Courtesy of the Drawing Studio
Imagine a group of artists moving from one location to the next, drawing the same subject in a different vein to raise money for good causes.
That scene becomes reality on August 29 with The Drawing Studio's (TDS) inaugural Downtown Drawabout. After securing sponsors and pledges, artists and art enthusiasts will draw ten downtown sites between 9am-12pm. The goal is to create a collective picture of familiar locales from multiple points of view.
"The sites will be a juxtaposition of the many elements that make up downtown," promises Lynn Fleischman, the organization's executive director. The artwork will be immediately displayed after the event and show until September 4.
"This exercise is designed to reveal a community to itself," Fleischman said. "People praise the arts but aren't clear about why the arts are important," Fleischman reflected. "This way, they can make a tangible contribution to the community through art."
Funds raised by the event will go directly to TDS's youth and senior outreach programs. In partnership with the Tucson Police Department's Gang Prevention Unit, TDS sponsors young people who may not otherwise be taught the reflective observational skills required for drawing.
"They learn to sustain their attention and over time develop the ability to work independently," explains Fleischman. The event's other beneficiary is TDS's Outreach Arts Tutoring for Seniors, a program that offers art classes to the elderly in several locations around Tucson.
For more information call 620-0947, email director@thedrawingstudio.org or visit www.TheDrawingStudio.com
