18 October

Bishop Maginn Art Class: “Action Art:” Our Thanksgiving Wish List Plan For The New Refugee Families

by Jon Katz

At Bishop Maginn High School, Sue Silverstein’s Art Class was assigned “action art,” inspired by the great painter Jackson Pollack – free form, impulsive and spontaneous art.

The kids love it. So many of the refugee children saw themselves as artists and were deeply engaged in making art in their native countries.

Sue and I talked about it, and she asked if I could help get her Crayola washable paint spray for some outside “Action Art.”

More than $70 worth out outdoor spray paint, glitter, and regular are going to Sue at Bishop Maginn in Albany.

They’ll be there by the end of the week, courtesy of the Army of Good. I’ll get the photos or be there to take them.

Sue’s class stays well after the school’s out every day; they love to make art with her, the refugee kids find it healing and uplifting. After five p.m., she has to kick them out and send them home.

 

Sue and I have been talking about Thanksgiving, and we have agreed on a lovely plan.

Sue and I will put together an Amazon Bishop Maginn High School Thanksgiving Wish List listing all the different foods the refugee families need for a Thanksgiving feast.

That would include -chicken and turkey, soup and potatoes,  stuffing and cranberry source, cards,  crackers, cookies, and coupons.

We’re still working out the details.

We know many of these families are not food secure, and this kind of celebration could be essential to them. Sue and the staff are very close to the families; they talk to them about what they would most like to get for Thanksgiving, for many their first in the country.

Maria, Zinnia, Sue, and the BMHS staff will all gather and put the food and soups and anything else people want to choose off of the Wish List together for Thanksgiving baskets for these families.

Sue and the social workers and staff will determine where the baskets need to go and distribute them. We might ask for cash donations to buy turkeys.

Some foods will not travel and can’t be shipped. We’ll figure out a way around that – maybe coupons for turkeys and desserts – gift cards for Wal-Mart and local supermarkets. Gift cards will be on the Wish List for things that can’t be shipped to the school. And because of all the shipping problems, we want to get the Wish List up soon.

Watch out for it. I’ll make a lot of noise about it on the blog, as usual.

People who wish to contribute can do so one coupon or soup at a time; you can buy only what you want and spend as much or as little money as you wish.

Everything purchased on the Wish List will be sent directly to the school to collect, store, and organize.

Money is pretty tight for these families this year; some are just arriving. This could be a lovely introduction to the warmest and most American of holidays. Thanksgiving is a good theme for these families.

In the meantime, I can’t wait to go to Albany and see the “Action Painting” Sue is planning for the sidewalks outside. And thanks, AOG, for making it possible.

More details will be on the blog as we figure them out.

Photos be Sue Gilligan-Silverstein.

4 Comments

    1. Thaks Patty, I don’t think that’s fair to them. If you wish, you can mail it to me, Jon Katz P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816, and thanks.

  1. Hi Jon, can the wish list be put up on Amaxon smile so it can be linked to a donation? Amazon has enough money. Thank you! Glad you’re healing up!

    1. Kathie, I don’t know, I don’t put up the list, the school does, but I will pass this along to them and see if it is possible.

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