Dry Canyon Arts Association holds Art Show and Sale; raffle aims to ‘Jumpstart Art’ for all elementary school students

(Update: Adding video, comments from artists)

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- This weekend, the Dry Canyon Arts Association held its semi-annual Art Show and Sale at the Redmond High School commons, including a raffle with a big goal: to jumpstart art education for every elementary school child in Redmond.

Krystal Allen of Krystal Allen Fine Arts said Saturday, "I love sharing it, for one thing, and it just gives me a chance to show everyone my view of the world and how I think of it."

Another artist, Bill Hunt said, "We are introducing art to the citizens of Redmond. Redmond does not have a specific art culture. So that's Dry Canyon (Art Association's) future goal is to create an art center and a downtown art gallery by Dry Canyon Arts."

For the past few years, Dry Canyon Arts Association (or DCAA) has offered an art education project to one or two elementary schools each year, largely funded through their semi-annual art show raffles. But this year, DCAA has taken it upon itself, through a new initiative called Jumpstart Art, to provide art education to every elementary school child in Redmond.

As has been reported recently, Redmond schools and Central Oregon schools in general are facing major budgetary shortfalls. One result of these funding gaps has been a lack of art education in Redmond elementary schools.

DCAA members worry that this unfulfilled need will affect Redmond students for years to come through the loss of the proven benefits of early art education. Those benefits include fine motor skills, cognitive development, math and language skills, and avenues for stress reduction.

“The art education received early in a student’s life can positively impact not only their success in later art classes, but their whole wellbeing as a student and a citizen of the community,” said Mel Archer, board chair of DCAA. “And, as I have found by listening to parents from other school districts, the presence or lack of early art education can actually have an impact on where young families choose to live.”

With that urgent need identified, DCAA has vowed to provide art education opportunities to every student in Redmond under their new Jumpstart Art program. Jumpstart Art’s goal is to provide a three- to five-class art project to each Redmond elementary school student through an artist-in-residence program. Art projects will be coordinated with each school and designed to complement the class curriculum.

DCAA together with the Redmond School District has estimated the cost of the project at $80,000 per year. As this dwarfs any such fund-raising project attempted by DCAA in the past, board chair Archer and grants committee chair Josie Powell have embarked on a state- and then country-wide pursuit of relevant and available grants.

Some grant proposals have been successful, some are yet to be awarded, and some have not. This leaves DCAA with a fundraising challenge. Archer hopes Redmond area individuals and business sponsors will help fill the gap in funding. “We will scale back our plans if needed, but we will continue to search for funding through avenues like stepping up our fundraising capabilities and finding sponsorships from local business leaders.”

One popular and proven funding source is DCAA’s semi-annual art show raffle.

“DCAA members have been more than generous in the past couple years by donating some absolutely priceless pieces of art to our raffle,” said Jay Lowndes, DCAA events chair. “This year the art pieces are above and beyond. Our artists have really stepped up because they know their donations are going to help the kids.”

The Dry Canyon Art Show and Sale, featuring over 40 artists and artisans, took place at the Redmond High School Commons, 675 SW Rimrock Way, on Saturday and Sunday.

Raffle tickets were available for purchase during the DCAA Art Show and Sale. Show-goers were able to choose which art items they wish to win, should their raffle ticket be pulled.

Art donated for the raffle included art prints, original art pieces, fused glass, wood carvings, photography, jewelry, and more. All proceeds will go to Dry Canyon’s Jumpstart Art program to fund art education in elementary schools.