Art in Unlikely Places

Art in Unlikely Places – Who We Are

In spring 2014, the Arts Administration Program at the University of Kentucky launched a new course and initiative, Arts in Unlikely Places. The goal of Art in Unlikely Places is driven by a belief that creativity is the seed of hope. Art in Unlikely Places connects inspiring artists to those most in need of the transformative powers of the arts. The students' vision is that this organization will deliver the work of inspiring artists to the ailing, the impoverished, and the distraught, sharing beauty with those whose life-circumstances might otherwise prevent them from discovering the hope that is found in the artistic moment.More information:
http://finearts.uky.edu/arts-administration/arts-unlikely-places

About A Beautiful Life

“A Beautiful Life's” mission statement is introducing children in need to the arts by providing them an opportunity to express themselves in creative ways. The project focuses on children with medical needs and those who underwent domestic violence. During workshops the children work on individual drawings that express their inner feelings, hopes and dreams. Through collaboration with our artist, Arturo Alonzo Sandoval, the pieces will be assembled into a community collage as well as being reproduced into a book. Both will be presented in the final celebration.

Our Partner Organizations
Kidz Club
The Kidz Club has been helping children who are medically fragile and their families. Children who aren’t able to attend a typical daycare because they have a medical condition can safely attend the Kidz Club. The children receive the skilled nursing care they need in a stimulating, fun, daycare setting. Parents can go back to work or school and feel good knowing that their child will be well cared for while spending the day with their peers.
More information:
www.thekidzclub.com

Greenhouse 17
The Greenhouse 17 is an advocacy agency committed to ending intimate partner abuse in family and the community. They special trained crisis counselors are available to help people harmed by intimate partner abuse any time of the day, every day of the year.
More information:
www.greenhouse17.org

Why Art?“Arts in Unlikely Places” believes that the arts have the power to strengthen and uplift both individuals and the community especially those who are undergoing hardships. By giving children the opportunity to be creative and to reflect on positive outlooks on life, “Arts in Unlikely places” hopes to support their curative process. By presenting the final collective artwork, made by the individual drawings, the children will feel a sense of community as well as a feeling of accomplishment. The book will always remind them of their creative and positive experience.

The Cooperation Partners
The Artist
ARTURO ALONZO SANDOVAL is a professor at the University of Kentucky, College of Fine Arts, School of Art and Visual Studies.  Known as a curator of exhibitions, set designer, workshop facilitator, craft board member, and art advisor. Sandoval is experienced in creating collaborative artworks using all kind of different material. 

His fiber art works have been exhibited regionally, nationally and accepted by jury into international exhibitions including the 8th and 14th Biennial of Tapestry in Lausanne, Switzerland, the Textile Triennial in Lodz, Poland, and the International Textile Competition in Kyoto, Japan. He will be creating the final pieces of artwork from the children's illustrations to be placed in the "Beautiful Life" book. 

Arturo will also be collaborating with photographer Scott Walz  of Walz Photography. http://www.studiowalz.com/

Your Support for “A Beautiful Life”
Art in Unlikely Places and Lexington’s underserved are dependent on your generosity. In order to make “A Beautiful Life” happen we are looking for financial support. Art in Unlikely Places is a non-profit organization. All proceeds will only be used in order to fulfill our mission. 

Past Projects
Through this organization, students in the spring 2014 course connected local Lexington visual artists with organizations that help the underserved of Lexington through the Future Doors Project. Each artist drew inspiration from the people served by partner nonprofit organizations and painted a door that captures the spirit of the organization’s work. Each door was installed at its respective organization in spring 2014. In summer 2014, the doors were auctioned with half the proceeds benefitting the artists and half benefiting the nonprofit organizations.