Posted 10:23 pm Sunday, December 09, 2012
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Artists to sell creations at annual event
By CASEY MURPHY
cmurphy@tylerpaper.com
Local artists with disabilities will be showing and selling their wares — from photographs and jewelry to paintings and greeting cards — on Dec. 19.
The third annual Creative Careers Artisans and Craftsman Show & Sale is a free event hosted by the East Texas Center for Independent Living.
“We have a variety of people,” Patrician Perkins, independent living skills coordinator/trainer for the center, said. “All of them have some type of disability.”
cmurphy@tylerpaper.com
Local artists with disabilities will be showing and selling their wares — from photographs and jewelry to paintings and greeting cards — on Dec. 19.
The third annual Creative Careers Artisans and Craftsman Show & Sale is a free event hosted by the East Texas Center for Independent Living.
“We have a variety of people,” Patrician Perkins, independent living skills coordinator/trainer for the center, said. “All of them have some type of disability.”
TEACHING
Ms. Perkins, 55, of Tyler, moved to East Texas when she was 7, and after moving to the West Coast, she returned here as an adult and decided to pursue her life dream — finishing her college degree, she said. Ms. Perkins earned her degree in business administration, with a minor in social work, at Texas College.
“I’m in a place now where I’m really enjoying my decision to go back and finish school,” she said.
She worked as assistant coordinator for a case manager at the Andrew’s Center before she moved to an 11-month program at East Texas Center for Independent Living. After finishing the program, she was asked to join the staff.
Ms. Perkins teaches several classes, including money management, reading, cooking, safety/nutrition, basic computer skills and Internet safety. Her largest class is cooking and with 27 students, she has had to break it up into three sessions. She also adds new classes, such as hygiene or instructing the Texas driver’s handbook, for limited times. She also coordinates events the organization holds at the center and out in the community.
Ms. Perkins is proud of her students, recalling a student who once was scared to ride the city bus but now rides all over Tyler, and another student who got her driver’s license. “I’m proud to see the progress they’ve made,” she said.
“I’m in a place now where I’m really enjoying my decision to go back and finish school,” she said.
She worked as assistant coordinator for a case manager at the Andrew’s Center before she moved to an 11-month program at East Texas Center for Independent Living. After finishing the program, she was asked to join the staff.
Ms. Perkins teaches several classes, including money management, reading, cooking, safety/nutrition, basic computer skills and Internet safety. Her largest class is cooking and with 27 students, she has had to break it up into three sessions. She also adds new classes, such as hygiene or instructing the Texas driver’s handbook, for limited times. She also coordinates events the organization holds at the center and out in the community.
Ms. Perkins is proud of her students, recalling a student who once was scared to ride the city bus but now rides all over Tyler, and another student who got her driver’s license. “I’m proud to see the progress they’ve made,” she said.
CREATIVE CAREERS
When Ms. Perkins started working at the center three years ago, others there had come up with the idea for the Creative Careers event and Ms. Perkins took over and began coordinating it, she said. The event gives an opportunity for artists with disabilities to share their work. “They do very well with it,” she said.
By Friday, a handful of people already had signed up to participate.
Mandy Jones, an artist and former volunteer at the center, will have a booth. She is building her own business, Challenge House, where she offers art therapy through teaching art in several mediums, such as charcoal, pencil and water color.
Mary Marsh, who has a business in Jacksonville, crochets hat and scarf sets, baby blankets and doilies.
A Tyler Junior College photography student will sell nature pictures.
A young man will offer his digitally made greeting cards.
By Friday, a handful of people already had signed up to participate.
Mandy Jones, an artist and former volunteer at the center, will have a booth. She is building her own business, Challenge House, where she offers art therapy through teaching art in several mediums, such as charcoal, pencil and water color.
Mary Marsh, who has a business in Jacksonville, crochets hat and scarf sets, baby blankets and doilies.
A Tyler Junior College photography student will sell nature pictures.
A young man will offer his digitally made greeting cards.
And two people will be selling their jewelry.
The participants pay a $20 fee to rent a space, of which $5 is used to pay for their lunch. The artists keep all of the proceeds made from their creations. The event, set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 19 at the East Texas Center for Independent Living, 4713 Troup Highway, is free and open to the public.
“We’d like for people to come see the people who are participating and what they’re able to do,” Ms. Perkins said, adding that she hopes students who attend classes at the center will drop by to shop for last-minute Christmas gifts.
They have about 15 spaces available for participants. Although the deadline to register was Friday, she said those interested in participating can register up to and on the day of the event. For more information, call Ms. Perkins at 903-581-7542.
The participants pay a $20 fee to rent a space, of which $5 is used to pay for their lunch. The artists keep all of the proceeds made from their creations. The event, set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 19 at the East Texas Center for Independent Living, 4713 Troup Highway, is free and open to the public.
“We’d like for people to come see the people who are participating and what they’re able to do,” Ms. Perkins said, adding that she hopes students who attend classes at the center will drop by to shop for last-minute Christmas gifts.
They have about 15 spaces available for participants. Although the deadline to register was Friday, she said those interested in participating can register up to and on the day of the event. For more information, call Ms. Perkins at 903-581-7542.
