Art from the Heart: Studio by the Tracks
by Mike McClanahan
CBS 42 News
2008-07-21 08:13:51.0
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A live auction titled Art from the Heart at the B & A warehouse Sunday evening raised money for a local art outreach called Studio by the Tracks. The silent auction featured the artwork of students living with autism, Asperger’s and other challenges.
Since Studio by the Tracks opened its doors back in 1989 in Irondale, Director Ila Faye Miller has seen steady growth in student enrollment. But Miller said their personal growth cannot be measured.
"They learn that they can do something they didn't think they could do. It also gives them an opportunity to shine in a way, being an artist, that the community doesn't expect from them," said Miller.
Miller said adult students took home 60% of whatever they sold at the ‘Art from the Heart’ auction, but they also took home something else.
"It's like the payoff the real payoff for what this can do for the self-esteem, the ego building for adults a group of adults who are not expected not thought of as being artists and for me its a it's my life's work," said Miller.
One of the artists featured at the live auction was Michael Hall. His parents said the event means a lot to the family.
"This is an event that we look forward to every year and Michael to. He usually does really well, his paintings usually sell out," said Janice Hall.
“The three years that we've been coming here it's been wonderful. Michael has done a wonderful job of selling paintings and he's real productive in what he's trying to do now and it's great. It's changed our whole life," said Oscar Hall.
Miller said the mother of one of her autistic students told her that she had amassed $13,000 in a savings account, mainly from art auctions like the one Sunday at the B & A Warehouse.
Organizers were hoping to raise somewhere in the neighborhood of $150,000 with the auction. And they said the new gallery located at Studio by the Tracks in Irondale will allow them to hold more events and let their students earn more money.
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