Kids Share Workshops

*This page is dedicated to Newton Baker and Roger Crowley who introduced Kristina to Union Elementary School where she meet Ash and his classmates! Kristina is eternally grateful to be given this wonderful opportunity, which has inspired her to create Kids Share™: Global Narratives, Vermont to India.

A tribute to Ash Brittenham Creation of Spiderman and Ash: To learn more about Ash and his friends please visit: Ash & Spiderman at Union Elementary . Ash is a 4th grader living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy-- a condition that weakens muscles. Kristina was first introduced to Ash by Newton Baker. When Kristina visited Ash’s classroom at Union elementary, she felt very inspired to help through her artistic talents. From this first visit at Union inspiration came to create a Kids Share Workshop series. Ash and his classmates created tissue art to be used in a painting of Ash and Spiderman. Marvel comics granted permission to print and sell 250 copies for a cure. Read below to learn more about Duchenne MD.

"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."-Kristina Creation of Speed Demon:  This workshop was to help Ash in his creation of "Speed Demon" which would become a mascot hero to our first chapter of “Kids Share” Vermont to India. Later the students at Union elementary would complete the chapter. Ash was interested in having his version of "Speed Demon" become a reality. He requested that "Speed Demon" look like himself if he were 17. He also asked that his hero be a powerful, muscular, bigger than life figure. Ash stated that his version of "Speed Demon" was born a normal human being but became a hero by using his special gear.   On Thursday June 19th, 2008, Ash Brittenham and friends came to visit Kristina A. Lutes at her Vermont hill side farm. With the help of family and friends beautiful tissue art was created and montage into a mascot hero. The work area was the kitchen table where ages 3 and up came together.

Ash was very pleased when he was presented with a drawing Kristina had created from his hero concept, "Speed Demon".  He spends countless hours creating new and old superhero drawings in several sketch books.

Ash 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).

A teachers response to PFC’s Kids Share Workshop: Spiderman and Ash 07-08 "Kristina, I want to tell you how grateful we are as to have had this wonderful artistic and educational opportunity!   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

Posters of Ash and Spiderman by Kristina A. Lutes can be purchased through Project Parent Muscular Dystrophy: www.projectparentmd.org . All proceeds go towards finding a cure!

*Photographs at this website are Courtesy of Crowley Photos unless otherwise listed.