“With our staff and resources, we can provide for their basic needs…food, shelter, security and therapy. Anything that these kids experience beyond that has to come from the community. The staff here is their family, and the community is their launching pad.” These are the words of Janis Gernert of the Austin Children’s Shelter (ACS) as she was preparing me and 16 other Austin artists to meet some amazing kids. We at Music For The City hope to do our part to be a launching pad.
You see, last Saturday, we threw a party for the teens at ACS to kick off a series of art workshops we will be hosting there on the fourth Saturday of every month. 16 local artists–dancers, visual artists, musicians and more–came out to the shelter to meet and simply hang out with the kids. Sure, we had live music and root beer floats, but the highlight of the morning was seeing a group of artists and teenagers clumsily step out of their comfort zones and find some common ground. Images stick in my mind such as Joshua Zarbo and Brian Batch playing basketball, Dave Schwab and his mustache leading an ice-breaker game, Nate Vasquez scooping ice cream, and Jason Poe tearing his skinny jeans playing hacky-sack.
I think the demeanor of the artist is disarming. Uncertainty and skepticism on the part of the teens soon turned to smiles and laughter. Our own Kristin Vasquez recalls the walls of a few teenage girls immediately falling at the prospect of dance lessons. We’re so excited to teach these kids about music, film, dance, photography, painting, even journalism…but more than anything, we’re excited to be present, to be a part of their lives on a consistent basis. We’re excited to know and love these kids.
Our first official Music For The City Saturday at ACS is March 26…and I can’t wait to share the stories!
until next time
lamar stockton
the art of giving 