Cafe Zoe a huge, profitable success for artists!

Please join everyone at Abilities United in congratulating the artists (all participants in Abilities United Independent Living Skills program) who sold their original works of art to community members and patrons of Cafe Zoe in Menlo Park. They are obviously very talented...their combined sales of eight pieces earned them a total of $1,200!

Michael sold three pieces at Cafe Zoe which brings him to eight pieces sold in the last 5 months! Michael has earned approximately $2,000 for his art!

Judy sold three pieces for a total of 5 pieces in the last 3 months...over $500 earned from her art.

Joseph's "Stanford Hoover Tower" sold at Cafe Zoe. Over the past 5 years Joseph has sold 5 original works of art to local art lovers.

Xenia's "Slipper" sold as well as another at the Abilities United Authors Luncheon auction.

In addition to congratulating these talented individuals, if you ever happen to be the Cafe Zoe area (1929 Menalto Avenue in Menlo Park) please stop in and thank the staff and owner Kathleen Daly for their wonderful support of the artists. Here is what Kathleen had to say about the exhibit, "The show has been a favorite. And the buzz has definitely created some new faces. I would like to make sure we plan to have this as an annual event." They have already scheduled the second annual Abilities United art exhibit for the month of January 2013!

Art by dozens of artists from Abilities United is also on display at several other local locations this month. The list can be found online http://www.abilitiesunited.org/events and http://www.facebook.com/AbilitiesUnited.org?ref=ts and below:

Woodside Public Library
3140 Woodside Road
Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-0147

Family Chiropractic Center
949 Sherwood Avenue
Los Altos, CA 94022
650-949-3636

San Carlos Library
610 Elm St
San Carlos, CA 94070
(650) 591-0341

Silicon Valley Community Foundation
2440 West El Camino Real, Suite 300
Mountain View, CA 94040
(650) 450-5400

Peets Coffee & Tea

2600 Broadway Avenue

Redwood City, CA
(650)362-1000
Milestones Preschool art exhibit
Palo Alto Children's Library
1276 Harriet Street
Palo Alto, CA
(650) 329-2134

We welcome the opportunity to display these delightful and beautiful works of art throughout the community so if you have any possible exhibit locations please contactwendy@AbilitiesUnited.org or 650-618-3319

Submitted by Wendy Kuehnl, Director of Marketing, Abilities United

Mountain View resident, Design Loft owner, Hellen Hsieh receives the President’s Volunteer Service award for her design volunteer service with Abiliti

Abilities United is proud to present Hellen Hsieh of Mountain View, who is a two year volunteer with Abilities United (which serves Santa Clara and San Mateo residents with disabilities), the President’s Volunteer Service Call to Action http://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/tg/pvsainfo/dspAboutAwards.cfm for her over 200 hours of volunteer work as the art curator for Abilities United http://www.AbilitiesUnited.org

Hellen came to Abilities United in January 2010. She found the “art curator” position on VolunteerMatch. As the proprietor of Design Loft in Mountain View, she wanted to share her design and artist skills to benefit people with disabilities.

The work Hellen does promotes the artist talents of all the artists at Abilities United from all the service areas and programs. Her interior design background and skills make each piece of art shine. Using primarily donated frames and mat boards, Hellen painstaking chooses the frame style, and mat color and cuts the mat to best compliment the artwork. Because the pieces are so beautifully and professionally presented, the art sells more quickly and for a higher price than could be commanded without the frames. Since Hellen has volunteered at Abilities United and has helped increase the number of art exhibits in the community, art appreciators throughout the Bay Area have purchased over 50 original works from the artists. Because Hellen volunteers her time and utilizes donated materials, 100% of the sale can go the artist.

The President’s Volunteer Service award is a very unique and prestigious award as it takes many hours of consistent and continual volunteer work for one individual to donate over 200 hours of community service. Although President Obama won't be present, Hellen Hsieh will receive an official letter, certificate and pin from President Obama and the White House. Staff and participants will be present to congratulate Hellen.

Abilities United held a casual award ceremony to present the awards to Hellen on Monday, January 9, 2012. Hellen was thrilled and totally surprised to learn that the bell ringing ceremony was for her. After receiving her award, gifts and a few rounds of applause and accolades, Hellen got back to work installing 40 original works of art by artists of Abilities United at Zoe's Cafe in Menlo Park 1929 MenAlto Avenue http://www.cafezoemenlopark.com/

Ms. Hsieh explains her passion for promoting the art created by people with developmental disabilities; “I want other people to see the beautiful artwork individuals with disabilities are capable of creating; to help people see their talent and ability rather than their disability. This is an opportunity to give these artists a public space to display their work since they normally don't get to exhibit in galleries.” In 2010, she featured over 30 original works of art by artists from Abilities United at the Design Loft public grand opening. Hellen has also volunteered her interior design skills to renovate the Adult Day Activities staff office, which is a fun and cheering red, black and white theme complimenting the Abilities United brand.

On behalf of everyone involved with Abilities United, many many thanks to Hellen for her great spirit, commitment, and contribution to people with developmental disabilities!

Submitted by Wendy Kuehnl

Artist’s talent is valued; five art pieces purchased by local art appreciators

When Michael first dropped in to Abilities United to show us his 30+ original painting, all of us were, to say the least, extremely impressed... actually blown away. His use of color is incredible. Vibrant colors in combinations that make his artwork pop with emotion and energy. His paintings of nature and animals are whimsical, creative and expressive yet powerful and realistic. He is inspired by and promotes the unity of life, the unity of humans and animals, the unity of the world and universe. He is also a lover of anime so many of his pieces are super human characters. He says he has painted 114 original works of art! And now we are privileged to showcase Michael’s talents throughout the Peninsula and South Bay.

Art appreciators and art lovers are also impressed by Michael’s talents. So much so in the last couple months Michael has sold 5 pieces of art. His "Giraffe in Africa" sold for $140 to Lisa Mancini, the Director of Aging and Adult Services for San Mateo County. “The Transformers” sold for $150 to the Abilities United auditor! His “Flight of the Dragons”, featured in the Abilities United 2012 calendar/annual report, sold for $275 to a woman who is giving it to her grandchild. “Frankenstein meets the Wolfman” sold for $200. And “Paradise Ranch” sold for $500 to a woman on the East Coast who is giving it as a Christmas gift! We were delighted to celebrate Michael’s success with a bell-ringing moment at Abilities United, which included giving him over $1,000 in checks for these various works of art!

Michael’s art has been exhibited at the San Mateo County Council on Disabilities art show and auction in October & November as well as the Abilities United Expo art showcase in November. Two of his pieces were featured at the Abilities United Authors Luncheon and each piece sold. In January and February, numerous pieces will be on display at Zoe’s Café in Menlo Park. We hope to find an anime oriented location to showcase his many anime pieces.

At the San Mateo County Council on Disabilities exhibit, Michael spoke to potential buyer/bidders about his artwork. He took the opportunity to speak to the crowd and explained a bit about himself and his artwork. He expressed appreciation for the services he receives at the ARC (in Daly City) and Abilities United. He drove it all home with a final sentence: "I'm the happiest man alive."

Our first Silicon Valley Open Studio exhibit was a success!

Abilities United had the honor of being the first non-profit chosen to exhibit original works of art in the 25th annual Silicon Valley Open Studio (SVOS). We had our exhibit on Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15. Dozens of new and old Abilities United friends browsed the wide variety of original works of art (acrylics, watercolors, pencils) created by artists who participate in Abilities United services for people with developmental disabilities.

Many thanks to the art lovers who purchased 4 original works of art as well as printed art notecards. The proceeds go directly to the artists and the art program. I can image how beautiful these pieces will look in the homes and offices of the buyers.

Huge thanks to Hellen Hsieh of Design Loft in Mountain View, and her friend Bruce, for their time and talent to organize the exhibit of about 100 pieces of art. They were also fantastic and enthusiastic hosts of the two day event.

Additional thanks to George Bosworth of SVOS for inviting Abilities United artists to participate. George also got Abilities United some much needed publicity when he coordinated our co-appearance on KBAY radio.

More thanks to Patch (Palo Alto, Mountain View and Los Altos) for including Abilities United in their story "Come on in, the Door's Open" http://paloalto.patch.com/articles/come-on-in-the-doors-open.

Finally, many thanks to Allegro Framing of Portola Valley and Woodside, and Great American Framing of Palo Alto for donating frames and mats that enhance the quality of the art.

We had a wonderful time and look forward to doing more art exhibits as a part of SVOS and other community exhibits.

If you are interested in hosting an art exhibit, buying art or learning more about our art program please contact wendy@AbilitiesUnited.org or 650-618-3319

Remember, art is a universal language that brings together people from all walks of life.