AmeriCorps Service Leader Rachel Church is wielding the power of creative expression as a tool for community work.
This year, she has launched the USM Community Arts Initiative (CAI). The CAI mobilizes students of the arts to take on community issues of Greater Portland with their paintbrushes, cameras, voices, choreography and other media. The initiative offers students opportunities to engage and reflect as citizen-artists.
On September 28, USM volunteers cleaned and organized the SPIRAL Arts studio space and worked on the community arts organization’s Mosaic of Hope.
Upon completion of this project, USM volunteers appreciated SPIRAL Arts; particularly, they observed that the organization brought art to Portlanders who might not have access otherwise.
The students also saw that SPIRAL Arts might not survive in the current financial climate. They decided that the best way they could help the organization was to raise money to support its operation.
On March 8, USM’s Community Arts Initiative will host a semi-formal celebration of community-based creativity to benefit SPIRAL arts. We will offer hors d’oevers and live music.
The centerpiece of the gala is a silent and live auction of work created by SPRIAL arts participants, USM students, and Maine artists. Tickets are $25 each and include entry into a raffle.
We are currently accepting donations of art. All types of art are welcome. Fifty percent of the sale will return to the artist and fifty percent will go to SPIRAL Arts.
To reserve tickets, complete our online ticket reservation or donate to the art to the gala, complete the online submission form at
http://www.usm.maine.edu/studentlife/communityservice/gala.html
With questions, contact Rachel Church at [email protected]