Bay Ridge Prep’s Visual Arts Club recently had its first-ever community-based activity.
On the 28th of October, the club members went to the 5th Avenue Halloween Fair in Bay Ridge to sell student-made art to raise funds for the Bridge To Turkey Fund.
The Halloween 5th Avenue fair takes place once a year, this year BRP made its first appearance alongside the visual arts club. Set up at the end of the block, visual arta club student photography, tote bags, stickers, and ceramics spanning from magnets to earrings were sold. The club members, apart from selling club member´s pieces, dressed up and handed out candy to the kids walking the fair and participating in the Halloween festivities. In addition, student-made designs were face painted onto the enthusiastic children to fundraise alongside the main sale.
The club's earnings went toward collaborating with Bridge To Turkey, which was established in 2003 by Turkish-American volunteers. BTF is a fund to finance and support projects for education and public health care for children in Turkey. They have helped give underprivileged children college educations, built classrooms, and hosted many disaster relief programs after the earthquakes in Turkey. The club members raised $300 from the fair, then continued the sale back in the Bay Ridge Prep building and raised another $100.
When asking the moderator, Ms. Liesangang, about her thoughts on the sale she stated, “It was very cool to see the students selling art outside of the school and interacting with others [members of the community].” The club members learned a lot from the sale, “seeing what people want to buy” and knowing what to sell for the next sale. Ms. Liesangang says she appreciated the students “being able to see a realistic side of the art world” and “ get more exposure”. From this sale, the members were able to show the students outside of the club what they are capable of.
If you missed out on the last sale do not fret! The Visual Arts Club is having an upcoming
sale, just in time for the holidays. Similar to the items in the sale were Halloween you will see many holiday and winter-themed items. These funds will be going towards an exhibit for the Visual Arts Club. This exhibit will display pieces made by students inside and outside the club, so look out and you may have the opportunity to display your art! The club looks forward to working together with many other funds by hosting many more events like this.
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