\#\#\# Program Updates \*\*Farewell Abi\*\* We want to thank Abigail Ostendorf for her 6 years of service with The Art Garage. Starting with us in 2016 as a studio assistant, in 2018 became the Associate Director and in 2021 became the Co-Executive Director alongside the Co- Executive Director (current and previous Executive Director), Katie Moran. Abi was able to advance The Art Garage’s `[mission](`[`https://artgaragedenver.com/articles/99`](https://artgaragedenver.com/articles/99)`)`through diversifying programming, DEI advancement and increasing revenue streams. She continued to support and grow the creative, innovative and collaborative work culture of The Art Garage. You will be able to find Abi at Williams Jewelers of Englewood where she will pursue her career in jewelry. Check out her own business, `[Abijoux](`[`https://www.abijoux-jewelry.com/`](https://www.abijoux-jewelry.com/)`)`. \*\*Join The Art Garage DEIA Committee\!\*\* The Art Garage is looking for new members for our Diversity Equity Inclusion Accessibility Committee, where we work hard to make our space! If you are interested in joining or know someone who might be interested, email [info@artgaragedenver.com](mailto:info@artgaragedenver.com) for more information. \*\*Join The Art Garage Board of Directors\!\*\* The Art Garage is seeking diverse and unique community members for The Art Garage Board of Directors! Please fill out or pass along our `[interest form](`[`https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSelPPkMBBD_lScuzrr9J0eGsCgQDYs9MDD_wyHdXwmHyGCHwg/viewform`](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSelPPkMBBD_lScuzrr9J0eGsCgQDYs9MDD_wyHdXwmHyGCHwg/viewform)`)` to anyone interested in contributing to The Art Garage. \*\*iPhone Donations\*\* Do you have an old or outdated iPhone taking up space in your junk drawer? The Art Garage is currently seeking iPhone donations for photographing our students’ amazing artwork in our studios! We are accepting donations of iPhone models 11, 12, 13 or 14. Reach out to [donations@artgaragedenver.com](mailto:donations@artgaragedenver.com) to learn more! \*\*Featured Upcoming Classes:\*\* \*\*Open Studio\*\* Fridays, 6PM-9PM Need space to work on art? Get inspired and in the zone with creative peers at The Art Garage Open Studio! Open Studio creates a space for artists to practice their art, get messy outside of home and work alongside other local artists. The Art Garage is excited to offer this opportunity to the Denver community and we hope to see you there! Join us for our inaugural Open Studio on Friday, November 11th from 6PM-9PM at The Art Garage. Register today `[HERE](`[`https://artgaragedenver.com/courses?categories=43`](https://artgaragedenver.com/courses?categories=43)`)`! \*\*Transitional Toddler Class\*\* Thursdays, 11:30AM-12:30PM These classes are perfect for little artists that have taken our Artsy Tots classes and are getting ready to begin school or take drop-off classes here at The Art Garage! Adults will have the option to stay with their toddlers while they work with age-appropriate art materials and processes or step out and allow their toddler to try their hands at working alone in a safe and supportive environment. Each class will consist of 1 hour of structured activities designed to develop motor skills, engage toddlers in the visual arts, and encourage independent creativity. \*\*There's so much more to explore at The Art Garage\!\*\* See all of our upcoming classes for toddlers\, kids\, teens\, and adults `[HERE](`[`https://artgaragedenver.com/courses`](https://artgaragedenver.com/courses)`)`! \#\#\# Events in our Community \*\*Denver Arts Week\*\* November 4th-12th, All across Denver! Join Denver's annual Arts Week celebrating the vibrant art culture in our city! With diverse events from performances, special tours, gallery openings, outdoor events and more; there's something for the whole family to enjoy. Check out the list of events `[HERE](`[`https://www.denver.org/denver-arts-week/events/?view=grid&sort=date&bounds=false&filter_categories[0]=105&filter_categories[1]=72&filter_categories[2]=73`](https://www.denver.org/denver-arts-week/events/?view=grid&sort=date&bounds=false&filter_categories%5B0%5D=105&filter_categories%5B1%5D=72&filter_categories%5B2%5D=73)`)`! \*\*Colorado Gives Day\*\* Tuesday, December 6th "Join in on Colorado's statewide movement! On the first Tuesday of December since 2010, Coloradans have come together to support the nonprofits that make a difference in our lives. Colorado Gives Day has grown to be Colorado's largest 24-hour giving event, raising more than $362 million for nonprofits across the state since it began. ColoradoGives.org is home to Colorado Gives Day, and your one-stop shop for making good happen for our community." "Community First Foundation\, FirstBank and other community partners from across the state want to make your support of Colorado nonprofits go even further\. Every donation made towards Colorado Gives Day from \*\*November 1 through December 6\*\* on ColoradoGives\.org gets a boost from the $1\.4 Million\+ Incentive Fund\." You don't have to wait, you can `[donate today](`[`https://www.coloradogives.org/giving-events/givesday22`](https://www.coloradogives.org/giving-events/givesday22)`)`! \*\*Untitled: Creative Fusion at the Denver Art Museum\*\* "Untitled: Creative Fusions is an after-hours quarterly event with local artists and creatives full of dynamic and one-of-a-kind experiences. Live performances can include music, dance, spoken-word, theatrical, fashion shows, and much more. Pop-up installations are displayed throughout the museum, allowing you to view unique artworks from our creative partners. Entry is included with general admission, which is free for museum members and kids 18 and under." `[HERE](`[`https://www.denverartmuseum.org/en/untitled`](https://www.denverartmuseum.org/en/untitled)`)` is the local artist lineup. \*\*An Evening of Art\*\* Saturday, November 19, 6PM-9PM Burning Through Pages is a non-profit organization that provides literature, resources, and time to youth organizations in an effort to foster communities of great readers and inspired thinkers. Located in Denver, CO, Burning Through Pages is dedicated to the advocacy of reading and writing for our city’s youth. Burning Through Pages will have local artists (including The Art Garage's very own Elena Niermann!), selling their pieces, hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and kind community. Each ticket includes two free drinks and food. All proceeds will go to their Teacher Support Grants and after school reading programs. Please invite your friends and family! Learn more and register `[HERE](`[`https://www.eventcreate.com/e/an-evening-of-art?fs=e&s=cl`](https://www.eventcreate.com/e/an-evening-of-art?fs=e&s=cl)`)`! \*\*Joyous Book Club\*\* Monthly book recommendations from The Art Garage's Community Liaison, Joy Giles \*\*Two Roads by Joseph Bruchac\*\* This is a book of historical fiction for youth and adults that leads the reader on a journey through 1932 United States through the eyes of a 12 year old boy named Cal. After World War 1 during the depression, many people of every social class in the United States lost everything including their homes. Cal and his father, and many other people, turned to hopping trains to travel around the country in search of work. Known as “hoboes” or “Gentlemen of the Road” there was a code of conduct among them that compelled them to act with honor and trustworthiness in their search for paying jobs. Cal’s father was a veteran and part of the post-World War One Bonus Army comprised of 45,000 veterans of WW1 who were promised a bonus payment based on their service to the nation and ultimately had to march on Washington to demand that the U.S Government honor its promise. When Cal’s father decides to go to Washington to join his fellow veterans, he drops Cal off at the Challagi Indian school thus leading Cal on another kind of journey into his own identity. While this school was fictitious, it was based off of the real Chilloco Indian Agricultural School. In U.S history there were many of these schools which used military tactics to strip Native American children of their heritage, language and cultural indentities. Though Cal and his classmates endured terrible treatment and living conditions at this school, they did develop strong friendships and helped each other keep their cultures alive despite the oppressive rules of the school that wanted to “kill the Indian and save the man”. Cal’s father had hoped this would be the case as he himself had attended the school when he was younger. This book was not only enjoyable to read it was informative and shed light on other facets of United States history that doesn’t get the attention it should in U.S history education. \*\*The Absolutely True Diary of a Part\-Time Indian\, by Sherman Alexie\*\* This is a fictional yet semi-autobiographical book about the life of Arnold Spirit Jr. (or Junior) a teenager who lives on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Washington state. Despite the author’s unfortunate indiscretions, this is a really good book: well written, bust-out laughing funny, heart wrenchingly sad, incredibly thought provoking and eye opening. I loved it, but you can decide for yourselves if you choose to read it. \*\*The Marrow Thieves\, by Cherie Dimaline\*\* This is a young adult dystopian novel that starts off in what used to be Toronto, Canada before the earth is almost destroyed by global warming. The story follows Frenchie and a group of people who eventually think of themselves as family. This group are running from “recruiters” who hunt Indigenous people from North America for their bone marrow which they believe will help them recover their ability to dream. This book also emphasizes the importance of culture and heritage and that family is not only what you’re born into, it can be chosen as well. This was a hauntingly beautiful book. I highly recommend it. \*\*The Native American Heritage Month Reading List\*\* Join Penguin Random House in celebrating Native American Heritage. Books are vital to understanding ourselves and those around us. Use this month as a starting place to read more beloved stories by Indigenous authors and about Native American history and heritage. From award-winning contemporary and classic fiction to nonfiction and young adult, there are so many books to choose from! Find the reading list `[HERE](`[`https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/the-read-down/native-american-heritage-month`](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/the-read-down/native-american-heritage-month)`)`