Gini Woodward needs help for NAMI, offers classes!
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| Gini Woodward is answering the hotline and manning the intertubes, webs, whatever, to give people a chance to have fun and learn ... and help her remember why that propensity to do too much never let her down. |
An organization dear to Gini's huge heart, the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), is holding a fundraiser called "Take a Seat at the Table" October 7 at the Ponderay Event Center, and, as the name implies, in involves chairs.
Someone donated four captain's chairs to be painted for the event, which will be highlighted by an auction of artist-decorated chairs, and Gini offered to be the artist.
BUT, in her enthusiasm, she drove past a thrift store and just happened to see TWO MORE chairs that would be perfect for the event ... so she "rescued" them, and now she's stuck in a smock, paint brush in either hand, six chairs in need of paint ... artistic paint, not the kind that works with a spray can or a roller ... and only four weeks to go before the event.
It's fortunate that Gini's not only an artist, but a realist. She knows she'll never get all the work done on time, not if, as she demands, high artistic standards are met. Most people would be calling neighbors, calling in favors, falling on bended knee to plead for help.
Gini's not most people.
Instead of any of the above, she's turning her over-enthusiasm into an event that is positive. Not only for NAMI, not to pull her out of hot water, but for everyone who takes part in a series of free workshops with a true artistic master.
Her sunny flier announcing the workshop series is warm and inviting as fall sets and it offers a lofty opportunity ... "LEARN BY DOING!"
And it's FREE!
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. you are invited to Gini's "Sundance Studio, 7438 Sundance (her garage), to LEARN NEW SKILLS AND TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO AN IMPORTANT CAUSE!
She missed her calling, Gini should have been an ad executive on Madison Avenue or an ice cream salesman in Alaska ... she is GOOD!
She does bring honesty into play ... "come to work parties as your time allows."
Parties being the key word. It's not work when the goal is to see "funky furniture metamorphosed to treasured art."
Even when the metamorphasis entails evaluating and repairing skeletons of run-down chairs, prepping their surfaces, sanding and stripping (the chair, not you), priming, painting, upholstering, designing, decorating adorning, glazing, finishing both canvas and wood ... Hmmm ... The way she puts it, it sounds more like fun than work.
Put that way, maybe Gini has turned what could well be a cry for help into a shout of encouragement for a unique opportunity?
NAMI Far North held it's first "Take a Seat at the Table" event in 2009. With the auction of chairs and a silent auction of hand-crafted arts and crafts, fueled by a steady flow of ice cream sundaes, enough was raised to conduct more classes for the families of those who love and raise someone with mental illness, disability or special need; to help provide a support system for them when the need arises; for keeping those families together rather than tearing them apart.
This year's event promises to be the best yet, as potters, fiber artists and other talented people pitch in to save chairs, worn out seats and stools, even benches and ottomans from the landfill, transforming them from worn out junk to art and heirloom.
As she's done so often in the past, Gini didn't overstep her own ability for a good cause. She wrought an opportunity.
"Accentuate the positive."
For that, there's no better teacher.