At a recent NYS Art Teachers Conference, Rhinebeck HS art teacher, Cynthia Baer, had the pleasure of attending a lecture given by Andres Gallardo, a New York based artist who combines activism with art. Known as the “The GEM Guy,” Andres has given away over 1000 works of art around the world, while encouraging others in his path to share their own gifts. He shared the story of how he “discovered his art talent and passion, which ultimately led him to share his gifts and to Give Everyone Moments (“GEM”) around the world. Gallardo believes it is the artists’ duty to bring beauty into the world, to spread important messages and to leave the world better than he finds it.” (TED conference 2016 http://ted.com/tedx

 Explains Baer, “My Studio Art and Crafts classes had already begun a print-making project with a theme of Social Change. When I heard this talk, I got the idea of expanding the project out into the community so my students could experience both giving their art away to strangers as well as feeling the empowerment of having the changes they advocate for in their art sent out into the world.”

 The students have sewn over 70 small block-printed bags with their social cause art printed on one side and the theme of “Seeds for Change” on the other. Students learned how to hand sew and use a sewing machine. Inside, the bag includes a website that connects their art to an activist organization, and a small packet of seeds to begin an intention to grow in the recipient.

 “Our intention is to have our own local “Art Drop” in the Village of Rhinebeck where students will “drop” their art in public places where people find them easily and take them at will. Our hope is that each recipient will have a positive reaction to this “gift” and “plant a seed of change” too.

 The Art Drop is set to happen in synch with the Martin Luther King holiday. On Friday, January 24, HS students will drop art on trees and shrubs with in the Village. Keep your eyes open for these little GEMS from Rhinebeck HS students. Send a picture or reaction to Rhinebeck HS’s facebook page at Log in or sign up to view.