have exclaimed or heard our children and grandchildren say. Four words that reflect the excitement of creativity, the pride of accomplishment, the thrill of having something handmade to show to the world.

Often, that initial exposure to making art takes place in school;  in a classroom where imaginations are set free and we are encouraged to “color outside of the lines.” According to author/educator Dee Dickinson:

“The discipline of understanding how to take an idea from its inception through the process of experimentation and refinement and into a final satisfying visual product is itself a worthwhile learning experience. Children today do not have many opportunities to experience processes from beginning to end, and too often see only end products on television or grocery shelves. The visual arts not only provide these experiences, but offer the means for helping students to understand and consolidate what they learn. Think of the other skills involved: learning to use the tools of the visual arts, learning to observe carefully, learning to express one’s ideas visually, and learning that without discipline there is no real freedom.” *

ARTsmart believes that art education makes a difference and that every child deserves the opportunity to create a greeting card, plate design, stained-glass jewelry box,  painting or sculpture. When you participate in the annual ARTfeast Weekend or make a tax-deductible donation to  ARTsmart, you join us in ensuring that Santa Fe schoolchildren will continue to experience the exhilaration of  “Look what I made!”

Thank you for your continued support and generosity. We look forward to seeing you February 24-26, 2012, for our 15th Annual ARTfeast Weekend.

Martine Bertin-Peterson
President, ARTsmart

*Learning through the Arts by Dee Dickinson, New Horizons for Learning c 1997

Pictured left to right:  Deborah Fritz, Bruce Adams, Diane Deane, Kate Collins, Mary Harbour, James Bottorff, Mary Bonney, Mayo Miller, Martine Bertin-Peterson, Trish Byrd, and Bonnie French

ARTsmart Board of Directors

Martine Bertin-Peterson, President
Trish Byrd, Vice-President
Bonnie French, Treasurer
Bruce Adams, Secretary
Mary Bonney, Director
James Bottorff, Director
Kate Collins, Director
Mary Harbour, Director
Mayo Miller, Director
Deborah Fritz, Director
Diane Deane, Managing Director

ARTfeast Committee
Candy Brenton
Anne Burton
Susan Davis
Jeff Davis
Alice Lusk
Christopher Hagen
Gloria Kratz
Debbie Linsalata
Jackie M
Susan McGarry
Monika Moores
Sharon Peterson
Rebecca Tobey