Giving to the Arts with Art and Heart

Art and creativity have become increasingly important now more than ever. We tend to get lost when a crisis happens and art helps to separate us from the mental chaos, removing and redirecting ourselves from stress and trauma in a healthy way. I found soap-making to be incredibly healing in the last year with everything going on, but you can find relief in anything you find interesting. It’s a great time to try something new or challenging, to explore your talents, and foster new interests.

This brings me to The Young at Art Museum, my favorite place on earth that has helped me and my family explore self-expression, new ideas, different concepts, and creative ways to thrive and bond as a family. It has played a pivotal role in my children’s education, growth, and development, as well as mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.

As a mom of 4, I needed a safe place to take all of my children to a place they could enjoy that wouldn’t drive me nuts. YAA is just that, perfect for the entire family, young to old. The focus of course is on the younger generation, but installations, activities, and exhibits appeal to all ages. YAA selects a range of artists including local and emerging artists who are able to showcase their work to a broad audience through interactive installations. All of the rotating exhibits are meant to submerse the visitors into a new experience unique to each individual. From lights to textures, to sound, all exhibits appeal to the senses in some way. You will discover something new every time you visit YAA.

And if you want to support a great business that gives back, YAA is just that and more. There are various programs and events that better the community with a focus on fostering the talents of children and teens who are underserved, especially in the art world. YAA gives these kids an outlet to express themselves in a positive way in a supportive environment. The events include fashion shows where teens utilize recycled materials to create one-of-a-kind works of art along with a silent auction that benefits YAA’s community art initiatives and programs.

I have been a huge proponent of donating my time to underserved children through the arts since the early 2000s, earning a Volunteer of the Year award in my early 20s through AWE, Artists Working in Education. We would take the AWE art truck and travel around inner-city neighborhoods in Milwaukee, WI during the summer, showing children how to create and paint murals as well as other interactive art-based activities. After moving to South Florida in 2012, I never stopped giving through art, and the way I continued to do this was to volunteer at YAA for various programs my children were a part of, attending fundraisers, workshops, fashion shows, and much much more. And of course, including soap making when the opportunity was there. One of my favorite ways to volunteer was to teach melt-and-pour soap projects to the preschool kids my son was in. Most kids (and adults) were so intrigued by the process, and the parents LOVED the sweet gifts their kids made for them.

One of my favorite ways to participate in events that give back was to create a collection of soaps for YAA’s auctions. All proceeds go directly to the causes listed below. Enriching the community and fostering talent that would otherwise be impossible to showcase. The generosity of the working artists of YAA is immeasurable. They are highly talented real-deal artists who share their knowledge and expertise with risk teens who have a creative outlet to showcase their art and put them on a path to success. YAA is pivotal in the development of young people’s talent in Broward and surrounding areas. It is a safe place for all kids to volunteer as teen volunteers and to participate in numerous art programs. Art does not discriminate, art embraces all. YAA strives to embrace all ethnicities, and socioeconomic classes, fully supports the LGBTQ+ community, encourages all people from all walks of life, and welcomes everyone into its valuable space.

Recently, YAA has sadly had to move from its building of over 8 years due to unforeseen circumstances with the city of Broward and will have to relocate its installations and exhibits through pop-up art spaces and throughout Broward and Miami until a permanent home is established. We want to keep YAA alive, it is too important of a place to just disappear. The community needs it, and as I said we need art in our lives now more than ever. A safe place for everyone to find support, connection, and social diversity. YAA does just that. In times as hard as these, where many of us are struggling after losing our jobs (me included) I realize it is hard to donate to any cause right now. But if you are able to donate anything at all to a place that builds community and supports so many through the arts, please click on the link and give whatever you are able. Or book mar it for later! But no matter what, please consider supporting the arts, especially The Young at Art Museum which has supported so many through the years. 

Since auctions and public fundraising events are put on hold while this virus continues to escalate, Silver Lining Soap will be donating 10% of its profits at the end of the year to The Young at Art Museum in support of its relocation and future initiatives. We want to give back to a place that also gives, and couldn’t think of a better place than YAA. We will also be volunteering again when it is safe to do so including soap-making workshops that are safe for kids. Meanwhile, my family will be speaking out through art in support of YAA by creating and participating in various at-home art projects, promoting YAA, and supporting the artists who have been so kindly creating projects for kids to keep busy safely at home. Please check out the links below for fun, imaginative art projects for humans of all ages. Stay safe and remember to give what you can to causes that matter to you. We can all make a difference in this weird world right now.

Young At Art Website:
https://www.youngatartmuseum.org/

Donate HERE!:
https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/support-yaa-now

Free art projects HERE!
https://www.youngatartmuseum.org/yaaathome.php

Past Events:
Festival of the Arts
https://www.youngatartmuseum.org/artfestivals.php

Recycled Fashion Show
https://www.youngatartmuseum.org/fashionshow.php

Supersaturated event 
https://www.youngatartmuseum.org/supersaturated/