Kids Share Workshops
Connecting Kids Worldwide through Writing, Art & Photography
This painting of Spiderman, Ash and Mrs. Kelley (Ash’s teacher) and fellow student, William, was created using tissue-art from Ash's fourth grade class at Union Elementary. Every student who attended this workshop had a piece of art montage into this painting! (Original Size: 15"x23" Poster Size: 14"x18") *Project Parent Muscular Dystrophy, students of Mrs. Kelley's and Woodbury Mountain toys have all worked hard to raise over $1,200 and counting for a cure!!!
Roger Crowley (photographer) has worked hard to create this multi-media presentation. He has taken numerous photographs and audio of the students, busy creating their art work. You can see this presentation at his website as well. Newton Baker(writer) has also been assisting Ash's fourth grade class in narrative writing that focuses on their participation. Ash's mother, Kim Brittenham (editor) helped with print production and distribution of prints. Many thanks for their hard work in making this project successful!
*Above photograph taken by Matt Brittenham, Ash's Dad
Interview with WCAX News; How a Portrait Will Help Fund Medical Research~ "A special portrait was unveiled Thursday that could help find a cure for a deadly disease".
It is a picture of Ash. He's a 4th grader with muscular dystrophy-- a condition that weakens muscles. An artist created the image of Ash with Spiderman-- using tissue paper painted by Ash's classmates at Union Elementary school in Montpelier. Marvel Comics granted the group permission to make 250 posters to sell to raise money. All of it will go toward funding research to find a cure for muscular dystrophy.
"What I loved about this project is that it was collaborative-- it involved all the children and the reason I wanted to help is because I care deeply about children, particularly children with disabilities," says artist Kristina Lutes of Portraits for Charity.
"It's cool to be in a painting... Raising money for the scientists who are trying to find a cure," says Ash, 10.
Lutes donated the painting to Ash-- and he in turn decided to have it stay at school for the rest of the year.
Kristin Carlson - WCAX News
Mrs. Kelley’s fourth grade class, along with other teachers at Union Elementary, invited Kristina to teach a workshop about the art of tissue design. Kristina used a style much like that of artist Eric Carle. The participants successfully created beautiful tissue art that was montage into this new painting of Ash—a young boy who has written the books Cat and the Scary Dog (2005) and The Adventures of Super Max (2006). Both books won Reading Rainbow Young Writers & Illustrators Awards, which was sponsored by VT Public Television. The Adventures of Super Max is published by Doubleday and sold through Parent-Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD).
All sales from this book help to fund research for a cure for DMD (Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy), the condition that affects Ash. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed during early childhood, and there is currently no cure. It affects 1 out of 3,500 boys in the U.S. Money raised from the sale of this book along with funds generated from the sale of the painting will go to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy.
"Kristina, I want to tell you how grateful we are as to have had this wonderful artistic and educational opportunity! What started out as a whimsical idea to paint tissue paper for Newton’s portrait, has turned into a wonderful Kid’s Care Project for us! I am so thankful that you were willing to do a portrait centered around our classmate, Ash, who has muscular dystrophy. It has given us the opportunity to raise money for a cause that is truly close to our hearts! We would never have had this experience if it wasn’t for you and your talent! Not only did my class have an amazing time painting the tissue paper for the art work, but they have been writing about their experiences, making posters to market the printed art, and writing advertisements for both our school newsletter and bulletin. Thanks to you, they are truly invested in this work! What you are doing for charity is truly inspirational and I hope this expression of “giving” is truly recognized and appreciated. Thank you for sharing your passion and talent with us!" Sincerely, Windy Kelley
*Below is Ash's tissue-art which was montage into the painting above. Can you find this in the painting?
*Below is Windy Kelley's (Ash's teacher) tissue-art and a letter she wrote about this project. Look for this in Ash's painting!
*Photographs at this website are Courtesy of Crowley Photos unless otherwise listed.
"As a child, I instinctively found creative ways to nurture my spirit and soul. This desire to live well--to tend to body, soul and spirit and to focus on one's abilities rather than disabilities has followed me into adulthood. Each one of us has a gift. Believing is the first step." ~Kristina