The Southeast Delaware Artist Studio Tour (SEDAST) has become synonymous with the fall season, but before the team of artists gear up for their annual gala, they are lending a hand to the next generation of artists. Each year, the Art in the Hat raffle, conducted in conjunction with the tour, generates thousands of dollars that go back to the school systems to help develop the art programs for students throughout the area.
Handweaver Amy Kaufman and glassblower Justin Cavagnaro have both made their presence known on the tour, but they also head the committee that turns the raffle money back around to the schools, every one of which has put it to good use. Each year, the 16 to 20 participating artisans donate a work to the Art in the Hat raffle during the tour. Proceeds from the raffle are sent to area schools, with individual dollar amounts based on necessity, the size of the program and the number of students.
This Monday, June 9, Sussex Central High will take home the largest donation this year, $1,500, which will be used to bring an animation lab to art director Judith Loeber and her students.
Sussex Central High School’s art program has utilized their donations over the years for a printing press that has since helped the students thrive in their art. They boast showings at the Rehoboth Art League, are recognized by Vision 2015, a collaborative organization of government, education, business and civic leaders to ensure quality education for all students in the state of Delaware, and even had a student, David Luna, finish with top honors in the state for his animation at the National Scholastic Arts and Writing competition.
“We decided three or four years ago that since we were giving the money to the departments, we’d send a letter out to see exactly what they were looking for and what they needed,” said Kaufman, a veteran in SEDAST for 12 years. “Everyone on the tour gets a final say in how the money is spent. The teachers tell us a little about what they do with the money and what they’ve accomplished. It’s really nice to be able to help these programs and schools out.”
“We try to give money to the schools that respond back to us,” said Cavagnaro, now in his fifth year on the tour, “and we try to spread the money throughout the district. We want to be as fair as we can, based on specific requests.”
One thing Kaufman emphasized is the purpose of the donations.
“We are not replacing the art budget,” she said, “but supplementing it. It’s very important to us, but many people don’t understand exactly what we’re doing.”
Budget cuts, inflation and ignorance of the programs’ needs have been the primary reasons for many of the programs to lack the materials needed today, they said.
Indian River High School has received donations in the past that allowed them the purchase of a potter’s wheel. This year, art director Mark Mott-Lynn and the IRHS art program will receive $1,000 that he hopes to put towards an etching and printing press.
“It will help with drawing and printing, obviously. Up until now, we’ve been very limited with what we can do,” said Mott-Lynn. He has been with IRHS for one year, but has worked at Central for quite some time, helping to transform their program into a successful one.
Indian River’s art facility has enjoyed top honors in recent years at Rehoboth Aids Awareness Day and the Rehoboth Art League, as well as a silver finish at Scholastic Arts and Writing competition.
“This year we had a class called drawing and print, but we were restricted with what we could do with our print-making,” he noted. “A press will open new possibilities and cut our time dramatically. It would hopefully allow us to explore more things, as well, like etchings.”
Lord Baltimore Elementary School and Selbyville Middle School will each receive $500 from the SEDAST donations this year. Their art programs have caught the brunt of funding setbacks, due to budget cuts.
“My budget was cut by more than half,” noted Melissa Kelly, art teacher at Lord Baltimore. “I had about $1.50 per student, and people were always coming to me, asking for paper and materials.”
She has had to turn to the Art League, the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce and Sea Colony for financial assistance, as well, this year.
“I’ve really had to scramble. It’ll be interesting to see what comes out of this. I probably have one of the smallest rooms for art in the building, since I was relocated for renovation, and it can get dangerous sometimes. It’s difficult to store things in the space we have provided.”
White and colored construction paper and glue are among her priorities for the art program in the upcoming years. Other materials, such as scissors, tempera paint, brushes and printing ink are also on the list.
“The prices for the materials to be delivered here have gone up a lot with the gas prices,” she said. “I make sure I have what I need. I just want to do what’s nice and what’s necessary.”
Kelly said she is determined to individualize her students’ work and help the community understand the importance of art in a child’s life.
“Visual arts sometimes get left out,” she said. “People don’t realize everything that these kids do and what they can do. You don’t always get the big concerts, like band and chorus get.
“Even at the elementary level, art is very important for developing skills like direction-following, fine motor skills, creativity and problem solving,” she emphasized. “They also learn about aboriginal art forms, which help teach them about different cultures in the world.”
In fact, students at Sussex Middle School must decide whether to take an art class or participate in band, as the two have conflicting schedules.
“Essentially,” said Cavagnaro, “we want to be able to help them get what they need but can’t afford with the money they are receiving.”
The SouthEastern Delaware Artist Studio Tour will take place this year on Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 28 and 29, with studios open from Bethany Beach to Dagsboro. Tickets for the Art in the Hat raffle will be available online by the end of this month, at $10 per ticket, or three for $25. Visit www.ArtStudioTour.com online for more information and details about this year’s show, the artists and the raffle.