Gini Woodward needs
help for NAMI, offers classes!
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September 15, 2011 |
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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. |
"I really need some help from my friends on this
one!" Gini Woodward said in a recent email ...
and that's a piece of good news, as the reason
she needs the help shows she's not changed a
whit in retirement. Get her to volunteer for a
good cause, and she goes all out in the effort
... even when slowing down and doing less might
be the better course.
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. |
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