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.

We had a wonderful time hosting lunch for the Booth Western Art Museum Collector’s Tour of Colorado.

The group filled two 40-passenger buses with art appreciators from around the nation. We also had several of our artists meet with the collectors in the National Sculptors’ Guild sculpture garden.

The tour included several Loveland artist studios and gardens. We were happy to give them some nourishment before their next artful stop.

As you can see we lucked out with a beautiful Colorado Fall day. Our chimenea warmed us up as the wind picked up, but the rain stayed off.

#BoothMuseum #boothmuseumofwesternart #BoothMuseumCollectorsTour #SteamboatArtMuseum #ArtTour #ArtCollectorsAreOurPeople #ArtfulFallDay #Colorado #Loveland #ILiveLoveland #NationalSculptorsGuild #NSG #SculptureGarden
#ArtandFlowers #MastiffWithCookies #FeedYourCreativeSpirit #BlueSkyDay #ArtCollectors

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.

27th Annual National Sculptors' Guild Show
Garden Party August 9 - 11, 2019, Exhibit continues through August 31st.

Over 40 nationally recognized artists will be on display at Columbine Gallery this August during our 27th Annual National Sculptors' Guild exhibit

NSG’s 23 members will exhibit over 100 garden pieces plus smaller works inside the Gallery, along with 22 painters’ artworks on display.

See new work and speak with your favorite artists throughout the weekend. Find the next piece to add to your collection.

Special Open House Hours are 9 am to 5 pm Friday – Sunday. Artists will be available to meet with the public throughout the weekend and Artist Demonstrations will occur 1-4 pm each afternoon during the show weekend.

You can expect to see demonstrations by the following artists... (confirmed as of today)
Bob Coonts, Jim Biggers, Cathy Goodale, Gary Miller, Dan Augenstein
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located at 2683 N. Taft Ave. Loveland, Colorado (southwest of Benson Sculpture Park). #LivingWithArt #FeedYourCreativeSpirit #AnnualShow#SculptureGarden #BuyOriginal

We're excited to introduce our Special Projects Coordinator, Bric Koehn. As 2019 has started off especially busy, we aren't wasting any time utilizing Bric's thoughtful perspective and unique skills on existing and upcoming art placements for private, corporate and public collections. 

Did you know you can rent the NSG Sculpture Garden for your next event? click here for details.