by Melissa Macker, Executive Director
Imagine downtown Macon without art. No murals or sculptures. No pottery classes. No art galleries to visit on First Fridays. No art on the walls at your favorite restaurant.
It would be awfully dull, wouldn’t it?
Downtown Macon wouldn’t be what it is without artists. And it wouldn’t be where it is today without our donors paving the way for artists to display and sell their artwork, teach classes, create pottery, put on events, and more.
Artists like April.
April retired last year from her career as an elementary school art teacher. She found teaching so rewarding. It was hard to leave those students, but it was time for a new season in her life. Even though that job had ended, she knew she still had so much more to give as an artist. How could she continue doing what she loved, but with the flexible schedule that she needed?
Through The 567—and because of generous donors—April found new ways to share her talents in her retirement.
She decided it was time to try a new challenge--teaching adults! At the beginning of the year, she reached out to The 567's staff, who was thrilled to bring April's experience and fresh ideas to the center. She started teaching The 567's very first oil pastels class, as well as new acrylic painting classes. Teaching regularly provided her a little extra money to buy art supplies and so much more.
"I probably get more out of it than the students do," said April about teaching at The 567. Many of her students have rushed to the store to buy oil pastels after taking her classes. It's been so rewarding for April to inspire adults to pick up a new hobby or just teach them to express themselves in a different way. She loves the art community that The 567 has built. She describes the students at The 567 as "art hungry" and eager to try to new things.
Through teaching at The 567, April has also been able to build relationships in Macon's art community and make new friends. Thanks to the help and encouragement of The 567's staff, she's been growing as an artist, too. She credits The 567 for making Macon the kind of place she wants to be--a place where people are really interested in art.
Macon loves April, too. After her first class, one student said, "This lady is amazing! She told us interesting facts about Henri Matisse and passed around pictures of him and the nun who was his caregiver. She set up the assignment so well, drawing three elements in advance for us and leading us through the most difficult elements of the composition in such an easy way. I feel so lucky to have gotten such a knowledgeable and accomplished teacher."
We are entering the season of giving, when many people give to the organizations and causes they care about. Please make a gift to The 567 today so that we can continue to be a place for people like April to share her talents and find community.