Year-in-Review 2008
Programming
Overall it was a great year, with some changes, for Cornucopia. Over 250 consumers came through our doors with 107 consumers becoming dues paying members. We were able to provide 24 different workshops, at least two months long, during the year.
We had a show at the Overture Center, Madison’ premier arts facillity, and collaberated with Medota Mental Health Institue’s Drop-in center providing an arts workshop there every other Saturday. (more info further down).
We did have some staff changes; Karen Milstein resigned as Executive Director in March, after being with us as an Office Manager then Exec, since it’s opening. Mary Beth Cassidy started July 1st as our new Executive Director. We also lost some art teachers and by July1st all of our workshops were led by volunteers.
Overture Show
We finally got our chance! From mid June to mid September Cornucopia members had their chanceto display their art in Madison’ Overture Center for the Arts. Nineteen artist displayed 25 pieces in Gallery II; the pieces ranged from paintings, collage, drawings to hand-built clay.
The staff at the Overture Center were very helpful and said they were very pleased with the work and how it was displayed. We also had articles about the show published in the Madison Times, a local weekly newspaper.
Thanks to Dana Romano, Lance Owens and Lou Ann Petersenfor selecting the art work. Thanks also to Dana, again; and Adam, Deb,Betty and Mary Beth for helping with the installation and removal of the artwork. Thanks also to the Art Access Fund for their financial contribution.(The 3 pictures in this section were displayed at the Overture Center.)
Art at Mendota
Starting in March 0f 2008 tgrough February of 2009 we received funding to provide art workshops at Mendota Mental Health Institute’s Drop-In Center. Deb Gehrke worked every other Saturday for 7-8 hours, definitely a full day, teaching art to mental health consumers.
Here is what Maria(co-ordinator) had to say:
“Debbie has provided the Mendota Mental Health Institue(MMHI)Consumer Drop-in Center with excellent art direction for the year she spent at our budding center. She has inspired creativity for children and adults who are being provided sevices at Mendota. She has also helped consumers of all ages discover creativity through the many mediums of artistic endeavors. Her dedication to fun and her joy of art has inspired many consumers at MMHI. The drop-in center is completely consumer run and has received ratings from the annual Consumer Involement Program surveys here at Mendota. Debbie has been an essential part of this success”
Change in Executie Director
We said goodbye to long-time Office Manager, Newsletter Editor and then Executive Director Karen Milstein on March 14th of 2008.Karen was an integral part of Cornucopia’s day-to-day operations and MIssion. She felt it was time in her life to look for other opportunities in the communit. She is missed, but continues to visit and give us input for our program.
After a search and hiring process; Mary E. Cassidy started as our new Executive Director on July 1st, 2008. Mary Beth is a mental health consumer and brings with her a Law degree and many years of experience working with consumer as a volunteer with NAMI-Dane County. Welcome Mary Beth!