Art holds promise for children at riskThe Katy ARTreach Board of Directors hosted their annual Advisor’s Meeting on Friday January 20th to discuss ways to expand art programs serving children at risk. The meeting helps to determine the focus for the

organization’s efforts in the upcoming year by identifying the community’s most pressing youth problems. Is it drugs, vandalism, truancy, gang related or domestic violence and how can creative art programs help?

Advisors and representatives from Katy Christian Ministries Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Center, The Krause Residential Treatment Center, and Katy ISD attended the meeting to open discussions on new art program

ideas that would address the needs of Katy’s growing population of children determined to be at-risk. (continued on page 2)

Katy ARTreach Announces Scholarship WinnersKaty ARTreach awards scholarships to teens identifi ed though CASA, and/or in CPS placement centers, residential treatment facilities and foster

care homes in Fort Bend County. “The scholarship program can release a student’s potential in art and pave the way for suc-cess in the future,” says Terri Bieber executive di-rector of Katy ARTreach. “Many of the children in the foster care system are very talented, but their background and family

circumstances have prevented them from exploring artistic avenues”.This Katy ARTreach program places a qualifying student with a profes-

sional art instructor. To qualify for the award, the student must demonstrate interest and enthusiasm in a particular fi eld of art including visual art, music, dance or drama. The student can be identifi ed and qualifi ed for the program through individual case management or their caseworker, or they may com-plete an application process that includes a written essay, a portfolio of draw-ings, recommendations from their teachers and an interview. Once placed in the program a successful applicant can continue in the program until they graduate from high school.

Alan Darby, a professional music teacher and owner of Tempo School of Music is providing guitar lessons to one of the selected students, “My stu-dent is very talented and has only been playing the guitar for 6 months prior to coming to Krause. He is searching for his musical soul; I am very excited to be able to work with him.”

Elizabeth Linder, a professional illustrator and art instructor is teaching her second student placed in the program. “I am amazed by how much they want to learn about art and how quickly they pick it up.” Linder’s fi rst Krause student was discharged last month from the Krause Center and has been invited to continue after-school and weekend lessons at her studio in Katy until she graduates from high school. This is a special opportunity for these children at risk.

The Katy ARTreach Art Scholarship Program is made possible by a grant from Houston Endowment and local community business support. Find out how your business can be an “in-part” sponsor of this important program. Call Katy ARTreach at 281-392-5341

2006-2007 katyartreach.org

I am learning that I am like a Picasso painting. I am good

even if I seem messed upBeatriz, Age 12

Krause Center Student

Katy ARTreach Supports the Trinity Charter School Arts-in-Education ProgramKaty ARTreach is partnering with Lutheran So-cial Services and the Trinity Charter School to provide high quality educational services to the children at the Krause Children’s Residential Treatment Center. The Treatment Center serves children with severe emotional and behavioral problems, most stemming from past abuse and neglect. The majority of the children are referred to the treatment center from the child welfare and juvenile systems.

Often children enter the Krause Center one to three grade levels behind. Several reasons con-tribute to this situation; they come from abusive and/or neglectful homes where education was not a priority. They have not been encouraged to attend school, much less study their homework. Also as the child welfare system investigates and addresses the abuse and neglect they have suf-fered, the children are uprooted from their homes and moved to various foster care settings before they are admitted to the center. That means they have changed schools several times, often in the middle of the semester.

Lutheran Social Services believes a quality educational experience is integral to the overall treatment of the children. Trinity Charter School focuses on core subject learning and credit recovery programs. Katy ARTreach focuses on the arts as an important part of the children’s educational program.

Katy ARTreach is a 501 c-3 non-profi t organization providing art educational support to under-served school com-munities within the Katy tri-county area. Katy ARTreach seeks funding through grant writing and donations to bring the arts to the underprivileged. Katy ARTreach is dedicated to serv-ing Children at Risk, Troubled Youth, Families in Crisis and the Elderly.

Katy ARTreach4211 Stonecroft Circle

Katy, Texas 77450(281) 392-5341

www.katyartreach.org

Executive Director

Terri Bieber

Board MembersKim Ginn

Theresa MattizaDiane Covert

Claudia RichterGayle HuffmanScott BieberCarol AdamsMindy Adams

Katherine AmmerLori Gunn

AdvisorsAnn HodgeAnn Bayliss

Sandy FaucettSusan Hastings

Phil AshfordBeth ZarateJoy CastnerJulie King

Martha BrownJane Lowery

Elizabeth BaileyDowny Vickery

Katy ARTreach is a volunteer organi-zation. Tax deductible donations sup-porting our programs are greatly ap-preciated.

BECOME INVOLVED

MAKE A DONATION or VOLUNTEER TODAY

“ART. It’s not a Thing; it’s a Way”(Elbert Hubbard, Author)

What is an “at-risk” child?An at-risk child is in all grade levels, they may have life circumstances beyond their control, they may be yielding low grades, have excessive disci-pline referrals, or abundant absences. These chil-dren are at risk of academic failure, not graduating from high school, drug abuse, gang activity and violence. Today’s youth face complex challenges affecting their personal lives and future opportu-nities. National statistics cite that youth account for 18 percent of all reported violent crime and 33 percent of all serious property crime.

How can Art programs help?Art programs provide positive alternatives for at-risk youth. Katy ARTreach uses art programs to help participants learn how to express themselves in an appropriate non-violent manner. These skills lead to less crime. Youth often face diffi cult choic-es. The arts teach creative problem solving skills and builds self confi dence and self discipline. Arts education is central to a youth’s individual and so-cial development and nurtures a child’s develop-ment by:a Strengthening academic performance and com-munication

a Teaching cooperation and team building skillsa Contributing to technological competencea Fostering an appreciation for cultural and ethnic diversitya Teaching creative problem solving skillsa Building self esteem and self disciplinea Encouraging the ability to imagine and articulate thoughtsa Teaching responsibility to complete tasks from start to fi nisha Increasing literacy skillsa Deterring delinquent behavior and truancy prob-lems.

Katy ARTreach is exploring ways to develop new Mentoring through Art programs for children at risk. The need to expand services available to Katy ISD through the KEYS (Keep Encouraging Youth towards Success), KISD PEP (Pregnancy and Education Program) and Katy ISD OAC (Op-portunity Awareness Center) has been identifi ed. Katy ARTreach is also increasing their participa-tion in developing art programs aimed at support-ing the primary and secondary victims of crime through Katy Christian Ministries Sexual Assault Center and the Domestic Abuse Center.

(Art holds promise, continued from cover)

TThe Krause Center is a residential treatment facility in Katy. It is home to 60 chil-dren ages 11-17. These children come from all over Texas and are placed here by Children’s Protective Services (CPS) or the juvenile justice system. The children receive treatment for a range of behavioral or emotional issues stemming from the effects of physical and sexual abuse, abandonment and neglect. The center provides individual therapy and counseling as well as an integrated year-round educational program provided by Trinity Charter School. These programs are designed to help these children ease back into society with the goal of re-entering the public school system once they return to their families, or are placed in new foster care homes.

Katy ARTreach is supporting the center’s Expanding Horizons Program. This program is designed, as the name implies, to expand a child’s horizons, by pro-viding a variety of creative activities the chil-dren would not otherwise experience. Katy ARTreach is Expanding Horizons through Art by bringing in visual art, drama, music and dance to the center.

The Krause kids are experiencing a va-riety of art media thanks to the Ex-panding Horizons Program and Katy ARTreach. Pictured: Teachers from Katy Visual & Perform-ing Arts Center and volunteers from the National Chari-ties League worked with the children to create color-ful masks. Other workshops included Forensic Drawing and Beginner Wa-tercolor.

Katy ARTreach brings the therapeutic arts and art-related activities to the Krause Children’s Residential Treatment Center. Pictured- Studio Recording & Music making at the Krause Center

ART & BUSINESSKaty ARTreach designs educational and en-trepreneurial art programs that teach valuable business concepts and technical skills in silk screening, printmaking, computer graphics, mural painting and ceramics. The Art & Busi-ness program also incorporates weekend and af-ter-school activities, business and studio tours, special events and inspirational speakers.

“Ceramics as Functional Art” A Katy ARTreach Arts & Business Project Sponsored by the Target Corporation

Studio Recording and Music Making 101Expressive Art and Music Making Projects for Delta Boot Camp and Krause Center in-clude special courses in Studio Recording. Be a Rap Star! Pictured Donald Broden of DeRay Productions teaching the fi ne art of Studio Rap and Remix. Fun! The course concludes with a student presentation and original CD soundtrack.

Katy ARTreach and the Krause Center’s

E x p a n d i n g H o r i z o n s P r o g r a m

Making Wearable Art! Tie Dyed T-shirts at the Krause Center

Did You Know?The arts teach kids to be more

tolerant and open.

The arts allow kids to express

themselves creatively.

The arts promote individuality, bolster

self-confi dence, and improve overall

academic performance.

The arts can help provide an alternative

to delinquent behavior and truancy while

providing an improved attitude

towards school.

Katy ARTreach is partnering with Katy I.S.D. and the PEP program. PEP is the Pregnancy, Educational and Parenting Program. Since 1991 Katy Independent School District has provided a compensatory program for pregnant and/or par-enting students as part of the drop out prevention and recov-ery program. The mission of PEP is to enable school age par-ents through education to become self suffi cient, responsible, job-oriented citizens. The PEP program goal is to reduce the number of students who drop out of school due to pregnancy and/or parenthood and recover young parents 21 years or un-der into the educational system.

The doors to education do not close due to pregnancy. In fact, it is more important than ever that students stay in school. Lack of a high school diploma or marketable skills can mean low paying jobs and little job security for the rest of one’s life. Pregnant and parenting students are often at risk of joining the large number of students who leave school prior to graduation.

Katy ARTreach brings the arts to children at risk of drop-ping out of high school. Art is utilized as a means to increase self esteem and foster creativity. Katy ARTreach participates in the PEP Educational Workshop each year. The workshop is designed to introduce students to the community and educational resources avail-able to them as they strive to reach career, educational and parenting goals. This year Katy ARTreach will be bringing out the dance group URGEWORKS from Houston to entertain during the morning session. Many of the of these young dancers can provide remarkable testimony as to how they personally have overcome the odds set against them as teen parents and returned to school to graduate from high school and university.

Award Winning Art StudentsKrause students were awarded 1st place ribbons in the Texas Gulf Coast Ceramic Show for sculptures depicting sadness, frustration, happiness and boredom. This expressive artwork was created in a 6-week course called “Express Yourself and the Art of Clay” taught by local artist Tess Thornton and owner of “Ceramics By Tess” in Katy. This project was sponsored by Lutheran Social Services and the Fant Foundation.

Katy ARTreach partners with PEP

Katy ARTreach partners with social services, the juvenile justice sys-tem and local school districts to bring the arts to children at risk, trou-bled youth, families in crisis and the elderly in the Katy tri-county area. Katy ARTreach supports art programs currently running at the Krause Residential Treatment Center, Katy Christian Ministries Domestic Abuse Center, Delta Boot Camp, Katy I.S.D. through PEP the KEYS Program (Keep Encouraging Youth towards Success). Katy ARTreach is a 501(c) 3 non-profi t volunteer organization. To become involved or to make a tax deductible donation to support Katy ARTreach programs call 281-392-5341 or visit www.katyARTreach.org.

Using visual and performing arts, a local organization hopes its out-reach and impact to Katy’s underprivileged will grow throughout the community.

Katy ARTreach, founded by Executive Director Terri Bieber, said art can help people cope with their past and improve their future.

The social service organization works with at-risk children in sev-eral Katy ISD schools, troubled youth at the Krause Children’s Treat-ment Center in Katy, families in crisis at the Katy Christian Ministries Domestic Abuse Center and the elderly at Katy Area Medical Care Facilities.

It started three years ago when Katy ARTreach partnered with the Katy ISD KEYS (Keep Encouraging Youth Towards Success) mentoring program to offer the arts to an at-risk child in the KEYS program at Mayde Creek Elementary.

In addition to listening to a child’s concerns and offering encour-agement, helping a child experience the arts can be therapeutic and facilitates communication between a mentor and a child according to Martha Brown, Katy ISD Partners in Education Specialist Assistant.

“The kids really seem to be more open and chatty when they’re busy with a hands-on project rather than just eye-to-eye contact. They feel more comfortable opening up,” Brown said.

A new mentor, Elizabeth Linder, works with three students at MCE and said art gives children, who might have a low self-esteem, a sense of signifi cance as each child creates something unique.

By CATHERINE BROWN, cbrown@katycourier.com

While hip hop beats fi lled the gym at the Krause Children’s Center, the messages affi liated with those beats differed from mainstream hip-hop — they were positive. Tre9, Ras, Colcutz and Icece used their musical talents to reach out to the children of Krause during the New Year’s Eve concert and bring positive messages of God’s love, the power of determination and many others inspired by their own life experiences. Tre9, or Bobby Herring, said he wants to do performances such as the one at Krause because he has a passion for the youth and understands the hardships of life growing up in the inner city.

“The reason I do this is because I know heavy infl uences are in the world. In hip-hop those infl uences are negative,” he said. “Rappers like us are the only beacon of hope for them. I’m committed to doing this because I want to spread hope. This generation does not have hope.”

Herring joined together with Colcutz, Chris Gamez of URGE-WORKS, to help spread a positive message to kids by using their own experiences in life as examples.

The group brought messages of replacing bad infl uences with good ones, determination to succeed in life, and love of self and others.

Before the four rappers left, they had a question-and-answer session with the kids in which they were allowed to ask any questions they wanted.

Many of the residents were interested in Icece, who is a three-time felon and spent some time in jail.

Icece was honest with the kids in describing how he got in trouble and how he turned his life around.

Katy ARTreach works to bring inspirational artists and musicians like these to youth who are going through a hard time. Katy ARTreach pro-grams serve the children at Krause and Juvenile Correctional Facilities in Fort Bend and Harris County.

Local program uses art as tool for creativity, healingBy Jeremy Moreno Times Staff Writer

Rappers give upbeat message at Krause Center

“There is no right or wrong with art, unlike science and math. What we’re trying to do is see through the eyes of you. Whatever is in you is something special that only you can make,” Linder said.

This year, the KEYS program at Morton Ranch Junior High began offering the arts through Katy ARTreach. The student who started the pilot program at MCE continued it at MRJH. Both Bieber and Brown said Katy ARTreach should reach more students as more art mentors become available.

By HELEN ERIKSEN, Chronicle Correspondent

An art display created by at-risk students at Katy’s Krause Residential Center is on display at Jones Hall in Houston through Sunday in conjunction with several Houston Symphony performances.

The art was created in October at the center when students and volunteers painted canvases while listening to symphony members perform violin duets, said Terri Bieber, executive director of Katy ARTreach, which organized that event.

“It is a sign that Katy is hitting the big times,” said Bieber, whose group organizes art programs for at-risk children, families in crisis and the elderly. “Jones Hall is so huge, and the students are thrilled to show off their work in such a nice environment.”

The exhibit is being held in conjunction with performances showcasing Emanuel Ax, who will perform Mozart compositions. The shows will be at 8 p.m. today and Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Jones Hall is at 615 Louisiana in Houston. Call 713-224-7575 for ticket information.

The Krause Center is a residential treatment center that houses 60 children ages 11-17 who have behavioral and emotional issues stemming from physical and sexual abuse, abandonment or neglect. The students are placed at the center by the juvenile justice system or foster homes.

The paintings were created during the “Katy Community Day of Caring,” sponsored by Tradition Bank. In addition to the students who participated in the event, about 12 mentors and several community volunteers came to create art while they listed to the 25-minute musical performance, Bieber said.

“The music was out of the box for them,” Bieber said of the students’ experience of painting to classical music.

Christine Pastorek, community outreach manager and a violinist with the symphony, said it was exciting to bring music to the students.

“We hear constantly about the difference that music can make in a person’s life whether they are old or young or sick or elderly,” Pastorek said. “It can be very therapeutic.”

In addition to providing art supplies like brushes, canvases and paint, bank staff members helped students with their projects.

“Everyone had a wonderful time and the artwork was truly incredible,” said Downy Vickery, bank presi-dent and CEO. “It’s amazing how talented and expressive these kids are with their artwork.”

For information about Katy ARTreach, call 281-392-5341.

Painting to MozART!

Community Day of Caring at the Krause Center- Sponsored by the Houston Symphony, Katy Performing Arts Society (KPAS) and Tradition Bank

Jones Hall art display shows Krause students’ talents. Works were made while young artists heard Mozart performance

HEROES AMONG US GalaOver 50 “Paintings to Mozart” were created by the 2005 Katy ARTreach “Heroes among Us” and fi nal bids ranged from $45 -$270 a piece and helped raised over $12,000 for the organization at the annual gala.

Local Leaders Paint for Charity- The si-lent auction of the Heroic paintings helped raise over $12,000 for Katy ARTreach.

ARTreaching outBy PEARL K. CAJOLES, pcajoles@katycourier.com

More than 100 people spent their Friday afternoon in the Great Southwest Equestrian Center to support Katy ARTreach, a non-profi t organization that brings the arts to at-risk children and the elderly.

The group’s second annual Heroes Among Us gala luncheon recognized volunteers at the Krause Children’s Center, Katy Christian Ministries Domestic Abuse Center, the KEYS program at Katy ISD, Delta Boot Camp and the Katyville Health Center.

Kristy, a Krause resident, witnessed the number of people who support children in her circumstances. Kristy’s real name is not used to protect her privacy.

“It’s good to know that there are people who care. Some of the kids at Krause don’t see anything but bad things in their lives. The people they grew up with didn’t support them. But with this, you can see that there really are good people in the world,” Kristy said. Children like Kristy are referred to the Krause Center by Child Protective Services.

Most of the children there are victims of abuse and neglect. Through ARTreach programs at the Center, Bieber said she and those who volunteer hope to see art used as an outlet for healing and expression.

“With this gala, you can physically see the tremendous amount of support the community has given to our kids. You have to be here to see how many people actually contribute to the children’s success,” Krause director Phil Ashford said.

Thank you to our 2005-06 Heroes Among UsHill and Carol Adams, Tad and Mindy Ad-ams, Saundra Adams, Kathy Attaway, Ann Bayliss, Jackie Birkel, Martha Brown, Bob Bryant, Carol and Johnny Bonoccorso Doyle and Kay Callender, Bill Callegari, Diane Covert, Shea Davenport, Helen Eriksen, Sandy Faucett, Anthony Francis, Dale Flowers, Buddy Frazier, Rebecca Fox ,Lisa and Craig Guidry, Lori Gunn, Glenn Hegar, Phil and Gayle Huffman, Susan Hastings, Ann and Bob Hodge, Dr. Zach-ary Hodges, Tracy Janda, Mitzi Jones, April Kreger, Theresa and David Mattiza, Janine Meyers, Leonard Merrell, Kristin Miller, Beth Nightingale, Martha Nichol-son, Bin Nguyen, Judy Owens, Kay Pon-tious, Wendy Rial, Claudia Richter, Sylvia Sierra, Ricardo Roque, Nancy Stiles, Walt Sass, Kurt and Laurie Senske, Jeff and Susan Smith, Jim and Deborah Stanley, Janet Theis, Downy and Kavin Vickery, Bob and Chaliee Voelkel

Nomiate a Hero!Katy ARTreach Heroes are recognized for the good work they do in our com-

munity and nominations for 2006-07 “Heroes among Us”

are being accepted through July.

Katy ARTreach Receives HOPE Grant from the Offi ce of Victims of Crime in Washington for Domestic Abuse Center ProgramKaty ARTreach programs are serving the sec-ondary victims of crime at the Katy Chris-tian Ministries Domestic Abuse Center. This ARTreach program brings creative art workshops and mentors to KCM each week to provide a sup-portive and a nurturing environment for children involved in family crisis situations.

Art becomes a vehicle for the secondary vic-tims to express themselves without words, words that might escape young children. Art is utilized to discover hidden talents, and to build self con-fi dence and self esteem. The program is provid-ing a nurturing and supportive environment for the children while the parent is participating in counseling provided by the center.

Friends through ArtArt is a way to enrich the lives of the elderly

Katy ARTreach works to en-rich the lives of the elderly by bringing week-ly art classes to residents of public care nursing homes like Katyville Medical Care Center. Be-come a volun-teer today. Katy ARTreach is looking for stu-

dents and adults interested in being a friend to the elderly through art. Contact Katy ARTreach 281-392-5341

The Mentor, Oil on Canvas, 11” x 14”, Elizabeth Linder

Katy ARTreach Teaching Artist & Mentor - Elizabeth LinderWhen looking for inspiration for painting The Mentor, I was compelled to look to the Impressionist period and create a tribute to The Sower, by Vincent Van Gogh. The tragedies of the artist’s life are well known, however, the encouragement and support (mentoring) Vincent received from his brother, Theo, enabled him to fi nally achieve the “frank technique,” powerful in its simplicity, that would result in some of the most affecting paintings ever made.

Vincent told an artist friend that goodwill was needed to paint fi gures. The fi gures in The Mentor walking hand in hand through a fi eld of freshly plowed soil represent goodwill and celebrate the path of mentoring as they journey toward the harvest.

A WORK OF HEART

Katy AR-Treach is a featured member of the American for the Arts. americans-forthearts.org

Katy ARTreach Receives Grant from Houston EndowmentThe Board of Directors of Houston Endowment Inc. has authorized a grant of $20,000 over the next two years to be awarded to Katy ARTreach, a community non-profi t organization that brings the arts to children at risk and the elderly in Katy. The money will be used to support Katy ARTreach scholarships for chil-dren at risk, programs at the Krause Center, Delta Boot Camp and new programs serving the elderly.The grant has also allowed Katy ARTreach to immediately expand their Mentor-ing through Art program serving the Katy I.S.D. KEYS Program at Mayde Creek Elementary and Morton Ranch Jr. High to include Odessa Kilpatrick Elementary. “Our program brings teaching artists to the children placed in the KEYS Program”. Terri Bieber executive director of Katy ARTreach says, “KEYS is an acronym for “Keep Encouraging Youth towards Success” Katy ARTreach Mentoring through Art program utilizes Art as an icebreaking activity and a way to build self esteem and self confi dence. Bieber adds, “Self confi dence and self esteem is a key to success”.The program is in need of volunteers interested in sharing their time and talents with children in need. Art teaching training is available through Katy ARTreach and mentor training is available through the KEYS Program as well. “It is a great collaboration”, says Katy I.S.D. KEYS Director Martha Brown. “Katy ARTreach works to introduce new mentors to the KEYS Program and at the same time im-mediately serve numerous children on a waiting list for one-on-one mentors”. She adds, “The artwork the kids create in this program is beautiful!”Katy ARTreach will be featuring selected artwork created in various Katy ART-reach programs this fall in a rotating exhibition through the Tradition Banks in Katy. To become involved as a volunteer or to Mentor through Art please call 281-392-5341. Visit the website www.katyartreach.org to learn more.

Katy ARTreach brings the Arts to Delta Boot CampKaty ARTreach is bringing an art program to Delta Boot Camp. Delta Boot Camp is a Harris County Juvenile Probation Department’s Residential Correctional facility located in Hockey, Texas.

The art program is being initiated as a pilot designed to enhance the core educational curriculum and vocational programs currently offered at the facility. “This is a unique opportunity for our students to participate in the arts,” says Julie Timpe, Juvenile Justice Charter School Principal, “Many of our students are very talented, but opportunities to experience the arts have not been available to them on a regular basis”.

Terri Bieber, executive director for Katy ARTreach, believes exposure to the arts can release a student’s potential and pave the way towards success in the future. “Students at Delta Boot Camp are going through a tough time. They have made choices in their life that have resulted in juvenile adjudication. I have met children here who think the only road available to them leads to prison”. Bieber adds, “We believe the arts can open their minds to more creative thinking. We want to help these children visualize a more positive future”.

It is commonly accepted that arts teach kids to be more tolerant and open, and that the arts promote individuality, bolster self confi dence and improve overall academic performance. Katy ARTreach programs are designed to help troubled youth, providing an alternative to delinquent behavior and truancy while promoting an improved attitude towards a scholastic environment.

Katy ARTreach’s Art Program for Delta Boot Camp will introduce the students to numerous techniques and disciplines in the visual arts, and will include workshops in dancing, song writing, music and studio recording. The art program supports the Juvenile Justice Charter School and Texas Educational Agency’s Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) objectives.

Katy ARTreach programs are made available to underserved school communities in the Katy tri-county area. The organization is current-ly supporting creative art programs running at the Krause Children’s Center, Katy Christian Ministries Domestic Abuse Center, Katy I.S.D. and numerous public care nursing homes for the elderly. The Delta Boot Camp Pilot Art Program is made possible by a grant from Houston Endowment Inc.

Working through K.I.S.D. KEYS to “Keep En-couraging Youth towards Suc-cess” Katy AR-Treach mentors also work with children on the brink of suc-cess as part of the Katy I.S.D. KEYS Program (Keep Encour-aging Youth to-

wards Success). These ARTreach programs uti-lize successful art experiences, exhibitions and awards as a way to build self-confi dence and self-esteem in preschool and elementary aged children.

Five teenagers spent their Wednesday morning at R. David Mattiza’s Epiphany Studios to continue work on what might become a testament to the lives of those housed by Krause Children’s Center.

Under the Katy sculptor’s guidance, the Krause teens transformed blocks of clay into smaller squares and thin rolls. They would later use the smaller pieces to build a fi ve-foot sculpture of a winged woman rising out of a pile of ashes, one hand pointing to the sky and another clutching a diploma.

“It’s good to have them back here,” Mat-tiza said. “I’ve been waiting to start work-

ing on this p r o j e c t again.”

S i n c e Sep tem-ber 2005, M a t t i z a has been w o r k -ing with K r a u s e residents

through the Expanding Horizons program to build a bronze sculpture that will stand inside the residential treatment facility. Wheat Ridge Ministries, an independent Lutheran organization, provided the proj-ect’s initial funding.

Expanding Horizons coordinator Terri Bieber said she applied for the grant with intentions to expose the children to what she hopes might become life-changing opportunities.

“With this, they are exposed to some-thing that might change their trajectories,” she said of the children placed in Krause by Child Protective Services.

Inspiration for the sculpture came from a Native American legend about a man named Piqua, burned by his captors and reduced to ashes. However, out of the gray dust rose a creature with wings like a phoenix, fi nding freedom as it fl ew to-ward the sky.

“The children talked about their dreams, how they want to be free,” Bieber said of the children during their initial meeting with Mattiza. “It was decided (the sculpture) should be designed to represent this image of a beautiful winged spirit rising from the ashes.”

As she added more clay to the sculpture’s base, Krause resident Jocelyn said the expe-rience allowed her a chance to fi nd peace. Jocelyn’s real name is not used to protect her identity.

“This makes me want to look forward to doing something with my knowledge,” she said as she ex-plained how a statue’s base should be heavy enough to support its body. “Knowing that I can actually be part of something like this makes me feel very calm.”

Work with Piqua will continue with another Krause visit to Epiphany Studios. For information on the Ex-panding Horizons Program, go to www.katyartreach.org.

Sculptor Expanding HorizonsBy PEARL K. CAJOLESpcajoles@katycourier.com

Inspiration for the

sculpture came

from a Native

American legend

about a man named

Piqua, burned by

his captors and re-

duced to ashes.

ARTreach sees need for volunteersBy PEARL K CAJOLESpcajoles@katycourier.com

The Katy ARTreach Board of Directors on Friday met with community advi-sors from Katy educational and social service organizations to discuss the group’s progress and ways the arts can have an impact on troubled youth, children at risk and the elderly.

Waymond Wesley, principal of the Krause Children’s Center Trinity Charter School, cited reasons why the arts are an important element to include in the educational program at the Krause Center.

Coming from a background similar to those of his students, Wesley said he understands how art helps the Krause children face the issues that have brought them to the Center. According to Wesley, many Krause children can benefi t by fi nding creative ways to express themselves.

At Krause, ARTreach executive director Terri Bieber heads the Expanding Horizons program, which supports Wesley’s belief. This year, the Expanding Horizons program has brought the Krause children to a performance at the Houston Symphony and to a workshop with Katy bronze sculptor R. David Mattiza.

Mayde Creek Elementary School assistant principal Julia King, Katy ISD’s advisor to ARTreach, reported that ARTreach mentors have had a positive impact on the school’s children.

Working with KISD’s KEYS program, ARTreach partners with schools in the district to bring extra art opportunities to students who might not have enough support at home.

However, King said Mayde Creek Elementary has a waiting list for men-tors and would like to see the ARTreach program expand to serve additional children.

But because ARTreach is a nonprofi t organization, Bieber said the group relies on community participation for its success.

“At the meeting, we saw and discussed the need to recruit volunteers, and fi nding mentors for many of our programs,” she said.

The group also works with the Katy Christian Ministries Domestic Abuse Center, the Delta Boot Camp and the Katyville Medical Center.

For information about Katy ARTreach, go to http://www.katyartreach.org/ or call 281-392-5341.

Young Audiences of HoustonKaty ARTreach partners with local artists, businesses and community non-profi ts to bring the arts to children in need

Katy ARTreach partners with numerous local businesses and regional non-profi ts to bring creative art programs to the children at the Krause Center and other youth fa-cilities in Katy. The children at Krause are in residential treatment for emotional and behavioral issues and can not leave the Krause campus dur-ing most of the time they are residing at the center.

Bringing the arts directly to the children at Krause as

well as other underserved school communities in Katy is the mission of Katy ARTreach (www.katyARTreach.org). Katy ARTreach looks for professional artists and musicians who are interested in working with children at risk, and seeks well designed and creative art programs as offered through non-profi t organizations like Young Audiences of Houston (www.yahouston.org) to directly serve Katy’s troubled youth centers. Katy ARTreach brings performances, workshops and residen-cy programs as available through the Katy Performing Arts Society (KPAS), Katy Visual & Performing Arts Center, The Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, URGEWORKS Studios and other non-profi t art organizations through com-munity outreach partnerships. Numerous local businesses including MuchLuv Records, Epiphany Studios, Ceramics by Tess, Tempo Music and individual artist’s studios also partici-pate in ARTreach programs. If you are an artist or musician interested in working with troubled youth or children with special needs please contact Katy ARTreach at 281-392-5341 or you can email art.reach@earthlink.net Training and certifi -cation in therapeutic crisis intervention available.

“Reach for Success through Art” at Rio Bend.This program offers youth in the Rio Bend Foster Care Community a range of after-school, weekend, and summer activities, in-cluding workshops in public art and mural painting, creative movement, clay animation and fi lm making. The project concludes with a hip-hop festival, and a multi-media exhibition that celebrate life and the arts. Public installa-tions and multimedia exhibitions that celebrate the artistic successes of the youth involved will be featured at local community venues, sponsoring organizations and youth support service agencies (CASA) in the Richmond, Sugarland and Katy tri county area. This program is sponsored in part by Baker Petro-lite Corporation.

Teen Apprentice Art & Business Program. The projects will engage at-risk high school students in hands-on arts workshops to create their own functional and sellable works of art. A portion of this grant provides seed money to sustain an on-going self-funded model.

Family Outings/Cultural Arts ProgramExplores the infl uences of family and the cul-

tural arts in developing cultural appreciation and necessary social skills for youth to func-tion in today’s society. The program invites foster families to participate in arranged out-ings to the museum, the symphony and theater. CPS teens placed in group homes or residen-tial treatment, or as identifi ed through juvenile probation system, may also participate in this program with the support of CASA workers, mentors and volunteers.

Arts-in-Education Program at Fort Bend County Juvenile Detention Center and Delta Boot Camp.The Arts teach kids to be more tolerant and open, promote individuality and boost self-confi dence. The Arts provide an alternative to delinquent behavior and address the issue that many youth in trouble need opportunities to learn how to express themselves creatively.

Community Days of Caring for Residential Treatment Centers and Juvenile Correction-al Facilities remind troubled youth that the community cares about them. The sponsor-ing company and their employees are invited to participate as volunteers, working side by side with the youth to create unique works of

art and enjoy musical and/or performing arts presentations. These are very special events. A Community Day of Caring incorporates a va-riety of art-related experiences, from ceramic mug making and hip-hop dancers to painting to Mozart with the Houston Symphony.

$500 SponsorshipsHelp cover the cost of bronzing the Krause Children’s “Work in Progress”- Krause Cen-ter students and master sculptor R. David Mattiza worked together to create a sculpture they titled “Piqua” – like the legendary bird rising from the ashes of despair, the sculpture represents the hardships endured by children who are victims of domestic violence. It is a touching and beautiful testament of hope. The project received initial funding from Wheat Ridge Ministries and serves as a reminder that even in times of suffering and great sadness we are growing and learning. As life unfolds, we discover ourselves to be God’s origi-nal and true Work in Progress. Stop by the Epiphany Studio at 2501 S. Mason Road to see the Krause students work in progress. Katy ARTreach has 10 sponsorships open that will cover the cost of the bronzing this lasting work of art.

Katy ARTreach Relies on Community Support $1000 will underwrite any of the following programs: