Street Spirit March 2006

Artists with Heart Give to Homeless Children

By Janny Castillo

What happens when you combine local artists, homeless children and a good helping of plain ‘ole generosity? You get the Annual Artists With Heart Fundraiser. These year’s proceeds will support the Children’s Learning Center at Ursula Sherman Village, a component of Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS).

Tansy Mattingly and Barbara Atwell created this unique event 3 years ago. It grew out of Tansy’s desire to donate the income she received from selling her art pieces. “I had done a couple of open studios out of Barbara’s garage. I thought, we’ve gotten by without this income up until now, so why couldn’t we just donate it?” That’s how it began but the idea caught on quickly with other artists. “I mentioned it to someone in art class and who said she wanted to donate, and her friend was a photographer and she would want to donate also.” Several months later Tansy had 55 artists and an art sale that could no longer fit into Barbara’s garage.

Barbara signed on as project manager. She has been working with the homeless community, specifically the men’s shelter, since 1990. Both her parents are community activists and they taught her the concept of “paying it forward.” She explained, “Pay it forward means if I have a dollar and I give it to you, and because you were given a dollar, you may give a dollar to someone who then may give a dollar to someone and the giving moves forward.”

When asked how BOSS got to be the chosen ones, Tansy responded honestly. “I had always given my charitable donations to environmental things. I was cynical about people. I thought people are the ones that are messing up the world. I’ll give to the grass, the flowers and then I had this intuition that I should do something different.” Her intuition led her to look for boona cheema, who Tansy heard was doing work with the homeless, which then led her to BOSS. “Through Artists with Heart, I learned the importance of helping people.”

Barbara described the first two fundraisers: “The first two years it was more like an art gallery. People would come in and shop; it was a mixed bag of an assortment of wonderful art. The second year, it was bigger Berkeley Repertory donated space. Both events earned $7,000. This year it’s a one-night event.”

“We want to raise a lot more this time,” Tansy said, “We want to help pay for the art teacher and the academics teacher, maybe get tutors for the kids. It’s a challenge but we are trying to raise $45,000.” Tansy was able to secure KQED’s comedian, Josh Korbluth as MC, and local restaurants like Chez Panese, Jimmy Bean’s, Garibaldis, Restorante Rafael, and more are on board to donate food. Some of the artists that donated pieces include Susan Jenkins, Lois L. Cantor, Lisa Kokin, Annette Goldberg, boona cheema and of course Tansy. “We still need volunteers, more donated art pieces, more donated food, and especially more people to purchase tickets.” The center’s children will also have their art work on display.

“I am calling everybody I know,” Barbara said, “I tell them it’s not about the food, it’s about the kids.”

When asked how this work has impacted their lives, Tansy responded, “My path is learning to have compassion for humanity. I am an environmentalist; both are about being of service to the world. It’s been wonderful to do this event, the people of BOSS, the children, the artists, they’ve been wonderful. As I ask people for help, almost everybody says yes, that makes me feel happy.”

Tansy says that the homeless service program at Ursula Sherman Village is working. “It is not a shelter where people stay over night. It’s a place where they get enough support to change. It’s a real investment, not just a band aid, donors can be confident that they are really making a difference.”

Barbara added, “I’ve been doing volunteer work since I was a kid. It’s a matter of giving back but also to let folks know that there is hope. I don’t want to see my name any where unless it encourages people to give. I want to be a role model.”

Both Tansy and Barbara are examples of what “community” means. They are very dedicated and have developed a vehicle in which many artists, local businesses and individuals could participate in sustaining life changing services for homeless parents and children.

Barbara’s pay it forward philosophy reminded Tansy of what Artists with Heart means to her. “Artists with Heart is a complete gift cycle. The artists are born with the gift of art, and then they give their gift of art to people who purchase it and whose funds will go as a gift to needy children which will then create ways for the children to grow and be able to give in their own special way. And then the gift just keeps right on giving.”

Tansy closed with these words; “That’s where my heart is, It’s not just for the children, but for everyone who participates to enjoy the feeling of well being that comes from giving more than what they think they can, have a positive impact on children’s lives, and to come and have fun, to delight in the joy of giving.”

The Artists with Heart Fundraiser will be held on Thursday, March 30th, 2006 at The First Congregational Church; 2345 Channing Way from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm. If you would like to volunteer, donate art or food, buy tickets please call Tansy or Janny at 510 649-1930. To learn more about the BOSS Children’s Learning Center visit http://www.createpeaceathome.org/streetspirit/2006/february2006/bossclc.htm.

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