Self Portrait oil on canvas Calavera Acrylic (photos credit: Elena R. Marcozzi) Like most grad students, artist Elena Marcozzi is looking for cheaper ways to get a post graduate education. She learned that her school of choice offered 50% off tuition if she signed up for AmeriCorps. On top of that, AmeriCorps members who successfully complete a term of service are eligible to receive the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award worth $6,495 per completed term. Solitaire oil on wood Self Portrait oil on paper (photos credit: Elena R. Marcozzi) After signing up for an 11-month full-time term of serv ..read more

Seems like everybody’s doing art. Artistic Magic Imagine Art held its annual Fall Open House amid much clatter and anticipation on Saturday, October 21st. Imagine Art showcased the artistic magic for which it has been known over the last 25 years. One can’t help but be immersed in this Art featured, annual community event that recognizes and supports disabled artists. Neighbors of all ages were drawn to and participated in the mostly free art activities devised and supported by AmeriCorps’ artists-in-residence. With so much going on in the Capital City, the event was not as well attended as i ..read more

Angst and Disbelief While living in Tres Piedras, New Mexico, I got the devastating news about the Twin Towers in New York. My neighbor broke it to us during breakfast. Not knowing how to react without a TV, we had only the radio. I knew that thousands were feared dead. In angst and disbelief, I remember repeatedly banging my fist against the outhouse wooden door, Hearing an empty echo in the broad expanse of sagebrush and sand. There was no escaping this day. Victor Martinez AmeriCorps Member The Imagine Art 2023-2024 AmeriCorps Cohort Remembers the Fallen and Honors Our First Responders Sept ..read more

Sunday Afternoon, by Fidencio Durán Fidencio Durán is having quite the career as a painter, muralist, and teacher, and has received numerous accolades for his artistic accomplishments locally, statewide, nationally and internationally. Imagine Art has been fortunate enough to have this acknowledged master spend the last 11 months as an AmeriCorps artist-in-residence with IA. He brings the same dedication to developing artists as he does to his own art.   Fidencio works his magic from the easel room—helping painters understand what it takes to become  better artists. Which is not to ..read more

Imagine Art started an exciting new peer support program when fellow peers help each other in different aspect in their lives. The major topics most commonly discussed are housing, personal-care attendants, and money management. Also, over the past year there has been strong comradery developing among group members. As a result, Artists now have access to person centered planning, peer support meetings and 1:1 coaching in self-advocacy. Our Peer Support groups are run by peers for peers, creating a comfortable space to share about thoughts, feelings, frustrations, successes, and what each peer ..read more

Imagine Art started an exciting new peer support program when fellow peers help each other in different aspect in their lives. The major topics most commonly discussed are housing, personal-care attendants, and money management. Also, over the past year there has been strong comradery developing among group members. As a result, Artists now have access to person centered planning, peer support meetings and 1:1 coaching in self-advocacy. Our Peer Support groups are run by peers for peers, creating a comfortable space to share about thoughts, feelings, frustrations, successes, and what each peer ..read more

With a magnificent green foliage behind her, this artist adds the finishing touches to a masterpiece at the Mary Lee Foundation stop. Because of you know what, this event disappeared from the park for the last three years. It was abruptly cancelled in 2020; for the next two years Art in the Park went online. It was missed by lovers of art and masters of fun and creativity (mainly kids). The virtual events that took its place (though fascinating and educational) just weren’t the same as being outside on a beautiful Spring day, dancing and doing art in the park. Well, the good times have return ..read more

Known for its eclectic Austin-style atmosphere, Cherry­wood Coffeehouse is where people go to hang out, have refreshments and enjoy good food. We are very lucky that Cherrywood made contact to remind us that it was our turn to exhibit art. This year’s theme is Spring Equinox. Everybody affiliated with Imagine Art was eligible to submit artwork for this exhibition including clients, AmeriCorps Members, and staff—a true represention of the IA community.   Here are some pictures of our members and staff hard at work hanging the artwork on the wall to get ready for the March 6th ope ..read more

Eager to get at it, the volunteers exhibited good cheer and enthusiasm for whatever Imagine Art had in store for them. Pictured from left to right: Gigi Bruns, Xinyi Bian, Bobby Li, Areli Zuniga, Kayla Nguyen, Sona Dixit (holding John Molina’s coloring book) After a Lacey Richter orientation, the next Vanderbilt cohort was ready for action. A full day was planned, with extra little bonuses. Block Print Workshop On Thursday after the students switched locations; the W. Lynn group began by designing and carving linoleum tiles to make block prints. The block print workshop was led by Anthony Rob ..read more

James Anderson was on the move after the student volunteers brought their pieces in to polish. Offering advice on technique, he demonstrated as well. Vanderbilt Week just flew by. Eleven inspired Vanderbilt students came and left, but not before leaving an indelible impression on Imagine Arts’ AmeriCorps Members, clients and staff. Since 2019, a contigent from Vanderbilt has been volunteering at Imagine Art during Spring Break, helping out with mostly physical labor. Not until this year, have the Vanderbilt students experienced what IA is all about. The volunteers from Tennessee took part in ..read more