Art of Wine Fundraiser

Art has been defined as “something that is created with imagination and skill that is beautiful or that expresses important ideas or feelings.” Admirers often wonder about the artist behind the work hanging on a home’s wall or in a gallery. What exactly is his or her background? How and why did they create it? What backstory did they intend the piece to tell?

On June 23, 2016, the public will have the opportunity to meet several talented artists whose backgrounds may be surprising. More than 200 people are expected to attend the third annual “Art of Wine” fundraiser to benefit Willows Way and its Mentor Arts Program. Works from the program, the result of more than six months of collaboration between local professional artists and Willows Way clients, will be showcased at the event. Guests will be able to meet both the mentor and mentee artists and learn more about this innovative program.

The Art of Wine will take place on June 23, 2016 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event will be held at EdgeWild Restaurant and Winery, located at 550 Chesterfield Center in Chesterfield, Mo. Tickets are required and can be purchased online: http://willowsway.org/fundraising-events-news/fundraising-events, or by calling 636-757-0543. Individual tickets are $40 per person.

Willows Way is a 26-year-old organization based in St. Charles that provides community-based services for adults with developmental disabilities. Willows Way empowers individuals with disabilities to live a life beyond limits through personalized support and community engagement.

The organization currently provides services that range from a few hours of support per week up to 24-hour-a-day service for 140 clients throughout metropolitan St. Louis and St. Charles. This equals approximately 5,538 hours of individualized support a week. Through the Mentor Art Program, several Willows Way clients also participate in weekly photography and painting classes tailored specifically for their unique skills and needs. The program has allowed clients to develop their talents and become artists.

As the first organization to provide individualized supported living in the state of Missouri, Willows Way empowers their clients to choose where they live, who supports them and what types of services they receive. The philosophy at Willows Way is to “provide personalized support to men and women with physical or intellectual challenges, fostering personal growth and confidence so that each person is free to live an independent, dignified, happy, and productive life.”

The photography and art classes which were the genesis of the Mentor Arts Program began about six years ago at a client’s suggestion. “We base our services on what our clients want, not on what we think they need,” Joy Steele, Executive Director of Willows Way said. “One of our clients enjoyed photography and in talking about it we learned others did too, so we started a photography club. We subsequently added the mentors into the mix.”

“After the photography class, we began a painting class,” Steele said. “It’s been going for about three years and is something that has helped develop great talent among our clients in the classes.”

As the program grew, Willows Way staff found additional local artists, both hobbyists and professionals, to help teach the clients and expand their clients’ skills. There are currently about 15-20 regular participants in the Mentor Arts Program who consistently attend class. Program participants also go on monthly field trips to seek inspiration, as well as new settings or subjects for their work.