Coming up this week.....

--On Saturday from 2-6:00 Rational Animal is leading a project that aims to make 500 comforters to line the kennel cages of animals awaiting adoption in NYC shelters. The project is called 'Mother's Comfort' and 45 quilts have already been made with the help of volunteers from Rational Animal and Etsy. Contact Rational Animal if you're interested in helping on Saturday or with future Mother's Comfort events. (photo thanks to Milo, my rescue dog)

--Shecky's annual Girl's Night Out is coming up next week in Manhattan. Shop commercial and handmade items, drink and eat a bit, go home with a goody bag! Tickets are still available for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

--'Harnessing Brooklyn's Creative Capital: The Impact of Self-Employed Creative Professionals on the Borough's Economy' is a forum March 5th from 8:30-10:30 AM at the Grand Army Plaza branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. This forum will address the challenges faced by self-employed creative freelancers such as writers, photographers, and designers, and will explore strategies to support this part of Brooklyn's economy. Admission is free but reservations are recommended. Sponsored by Center for an Urban Future and Brooklyn Economic Development Coorporation.

I recently found out about the following organizations that aim at distributing unwanted materials to people who can use them for art and craft activities and education. Definitely worth checking out if you're an artist, crafter, educator, or work for a nonprofit organization:

--The Materials Resource Center in Ronkonkoma, NY is a resource of recycled materials waiting to be reused in art or educational projects. It looks like they may have materials available such as small clear ziploc bags (perfect for storing small craft items), beads, buttons, cardboard, etc... They also lead workshops for children and teachers and have a mobile recycling center.

--Materials for the Arts is another local organization aimed at getting unwanted materials to art and nonprofit organizations that can put the materials to good use. If you are involved in a school or nonprofit organization, you may be eligible to receive donated materials from Materials for the Arts.

--Joanne------

Coming up this week....

If you've got art or crafting skills, put them to use for the community this week:

--If you have some extra hours at home, volunteer to spend some time on art collection websites, tagging the art to make it more searchable by internet databases. See info here and here.
--Art + politics: create art for the Barack Obama Art for Change project, which is mobilizing artists as part of Obama's presidential campaign. Submit your art for possible inclusion in an exhibition in Soho. Some pieces at this exhibition will be auctioned with proceeds going toward Obama's campaign.
--Attend the Art for Change open house Friday February 22nd from 6:30 to 8:00. Find out how this nonprofit organization is connecting artists with social justice projects; sign up to volunteer.
--Volunteer to knit or crochet blankets for children in the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services residential treatment programs.

More going on around NYC:
--Learn intermediate Photoshop skills at a workshop Sunday February 24th at 3rd Ward in Brooklyn.
--Sewing classes Monday the 25th at the Make Workshop on the Lower East Side. Learn to use a sewing machine or make a pillow.
--If you have kids, take a trip to Central Park's Charles A. Dana Discovery Center at 110th Street on Saturday the 23rd for a free family craft event in honor of Black History Month. Using African fabric as inspriration, stencil a tote bag with a unique design.

--Joanne------