About Us

Art From the Streets

Art From the Streets was founded in 1991 by a group of Austin artists as a way to bring positive, nurturing, encouraging experiences and relationships into the lives of homeless individuals.

While the public is most familiar with the annual show, the twice-weekly art classes are at the core of the program. People who are homeless have the opportunity to explore their painting and drawing skills in open studio art classes held every Tuesday and Thursday at ARCH—Austin Resource Center for the Homeless.

But artistic expression isn’t the only benefit. The classes give the participants a way to interact with others in a positive, supportive environment. And they give them a way to express themselves in a healthy, productive manner. The most important thing produced isn’t art, but relationships.

Each year, class participants have the opportunity to sell their work at the Art From the Streets Show. Many of the artists have sold enough paintings to afford rent and living expenses, at least for a while. All of them have walked away with a new sense of themselves and a feeling of accomplishment

Co-Directors

Heloise Gold is one of the original founders of Art From the Streets. She conducts one of the weekly classes, recruits volunteers to assist with the annual show, and plays a key part in the production of the annual show. She is a dancer/performer and Tai Chi instructor.

Bill Jeffers acts as the liaison between the AFTS Co-Directors and the professional volunteers who develop and carry out the annual show's PR campaign. He is a poet, sculptor, and Texas Workforce Commission employee who has been involved with Art From the Streets since before the first show.

Christi Pate is one of the original founders of Art From the Streets. For the last 17 years, Christi has served as Artistic Director of the annual show and sale as well as managing and conducting the weekly artclasses. At present she is advising and assisting Yvonne Baughman as the 2009 art show coordinator. She is a visual artist with fifteen years of experience in site-specific sculpture and painting.

Gene Golembiewski is the treasurer and business manager for Art From the Streets. He manages the cultural services contract with the City of Austin, implements the checkout process for the annual show, and maintains the financial records.

Yvonne Baughman is a visual artist that has been a volunteer with Art From the Streets since the early part of 2006. She is serving as the administrator and manager of the weekly class sessions as well as coordinating all aspects of the 2009 annual show and sale. Yvonne has a B. A. in studio art from the University of Texas.

Coordinators

Elizabeth Romanella conducts one of the weekly classes and assists with production of the annual show. She is a retired Arts Administrator with experience in developing, organizing and coordinating exhibition programs and museum administration. She is an amateur painter.

Facilitators

Bobbie Moore helps facilitate one of the weekly classes. She is a visual artist and illustrator with extensive teaching and professional credentials.

Lynn Zwern helps facilitate one of the weekly classes.

Dixie Williamson and Cassandra Weyandt have begun documenting Art From the Streets by photographing the art and the artists. Dixie is a fine art photographer specializing in illustrating emotional content in portraits. Cass has worked professionally in photography since 1987. She is a photo poet who studies the reverse angle of the camera - to see your self.

Marketing and Public Relations Partners

Kristin Kreisel leads the professional volunteer marketing team for the annual show. She managed the 2006 team, which was responsible for the show’s record $90,000 in art sales, admissions, and donations. She is an Account Supervisor with Enfatico, where she manages the advertising and direct mail marketing programs for the Dell commercial business.

Dana Marruffo is the media director for the annual show’s marketing team, responsible for arranging maximum air time and coverage on local radio, television, print and internet venues. She is the principal of BuzzPR, her freelance PR/marketing practice.

Scott van Osdol is a national award winning photographer based in Austin. He serves as Austin Advertising Federation VP Public Service and marketing chair of the Hill Country Ride for AIDS. View his work at www.vanosdol.com

Billy Jack Snelson designed and produced most of 2009’s marketing materials including the postcards, calendars, print ads, and much, much more.

Anne Pratt wrote much of the copy for the 2008 marketing materials. www.annepratt.com

Steve Burger – Website administration. www.tritoncode.com