Head to Newton next Saturday, June 14

Next Saturday from 10am to 2pm, I'll be in Newton, along with several other artists, decorating the sidewalks of Main street. The purpose of the ChalkART festival is to raise awareness for the Youthville organization.

If you haven't been to Newton lately, start with a YUMMY coffee from Moka's and come hang out with us for awhile. Main street in Newton is pretty awesome. It's where I've picked up a lot of the stuff for my assemblage pieces, and most of the vintage ephemera that shows up in my art. There are several thrift, used book and antique shops not to mention these shops which are owned by my old friends. Several of the shops are now connected inside (they knocked down some old walls) and you easily stroll from one shop to the next.

If you come around lunch, plan on eating at this really great whole foods storePrairie Harvest which has an amazing organic deli. A little pricey (but not worse than Applebees), the food is delicious and well worth it...especially if you don't usually get to eat out due to preservative allergies.

A few of my friends work for Youthville and have shared amazing stories of what goes on there. The goal of the Chalk ART Festival is not only to shed positive light on the organization, but to also shed positive light on the children who end up there. Oftentimes the children there get a bad rap (think Annie ;)) and are simply written off. You can imagine the drain, the toll of living with and working with the situations that usually land children at Youthville. There's so much good going on there, though, and it's imperative to remember and focus on it. I'm excited to support all the hard work, and the beautiful souls for which it was founded.