Friday was a very busy day....Saturday another busy day...ART Saves Lives

On Friday morning I worked with my ADD artists as we worked in the garden..harvesting the fragrance of the Learning Garden....  Lemon balm...Patchouli...Basil....Oregano..... and of course the large supply of our Swiss Chard.  We took time to gather...rub...collect...and well enjoy the bounty we have this year...the previous evening's rain had given the plants and blooms a new vitality.  We then walked down and picked apples for tasting and baking.... we shared different recipes and dips we might try to add when we take them home.  The apples were crisp...juicy...and down right tasty.  After our walk in the flower gardens we headed back to our studio to work in their journals.  Once again I learn so much more from them than I do give them....we worked on the vocabulary words..and made our illustrations using the Prismacolor colored pencils...with addition of markers...and even crayons.  Before we knew it our morning had evaporated and it was time to head to our afternoon destinations.  Ken and I went to Panera for a delightful lunch and then headed over to his 34 radiation treatment...we have not completed two whole weeks of treatments.  Yahoo!

When we came back to Newark we headed over to the dedication of the YES club large mural under the Route 16 overpass ..dedicated to each young person finding their own passion in life and making good choices.  Susan has been brutally honest with these young people...about the choices we can make and the consequences that will follow ...if addiction and alcoholism becomes their daily consequence.  We then gathered over at the YES Clubhouse for a meet and greet....plus snacks and pizza for the attendees and young artists.  I think you are going to like the photos ...the aspirations...and the pride these young people have in their accomplishments!

Here is Ken's finished garden bench for the cabin....I think I will need one at the new house also....



my computer is performing slowly....I am not sure what is actually going on!

 the guys were very interested in Jenny's selections....some are edible...others are full of fragrance.......

 We picked some very very hot peppers...the tinier they are...the hotter they are ...great for a wild batch of chili.........

I actually fell in love with the delicate garlic bloom...soft purple spreading its wings.....

 Our Swiss chard is absolutely beautiful after last night's rain...I think we had 2 inches in all...so refreshing for the garden......

 Now that everyone has been given their assignment...we begin the morning's work...

Laura is showing how full this tomato plant has grown...she and I tasted the sweet fresh sun warmed tiny tomatoes.......

 We did get a few extra visitors ...the geese were there to greet us as we moved toward the apple grove......

 Then just for fun we strolled around Megan's special gardens....fragrance was all around us......

 I fell in love with these velvet blooms.........

 The gardens were radiant this morning........

 We rediscovered the Adirondack chairs...a wonderful [lace to cool down and refresh the spirits......

 Joe loved the large Caladium heart shaped leaf.......

 I love the red maple tree with such lacy red leaves...next to the yellow flowers...they seemed to create a ballet.....

 Laura and Joe share a good laugh as they create today's page in the journal.....Life is never dull without Joe in the group...

 Bill created a wonderful entry in his journal...the drawings are in the new art pencils...very nice but difficult for me to photograph.........

 Ken dropped by to visit with the guys and check out the garden.... he was quite impressed.......as Joe...Donald and David gave him a private tour....

 On Hudson Avenue under route 16 the YES children have created a wonderful mural about making choices.......

 Susan B and her beautiful daughter are preparing for the dedication.........

 The YES artist all manned their particular blocks of their favorite things or passions in their life....

 This was a real collaboration ...a dream art work .... to help everyone to think before they make a choice.........

 The final preparations...before Susan makes her heart felt dedication.......

 This is our Mayor of Newark...Mr. Hall congratulated Susan for her dedication and gift to the youth of our city.........

 Cheers and heart felt words...filled the summer's air this afternoon and people honked their horns of their cars as they drove by.............

 My dear friend Charles ...has studied with Larry Tuber at the Glass Studios for three sessions..........

 The whole family came out to CHEER Susan on this afternoon............family pride at its finest......

 I created this mural collage piece years ago...drawings and phot transfers...

 Here is the house cat...they said he is mean sometimes but he was a gentle as could be when I sat down with him.,..............I believe a house pet is a good experience for these YES kids.....

 Here we were given a private tour of the clubhouse ...Kveon Austin told Ken and I he was a different young man because of what he has learned at the YES clubhouse  and school activities..............

 Kevon share his assemblage with collage and digital photography he made in the Granville studios..............

 Kevon shared the group painting they all worked on this summer.............graphing.each person has their part of the whole on wooden tiles glued together to make the wholecomposition..........

 Susan and I share a quick hug before she gets back to her party.........

 Vee and I share a work about another project.........after Ken is healthy.the need is still here and the YES artists are growing in so many areas........

 I feel this public community art will make a difference in many lives.......

 The students are heading back to the clubhouse for a reception and free pizza.........

 YES..........YES.........YES !!!!

The choice is yours................Choose your passion!!
Sorry this took so long to post...my computer is behaving badly!  Imagine and Live in Peace,  Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart