Gator News

Interurban Center for the Arts to Host "Be Artful" to Support Elementary School Art Programs

By Monica Tolas, ICA Program Coordinator, Green River College Foundation, February 27, 2018

The Interurban Center for the Arts will host the fifth annual “Be Artful fundraiser on March 9 at 6:30 p.m. in Green River College’s Mel Lindbloom Student Union. All proceeds from this fun-filled event will raise money to elevate art education in local elementary schools. 

Guests will come together to create their own culturally inspired masterpiece while enjoying signature bites, raffle, and live music from Root5, a local Americana band. Participants can join in two distinctive art activities. The event will feature two ICA Art Docents, Charu Sonthalia, who will lead a Diya painting project. A Diya is a clay lamp that is used in India’s Diwali Festival (pictured below). Lynar Deluca who will guide another painting project will lead our second art station; a South American inspired paintbrush Alebrije. These Alebijes are an artistic spin on traditional paper mache mythical creatures 

“The Green River College Foundation is proud to make a difference in a child’s education by putting dedicated and caring adults into the lives of young children. The ICA feels that all children should have the opportunity to perceive and imagine art. In our efforts as a college and organization, our mission is to level the playing field by providing excellence in education,” said Monica Tolas, ICA program director. 

Tickets for Be Artful are available online for $25 per person or $40 for two people. Guests must be 21 or older to participate. Casual attire is appropriate for those who want to create their own art. 

For more information about Be Artful, contact Monica Tolas at 253-833-9111 ext. 2735 or via email at ica@greenriver.edu. To buy tickets online, visit https://www.greenrivercollegefoundation.org/ica/beartful.

About the Interurban Center for the Arts

The ICA is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing local elementary school age children with arts education. The ICA has been an outreach program funded and supported by the Green River College Foundation for 34 years. Currently, the ICA supports 32 elementary schools in seven school districts, including 16 schools in the Kent School District. The ICA provides support to 500 adult volunteers who, in turn, bring monthly art lessons to nearly 17,000 elementary aged schoolchildren.

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