“A Trip Though Art” -The community children’s window art project 2022

Catalog Cover – Photograph by Jim McLaughlin

“I created the program outline, using hope and community as the core.”

Comment- “I love the style it’s loose but tight- enough to really enjoy!”- Crispin Shakesaft

I (Michelle Vara) became a member of the Ti Arts Downtown Gallery in the summer of 2021.

Artist Michelle Vara with window backdrops. — Michelle Vara installs her painted Backdrops for Ti Arts Window Display -Photograph by; Grace Vara

Over the winter I was asked to create a window display to fill the four front Ti Gallery windows.

This project is one of many that shows my experience and strengths from concept to completion, meeting deadlines.

(Tasks include -concept, drawings, organization, press releases, communication, material acquisition, technical, curation, painting, layout, photography, fascial labor, installation, financial support, and finalizing the project.)

I created and financed, the entire program including a catalog that I photographed, and laid out, then printed. It is on display in the gallery until August 2022 to highlight the children’s work.

I called on the professional services of Jim McLaughlin Photography to shoot the finished windows. The time together was very exciting- to help him work his magic.

"A Trip Though Art" -The community children's art project 2022 — Jim at work

I contacted the press and all the children’s institutions from Plattsburgh to Lake George NY with an invite.

Globes by participating children – Backdrop by Michelle Vara – Photograph by Jim McLaughlin

The outline of the call for art was-

The project is called “A Trip Trough Art” and will fill the windows of the gallery starting April first.

Michelle Vara (Ballard Road Art Gallery in Wilton NY) will supply small 3.5″ clear Globes for 9th-12 graders to create with – for free.

The participants will create small environments. The participants may choose, any subject, all material – No limit -No Restraint of their Imagination! The Finished pieces Must be ready to hang by end of March 2022.

Ti Store front photograph by: Jim McLaughlin

The outcome was Fantastic –

While installing the project a couple came into the gallery and said- “We were driving through town headed to Vermont and the window display grabbed us to turn around and see what is going on – it’s so striking and interesting – we never noticed there was a gallery here before.”