We are so pleased to share the coverage on the philanthropic efforts of the Colorado Governor's Art Show in Loveland's Reporter-Herald. This has been a passion project for Columbine's John Kinkade since 2015; and the increased funds and awareness raised for the TEF Resiliency Fund has been a personal highlight.

Tuesday, August 2, 2022
HOMELESS HELP
Governor's Art Show nets big donation for unhoused youths
TEF's Resiliency Fund gets boost
By Will Costello
wcostello@prairiemountainmedia.com
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Proceeds from the Governor's Art Show funded a $28,230 donation to the Thompson Education Foundation's Resiliency Fund for Unhoused Youth, a program that provides help to the students in the Thompson School District that are unhoused.

The Resiliency Fund, which has existed for around a decade, provides help to unhoused students, many of whom are underage and without parents or a legal guardian, in the form of gift cards to pay for groceries and gas, or paying for car repairs or new tires so that students can actually get to school.

"There are a whole variety of supports that other agencies can't provide," said Kim Akeley-Charron, executive director of TEF. This, she explained, is because many of the students the fund helps are both unaccompanied and under 18. The typical services that help minors in financial trouble are administered through parents or guardians, so children without them sometimes fall through the cracks.

An upcoming program operated by the Resiliency Fund will install "resource closets" in all the high schools across the district that will contain necessities like toothpaste and other hygiene items. It also helps graduating seniors afford caps and gowns for graduation ceremonies, and provides scholarships to some of those who are pursuing post-secondary education.

The Governor's Art Show, an annual tradition held in Loveland for decades, has funded the Resiliency Fund for Unhoused Youth for the last six years, said John Kinkade, board member for the Governor's Art Show and one of the main planners of the event. Prior to that, proceeds went to the Loveland and Thompson Valley Rotary Clubs, which jointly put on the event, and would then be spent on philanthropic causes of those organizations choosing.

Then Kinkade, who also serves on the Thompson Valley Rotary Committee that selects art scholarship recipients, encountered a young scholarship applicant who presented a portfolio that struck him. "It was really dark, really severe," he remembered. A fellow committee member asked about the nature of the student's work, and she described a series of harrowing life experiences that culminated in becoming unhoused.

Kinkade, moved, reached out to his friend, Akeley-Charron, to inquire further. "That just kind of blew me away," he said. Akeley-Charron told him that in addition to the young student Kinkade had encountered, there were hundreds more across the district who had similar experiences. He then insisted that in addition to funding the two Rotary Clubs' philanthropic efforts, one-third of the proceeds from the Governor's Art Show be earmarked for the Resiliency Fund.

The show has been donating to the fund ever since, totaling over $100,000 since 2016, Akeley-Charron said when the donation was announced. 

Kinkade, who volunteered the equivalent of six 40-hour workweeks preparing for this year's show, said the program is the primary reason he's still involved with the show. Both Kinkade and Akeley-Charron said that it was rewarding work, and that the recipients, many of whom face challenges unthinkable even to adults, are deserving. "We called it the Resiliency Fund, and that's exactly what these kids show," Akeley-Charron said. "Resiliency, every day."

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Below are some photos from past year's Governor's Art Show galas and events from our archives.

#HappyEspressoDay You may wonder, what does Bernie in his mittens have to do with espresso, well, just that we recommend you grab your mittens and head to Muse Coffee and Tea which is owned by Jane DeDecker's family; Jane sculpted this great Bernie bronze; and we think you should buy him so you can have coffee with Bernie everyday!

Shop online, we'll ship a Bernie right to you! 

Besides great Coffee and Tea, Muse has amazing fresh baked goods, sandwiches, soups and more, perfect for a Fall day. All while surrounded by great art by Jane and others.

#ColumbineGallery #JaneDeDecker  #NationalEspressoDay #BernieSculpture #Bernie #SmittenWithMittens #BeAMuse #MuseCoffeeAndTea #MuseCoffee #FeelTheBern #GreatGifts #BerniesMittens #ArtMakesAGreatGift #Sculpture #Bronze #Contemporary #FineArt #CapturedMoments #ShopOnline  #AddToYourCollection #ArtWorthCollecting #CollectorsCorner #LinkInBio #EnhanceYourHome #BuyOriginal #ArtCollectorsAreOurPeople  #LiveWithArt #FeedYourCreativeSpirit

Columbine Gallery's John Kinkade was featured in Southwest Art's May issue about the upcoming Colorado Governor's Art Show and Sale. John has been the Governor’s Show Board and Show Committee events director for the past six years, and he explains in the article many of the changes he and his team have made to revitalize the show to appeal to today's art collectors and showcase Colorado artists to the fullest. This year marks 30 years.

Grab a Southwest Art magazine to read more, then check out the show which runs from May 22nd to June 27th at the Loveland Museum. Learn more.... governorsartshow.org/ click "buy tickets" to reserve your time in advance.

Several Columbine Gallery artists are in this years show, Denny Haskew is a Legacy Artist, other invited artists from Columbine are Mark Bailey, James Biggers, Jane DeDecker, Kim English, Clay Enoch, Daniel Glanz, Alyson Kinkade, Wayne Salge, Sandy Scott, Stephen Shachtman, you can spot them on the show's website. governorsartshow.org/selected-artists/

 John will receive his 2nd vaccine shot next week, so we are planning to reopen the gallery with limited regular hours beginning in March. Details of those hours will be announced soon.

Gallery visitors must continue to follow CDC guidelines by wearing masks, social distancing and keeping groups to a minimum. Appointments outside regular hours and on weekends are still available.

We continue to encourage online purchases through the secure checkout on our store when at all possible.

Looking forward to seeing you all soon. Thank you for appreciating art and supporting our artists.

​Stay Healthy.

Joe Norman just installed a new bike rack in downtown Loveland. It's located at Patina Flats at The Foundry. Next time you bike downtown use it to lock up. #LOVEland #BikeRack

Need one for your neighborhood? contact us to commission one

Daniel Augenstein has a solo show at the Loveland Museum's Foote Gallery. We hope you'll check it out. 

Daniel Augenstein: Educating Vision / Challenging Technique

June 27 – September 13, 2020
FOOTE GALLERY
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Daniel Augenstein’s art displays his journey of creative growth. The artist’s vision guides each brush stroke and pen mark from conception to the final, framed work. The deeper and more complete the vision, the richer the result; the more informed, the closer to an intended goal. Through design experiments, research of others’ ideas, and searching for multiple right answers, Augenstein produces a wide variety of images showing his vision. The technical skill needed for drawing and painting must be practiced with a desire to improve. Taking risks with varied media and techniques can enable the artist to achieve visual results unexpected from the art, staying within the comfort zone of prior works. Augenstein says, “As an artist and teacher for many years, I am still amazed by the act of creation. I am still learning.”
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**The Foote Gallery/Auditorium is a reservable space and the gallery may be closed for private events from time to time. Please call the Museum front desk (970) 962-2410 to verify exhibit availability prior to arrival.