75th Anniversary Festivities
THE ARC WESTCHESTER CREATES ART PIECE TO SYMBOLIZE GROWTH
organization’s development and the vibrant community they have nurtured over the years. This collaborative effort involved diverse groups from various programs, along with leadership and staff, all of whom embraced the challenge, learned new techniques, and tapped into their artistic talents. THE ARC GREATER HUDSON VALLEY SPONSORS HOT AIR BALLOON The Arc Greater Hudson Valley (Dutchess, Orange, Sullivan) continued its 75th Anniversary celebrations at the Hudson Valley Balloon Festival in Dutchess County at the end of August. Attendees were thrilled to see their sponsored balloon ascend into the sky.
The Arc Westchester sought to create a lasting tribute for their 75th anniversary, reflecting their steadfast commitment to fostering inclusion and dignity for individuals with developmental disabilities. Thanks to a Teaching Artist Grant for People with Special Needs from ARTSWestchester, they participated in a unique seven-week program with a professional artist, enabling program participants to explore their creativity and acquire new skills. The team envisioned a project that would celebrate their rich history since 1949, while symbolizing growth and future aspirations. After thoughtful discussion, they decided that a mosaic mural of a tree would serve as the perfect artistic representation of their journey. Collaborating with Vicky Youngman, a skilled mosaic artist, they designed a round mural featuring a tree, symbolizing growth, community, strength, and resilience. The mural’s intricate design is deeply meaningful. Participants carefully cut and placed colorful glass tiles to represent the tree’s roots, soil, grass, leaves, branches, and sky. Each element reflects different facets of the
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