UPCOMING EVENTS
Aug. 17 :: Solera
Sept. 27 :: SkyDive4Free
NEWS
We are now supported by GivingFirst.org!
We are an approved nonprofit on GivingFirst.org, a program of Community First Foundation. They not only offer detailed information about our nonprofit, but also provide fee-free credit card processing for all donations. They also provide receipts and a year-end statement to our donors. Visit us on their site and feel free to click the Donate Now button! GivingFirst.org
AfA 4-minute Video
2008 Grant Awards
Virginia Tech Tragedy
Power of Perception
:: shine ::
Watch our 4-minute video produced by Rachel Julkowski
:: Low Res (small file)
:: High Res (large file)
or see us on youtube!
Please contact us if you'd like to be sent a DVD of our video :: info@artfromashes.org
GRANTS AWARDED
Please visit our SUPPORT page for more information on the following grants awarded so far this year.
2008
Tony Grampsas Youth Services
Mayor's Office for Education and Children
City and County of Denver's Safe City Office
Colorado Council on the Arts Grants to Artists and Organizations
Colorado Humanities
WESTWORD
Colorado Council on the Arts YouthReach!
VIRGINIA TECH TRAGEDY by Catherine O'Neill Thorn (April 2007)
Because of my work with Columbine students after that shooting, BBC World News called to discuss the impact of violent acts such as these on young people and the ways in which poetry helped them. One of the Columbine survivors, Devon Adams, joined me to discuss the effect our poetry writing workshops had on her healing process (click to hear the BBC interview).
click here for the article...
THE POWER OF PERCEPTION by Catherine O'Neill Thorn (March 2007)
Early in March someone broke into our office and stole
our computer...A new computer (MacBookPro) would have cost us $3,000. That's hard to spend when $2,400 pays for an
8-week program for 20 youth. But we trusted that something
wonderful would come of it, and you can probably tell from the past tense, that it did.
click here for the rest of the article...
AWARDS
2008 MasterMind Award for Literary Arts.
...Art From Ashes has shown itself deserving of a MasterMind award. But Thorn insists that the real brains are the people her organization serves. "We know that arts are intrinsically healing, but Art from Ashes goes one step beyond that,‘ she says. "There is a cathartic process, where kids use poetry to talk about their pain and their rage. They listen to each other's poems and find out that they're not as isolated as they thought... We believe in the power of words, because words create and because these kids are creative geniuses. We lead them to a place where they start to create a different reality for themselves." —Amber Taufen, Westword
photo by Mark Manger
Westword's Best of Denver 2007 award for Best Therapeutic Poetry Organization
"Life isn't always easy for the young. And high-risk youth whose lives are impacted by violence, drugs and alcohol sometimes don't have the opportunity to find their voices or learn to express themselves. To combat that, Art From Ashes collaborates with other youth-service organizations to offer poetry and spoken-word workshops for kids who are homeless, incarcerated, in the court system or residing in treatment centers or just urban settings. Art From Ashes encourages emotional catharsis and expression through writing therapy, giving kids their voices before they lose them forever."
The Pan African Arts Society awarded Catherine O'Neill Thorn, executive director of Art from Ashes, the 2006 Community "Artivist" Award for "years of consistent commitment to the urban art scene in the Denver Metro area." Awards are presented to organizations and individuals who "work to encourage and support arts education, personal creativity and community engagement."
CONFERENCES
JULY 19 & 20, 2008: Art from Ashes provided two two-hour workshops a day at the Veterans of Hope conference The Welcome Table, the first of an annual event held at the Iliff School of Theology. Click here for more information on the Veterans of Hope.
MAY 1–3, 2008: Art from Ashes gave a presentation and two workshops—a youth workshop and an adult workshop—on our program at the national Assets for Colorado Youth Voices of Strength Conference held in Denver at the Colorado Convention Center.
APRIL 11, 2008: Safe City Youth Summit 2008: “Learn from the past, Live in the present, Look to the future” at the Tivoli on Auraria Campus
JULY 13, 2007: Open Dialogue XI: Global Connections to Cultural Democracy
Art from Ashes youth provided a spoken word performance and presentation on our work to promote non-violence through self-empowerment among youth in the community using poetry and the arts.
MAY 3, 2007: Art from Ashes gave a presentation and conducted a youth workshop and an adult workshop on poetry and spoken word at the national Assets for Colorado Youth Voices of Strength Conference held in Denver on May 3 and 4.
MARCH 21, 2007: Youth Crime Watch of America's 18th National Youth Crime Prevention Conference & International Forum
Art from Ashes presented a workshop on poetry and spoken word on March 21 at the YCW Conference on prevention and intervention methods available to counteract youth crime March 20-23. We were made famous (infamous?) shortly thereafter by a Kenny Be cartoon in Westword... check out www.bullypoet.com
JUNE 14 & 15, 2006: Art from Ashes gave a presentation and conducted a youth workshop and an adult workshop on poetry and spoken word at the national Assets for Colorado Youth Voices of Strength Conference in Denver.
COMING EVENTSPlease note that Art from Ashes will host one fundraiser per month. Each will feature a youth performance in order to support the efforts our young people are making to reach out to the community. AfA also will host one gala event a year. We hope that you will consider attending one event a month to offer emotional support to our youth performers and financial support for our work. Please check back, this site will be updated regularly.
UNTIL OUR NEWS & EVENTS PAGE IS ALL BETTER, PLEASE CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINKS TO MOVE TO OTHER PAGES:
SEPTEMBER EVENTS
SEPT 5, 2008: First Friday
Art from Ashes youth poets and Coyote Poets, a combination band and spoken word performance group, will be at the corner of 9th and Santa Fe from 6.30 to 8 pm. [map]
Saturday SEPT 27, 2008:
SKYDIVE4FREE with the "Phoenix Flying" Celebrity Fundraiser!
Join our celebrity skydive event at Mile-Hi Skydive. On Saturday, Sept. 27, join ALICE 105.9's executive producer Mikey Goldenberg, BJ, Howie & Jennifer Morning Show host Jennifer Wilde, and Denver Poet Laureate Chris Ransick. Just get a minimum of $500 in donations from friends and family for Art from Ashes and do a tandem dive for free. CLICK HERE for more information, or for a registration fee of $25, just sign up right away for your free jump at SKYDIVE4FREE!
Click to support one of our CURRENT JUMPERS
Chris Ransick
:: Marie Verrett
:: Melissa Kemp
:: Noelle Benjamin
:: Teri Karjala
:: Steve Karjala
:: Michael Pietz
UNTIL OUR EVENTS PAGE IS ALL BETTER,
PLEASE CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINKS TO MOVE TO OTHER PAGES:
PREVIOUS EVENTS (2006–2008)
AUGUST 17, 2008: Solera Restaurant and Wine Bar
Our wonderful fundraiser at Solera was a great time! The youth poets from our Art from Ashes workshops were fabulous; Brazilian Flamenco Guitarist Marco DiFerreira gifted us with his music; chef Andrew Van Stee of Il Posto served up some very fine appetizers; Andrew Burch and MIke Williams donated two cases of wine each; and we appreciate so much the generosity of the many businesses and individuals who donated the silent auction items. We especially would like to thank Ian Maxwell the general manager of Solera and resident sommelier, who donated the space, his expertise and all of his bartending tips from the evening. Of course the event would not have been a success without the many donors and guests who supported our program with their financial generosity. Lindsey, our intern from Metropolitan State College of Denver and a trained co-facilitator with our program, ran her first event efficiently and seamlessly. Thanks to LIndsey and our other volunteers for their hard work and ongoing service to Art from Ashes!
JUNE 6, 2008: First Friday
Art from Ashes six young poets performed at the corner of 9th and Santa Fe with Coyote Poets of the Universe, a combination band and spoken word performance group.
MAY 2, 2008: First Friday
Art from Ashes five young poets performed at the corner of 9th and Inca with Coyote Poets of the Universe, a combination band and spoken word performance group.
APRIL 4, 2008: First Friday
"Poets on Corners," an event for National Poetry Month organized by Denver Poet Laureate Christopher Ransick and the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs, boasted a variety of well-known local poets standing on street corners as part of the Santa Fe Arts Walk. Art from Ashes youth poets, along with Coyote Poets of the Universe, a combination band and spoken word performance group, performed at the corner of 9th and Inca from 6.30 to 7.30 pm.
MARCH 7, 2008: First Friday
Art from Ashes youth poets not only performed at Artwork Network and at Laughing Bean Café on Santa Fe and 10th, but also on local TV Channel 57!
FEB. 27, 2008: Erin Gruwell Event at the Colorado Convention Center
The Mayor's Office of Education and Children, the Mizel Museum and the Facing History project presented an event featuring speaker Erin Gruwell of Freedom Writers for 5,000 middle school and high school students and educators. The lineup included First Lady Jean Ritter, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Fate and Colorado Hip Hop Elements, and a presentation by Catherine O'Neill Thorn, Art from Ashes Executive Director, and performances by two AfA youth poets: Lorenzo Salazar and Giovanni Lopez.
FEB. 23, 2008: Artopia
Art from Ashes was presented with the MasterMind Award and a check for $4,000 at Artopia presented by Westword. Youth poets Lorenzo Salazar, Chance Two Crow and "Phoenix" read their poems at the event.
FEB. 22, 2008: Denver Press Club Thomas Hornsby Ferril Poetry Contest Reading
The Denver Press Club announced the winners for the first poetry contest in the name of former Colorado Poet Laureate Thomas Hornsby Ferril, and one of the Art from Ashes youth poets, Tripp, was a winner! The Press Club donated proceeds from the reading and from the contest to Art from Ashes, and Denver Poet Laureate Chris Ransick and Mike Henry of Lighthouse Writers were the guest bartenders who donated their tips to Art from Ashes.
DEC. 7, 2007: First Friday Christmas Party
All those who have supported our work in the past, whether volunteers or donors, attended a party and youth poetry performance, featuring Giovanni Lopez and Lorenzo Salazar.
OCT. 26, 2007: Youth Performance and Fundraiser
...and PARTY! We always have a good time at our fundraisers, and this was no exception. Between the comedy team of Wrist Deep, the fantastic Rooster Brothers Band,the youth poets, wine, appetizers and desserts, and our amazing supporters, the event at Crossroads Theater was amazing! Thank you to all of those who weren't able to attend and yet still bought tickets.
SEPT. 21, 2007: FLOBOTS CD release show, featuring Jonny 5, the Dualistics, Nathan & Stephen at the Gothic Theatre.
SEPT. 3, 2007: Poets' Picnic on Labor Day at Washington Park from 5 to 8 pm, sponsored by Access Idiom
AUG. 15, 2007: Presentation and reading at Crossroads Theater's Wednesday night open mic poetry, featuring youth poet Ietef Hotep Vita
AUG. 3, 2007: KGNU Radio Interview [listen]
JULY 13, 2007: Open Dialogue XI: Global Connections to Cultural Democracy
Art from Ashes youth poets performed at the biennial conference of arts organizations and artists from communities of color and their supporters in America, held July 12-15 at the Magnolia Hotel in Denver.
JUNE 16, 2007: Cultural Legacy Booksellers at 3633 W. 32nd Ave. dedicated 10% of total sales on June 16 to Art from Ashes. The Highlands Square Street Festival was held on that day, and Cultural Legacy hosted a reading featuring several authors and our youth poets. Thank you to owners Steve and Celia!
MARCH 11, 2007: Fine Cuisine and Fine Arts at Highland's Garden Café featuring Denver Poet Laureate Chris Ransick
Chris Ransick read from his latest book Lost Songs and Last Chances. Proceeds from the reading were donated to Art From Ashes, as well as a generous donation from the owners.
MARCH 2007 :: Art Show at Nine10Arts
The month-long showing and silent auction at theGallery at Nine10Arts was sponsored by 910Arts Nonprofit. The show featured the beautiful collage artwork of Manivone Nonthaveth, which combines the photography of Manivone and Lewis Lease and the poetry of our youth. There are several pieces left (see below for example :: click on photo to view larger image). Please contact us to own a truly unique work of art for your home or office or to give as a gift for someone who supports art, poetry or youth.
— richard bach, "adventures of a reluctant messiah"
automatically, as we shine who we are...
we turn away those
who have nothing to learn from us,
and attract those who do,
and from whom we have to learn as well.
FEBRUARY 23, 2007: Thomas Hornsby Ferril Birthday Poetry Reading
The Ferril Birthday Celebration at the Denver Press Club, 15th and Glenarm, was sponsored by the Denver Press Club and Lighthouse Writers Workshops, which also had a birthday celebration at Ferril's former home on Feb. 24. One of Colorado's first Poet Laureates Ferril was a long-time member of the Denver Press Club and a celebrated essayist, columnist and editor. One of our youth poets performed along with former Colorado Gov. Dick Lamm and his wife Dottie, Denver Poet Laureate Chris Ransick, Denver Post reporter Mike McPhee, the Rev. Leon Kelly of Open Door Youth Gang Alternatives, poet David J. Rothman, and DPC members Anneliese Rix, Frank Steiger and Catherine O'Neill Thorn.
JANUARY 11-13, 2007: Symposium Benefit at the Boulder Republic
The Dis-Enkultured Poets conducted a Boulder Symposium at the Boulder Republic, which raised $2,000 for our youth programs. The 3-day fundraising event featured workshops and performances that included youth readings by the Art from Ashes youth poets, rock mogul and Naropa poet Steven Taylor, 2006 American Book Award winner Tim Hernandez, Deep Rawk Dave & and the Council of Word, DJ Lazyeyez (Radio 1190), and DJ Chris Nathan (KGNU).
DECEMBER 13, 2006 Holiday Martini Mixer at The Loft Bar & Lounge! Carrie Baumann, owners Jamie and Shane, and bartenders Scott and Johnnie made the evening great fun for the 35 attendees, and our young poets Phoenix, Giovanni, Inetta, Tripp and Leticia spoke to the power of the program and each read two poems written during the workshops.
OCTOBER 15, 2006 Gala at the Oriental Theater with Wendy Woo, spoken word artist Bataan, Chris Ransick, Denver's Poet Laureate, Katy Pivoda and Eddie Davis of the Denver Youth Slam Team, and our famous youth spoken word poets received a strong show of support from the community. CLICK HERE to see photos.
More than 200 people attended our first gala event, which included a wine tasting, an art auction, a "Live Art" date auction, and youth performances, as well as performances by Wendy Woo and Bataan, Christopher Ransick, Katy Pivoda and Eddie Davis. Dr. Ronald Jemal Stephens, Chair of the Department of African and African American Studies at Metropolitan State College of Denver addressed the audience about the importance of community outreach and partnerships that provided direction and growth for young people in difficult circumstances.
CLICK HERE to view the donors and sponsors of the event.
MAY 7, 2006 English Tea Party and Sassy Stuff Spring Shopping Spree
Thanks to the 20 people who attended Miranda's party and who purchased from
Sassy Stuff! Sassy Stuff generously donated a percentage of the proceeds to Art
from Ashes and some of the attendees also made cash donations. Bless you!
APRIL 22, 2006
Youth performance with PoeJazz at the Cool Cat Café
Located at TOSA (1400 Dallas St.) in Aurora
Community members gathered for the opening of the Cool Cat Café, a center
for youth artwork run by The Other Side Arts. Several poets from the Phoenix
Rising workshops at The Spot performed.
APRIL 6, 2006
Youth performance with PoeJazz at the Arapahoe Community College's Writing
Center
Over 100 students and community members gathered in Half Moon theater at
Arapahoe Community College April 6, 2006, to celebrate poetry and jazz by
listening to the young poets from the Phoenix Rising workshops at The Spot and
the PoeJazz of the Lou Malandra Trio. The articulate, unique, and raw poetry of
the poets from Art from Ashes moved many to tears, and the poets received
several standing ovations.
MARCH 18, 2006
A Fundraiser for Art from Ashes: Music, Poetry & Fashion at Beyond Nightclub!
FEBRUARY 28, 2006
Poetry Reading at Curious Coffee
From 7 to 8 pm, five poets from the Art from Ashes adult writing workshops
presented a reading of their work written over the past few sessions. These
transformational poems manifest the beauty and power of the written and spoken
word, and it is the first public reading for these women. Curious Coffee
graciously provided coffee, tea and dessert for the event.