Today we got to meet and draw with the strong, upbeat folks who are being sheltered at Brooklyn Technical Highschool in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. We drew portraits of the adults, cartoons with the kids, played lots of games and just generally spent some good community time together. We’re back on the mend!
We had a blast drawing vampires, pumpkins and bats with the kids and also painting their faces at Gilda’s Club New York! The kids drew like they were possessed and we felt like zombies trying to keep up but everyone had a fantastic time. Thanks very much to the wonderful families and staff at Gilda’s Club and to our dedicated Ink Well volunteers: Jane Archer, Joan Chiverton, Drew Dernavich (first timer!), Barbara Garrison, Dayna Gonzalez, Abby Merrill, Patrick Merrell, Oded Naaman, Maria Scrivan, Elizabeth Winter and Karrie Witkin.
What a great night, drawing with the Ronald McDonald House kids in Central Park! We drew our beautiful surroundings into cartoon characters and decorated silk fans. The kids made lady bug fans that opened into centipedes, miniature puppies that grew into dachshunds, as well as drawing cartoon puppies, trees and butterflies. Thank you to our volunteers: Ray Alma, Jane Archer, Abby Merrill, Samantha Olschan, Joyce Pedretti, Maria Scrivan (new member!), Erin Shigaki, Adrian Sinnott and Elizabeth Winter for such a creative fun farewell to summer!
Our Chicago Ink Wellers drew with the kids at Chicago’s brand new Ronald McDonald House! This new, larger facility will help keep even more families together while children receive treatment for serious illness. Thank you, Charles Boyce, Pat Byrnes, Brian Diskin, Ann Farrell, and John Hambrock (first timer!) for volunteering and to Brian Kelly for leading the event and rallying such a wonderful team of artists.
We had a great night teaching drawing based on simple shapes on Mount Sinai’s KidsZone TV show. We also got to draw with some children who came down to the rec room where Elana Amity even got her portrait done by one of the kids! It was this boy’s first time drawing from a model and his drawing came out beautifully. We hope he sticks with it ’cause he’s a natural. Thank you to volunteers, Ray Alma, Elana Amity (Event Director), Joan Chiverton and Barbara Garrison.
Jane Archer led the group tonight in making 3D self portraits, an activity she developed during her time working with children at a school in an impoverished region of Brazil. Everyone had a fantastic time inventing new ways to make 2D art into 3D objects like bending their characters into bracelets and hats! Thank you to volunteers, Ray Alma, Elana Amity, Dan Pinto, Paolo Rivera and Ed Steckley! You can read more about Jane’s time in Brazil on her blog: http://psbella.wordpress.com/2012/06/14/tia-jane-in-brazil/
In honor of the early arrival of spring, we drew the many creatures coming out of hibernation and the lovely plants and flowers blooming. One girl made this storybook with a little help from Nina Frenkel, about a firehouse dog and a police dog who meet, fall in love, and decide to celebrate with a day at the spa. Thank you very much to the kids of NAC and to our volunteers John Jay Cabuay, Pedro Delgado, Nina Frenkel, Barbara Garrison, Erin Shigaki, Elizabeth Winter and a very big welcome to new member and Superjail artist, Joseph Jurewicz!
The Ink Well is very happy to welcome new partner, St. Mary’s Healthcare. We headed to this Queens facility that supports “children with special needs and life-limiting conditions” and had a blast drawing comics and caricatures. This was made possible by our volunteers and legendary talents: Ray Alma, Sy Barry, Stan Goldberg, Don Orehek, Adrian Sinnott, and Joe Vissichelli. A special thanks to IWF Director, Ray Alma, who put this event together and to the inspiring children of St. Mary’s.
We had a fantastic time with the kids of The Ronald McDonald House as we crafted wild, wacky, and unique Valentine’s Day cards. Thank you to Ray Alma, Jane Archer, Nola Denett, Diana Erdmann-Sager, Pedro Delgado, Elizabeth Winter and Karrie Witkin who all braved the blizzard to join us and thank you to the wonderful children of The Ronald McDonald House!
Afterward we all had a great time celebrating another year of The Ink Well at Stir.
Thank you Ray Alma, Rami Efal, and Lewis Matheney for making it to Gilda’s Club’s big annual holiday party!!! It was a crowded house of festivities but our ingenious artists found themselves a niche and handed out drawings like they were North Pole natives. Thanks for partying down for a good cause, guys!
Tonight was a testament to the amazing energy of Jane Archer and Natalie Butler! Natalie valiantly fought the cold, seeking the new entrance but sadly she didn’t have the directions on her so it was to no avail- thank you for trying so hard, Natalie! Jane, thank you so much for taking on the entire group yourself, spinning a web of Spiderman drawings into the night. And thank you to the wonderful children of Bellevue whose exuberance inspires us every time.
Our steadfast friend, Rami Efal, was able to sit one-on-one with children at their bedside this time and he even had “a great conversation with a 9 year-old about art, the past election, and personal freedom in art and life.” Thank you, Rami!
It was a terrifying lot of fun at Gilda’s Club tonight as kids and artists all dressed up and drew creatures full of fright. Thank you to the gruesomely great Ray Alma, Jane Archer, Justin Bilicki, and Valerie Reupert who made it all come to life!
Thank you to our Halloween heroes, Jane Archer, Nina Frenkel, and Patrick Merrell who braved the dark and stormy weather on their way to CancerCare!
Thank you to Jane Archer, Rami Efal and Lewis Matheney for bringing their ingenuity and marvelous art skills to New York Methodist Hospital today! I think you all definitely earn the “most creative” award for your half-bunny half-dog, eating a half-bone half-carrot creature!
We had a raucous good time at our first ever event with The Lower East Side Girls Club! We split the party of about 20 girls and eight artists into three stations: mask making, Halloween cards, and Turtle comic books (to raise money for the LESGC’s wounded turtle). A million thanks to Ray Alma, Amber Alvarez, Jane Archer, Julia Durgee, Rami Efal, Nina Frenkel, Lewis Matheney and Elizabeth Winter!
Jane Archer, Nina Frenkel and Rami Efal honored International Peace Day (September 21) with a fun afternoon, exploring various cultures from around the world and talking about what peace means to each of us. Thank you everyone for coming along and sharing your wonderful talents and thoughts!
Thank you so much to our long-devoted artists, Sal Amendola, Ray Alma, and Julia Durgee who attended this special night at Bellevue. And a very warm welcome to our new member who also joined us, Lewis Matheney! Lewis described the kids as “full of energy and enthusiasm” and said a great time was had by all. Laurina Rollicks, the Program Director there also tells me the children eagerly look forward to our visits so we’ll definitely be back again soon. Thank you, volunteers, for making tonight such a special time!
Click here for more photos.
Welcome back, Rami! Our old friend has returned for what will now be a monthly midday event at NYMH. Rami was also joined by our very talented new member, Nina Frenkel, who, Rami says, absolutely stole the kids’ hearts. If your schedule is a little more flexible, check in with me about this regular event- you can draw with the group or learn more about hospital requirements that would allow you to draw one on one with children who are not able to leave their rooms. Click here for more photos.
We had a larger group this time but our capable artists kept the party going, taking tons of requests and keeping the kids laughing and begging for more! Thank you so much to Ink Well master, Pedro Delgado, and also to two new members, Adrian Sinnott and Lemwell Navera. We’re very happy to welcome you to our ever-expanding collective!
A wonderful time was had at GC PS once we all finally found the right room! We’ve got a new location and two new amazing artists, Amber Alvarez and Jane Archer. Thank you to Pedro Delgado who also made the scene and Elizabeth Winter was thrilled to be back with the group as well. Check out more photos here.
Thank you so much to Pedro Delgado, Sal Amendola and Tim Hamilton who all came down for a raucous good night of drawing fun at Gilda’s Club. And thank you also to Gene Wilder and the staff of Gilda’s Club for providing such a special place of support for families dealing with cancer. Check out more photos here.
Tonight we made a little homage to the Costume Institute’s new “Superheroes Imagery” collection (which debuted tonight too) by creating our own round of superheroes. Our party was way better though because great artists like Ray Alma, Sal Almendola, and Ink Well Group Leader, Pedro Delgado, all made the scene. Thank you so much, volunteers!
Artists Pedro Delgado, Justin Biliki, Art Sir and Rami Efal paid a visit to RMDH to celebrate the new year of the Rat with the kids, their parents and the house’s volunteers. Little Nicholas drew this volcano after devouring three pizza slices, loving both equally. We have met children and their families from Texas, California, Michigan, Seattle(?) some of whom we met before and have been spending more than a year at the house. We wish them all good luck and good health on their journey to recovery.
Many thanks to artists and volunteers Pedro Delgado and Rami Efal for a visiting NYMH. The tired parents found new wind in your portraits of their children, and those were delighted to draw cats, dogs and superheros.
On November 29th, volunteers Ray Alma and Rami Efal attended the Ronald MacDonald House volunteers appreciation dinner. They met with the president of the house and listened to the story telling the beginning of the first house (out of 270 around the world!) over thirty years ago in Philadelphia, as was told by its founder Jimmy Murray, GM of The Philadelphia’s Eagles.
Ray Alma, Justin Bilicki, Rami Efal and Henry Hilaire all came along for a great evening with the kids at Bellevue! Tonight’s group was smaller than usual as some of the children were discharged after a prolonged stay at the hospital. We wish them all the best and are grateful for our time together!
Julia “DeMoNGiRl” Durgee, Ray “HULK SMASH!” Alma and Rami “Banzai Pirate” Efal wrecked carnage at Gilda’s Club Manhattan on Friday October 26th, 2007. Fortunately, Scores of Powerranger Sith lords ninja boys and catwalk princesses and witches arrived in time to set those crazy artists back to their right minds. Thank you all for the great time!
An energetic and delightful evening was spent by our volunteers Henry Hilaire, Pedro Delgado, Arisa Konno, Natalie Butler, Rami Efal and Elizabeth Winter, with the wonderful children at RMDH.
Pedro Delgado, Henry Hilaire and Rami Efal spent a lovely evening at NYMH, drawing portraits of a few months-old newborns and their parents, as well enjoying the high energy of the older kids. The parents expressed great appreciation for the break from regular hospital routine and the chance to see their kids get so creative. We really enjoyed it too, thank you!
We made several new young friends at Bellevue. Arisa Konno showcased the magic of origami paperfolding, and Ray Alma, Sal Amendola, Michael Wetterhahn and Rami Efal sketched and guided the children through drawing their very own superheros.
August was a big Gilda’s Club month! Thanks to Ray Alma and Dan Shefelman who got the kids all revved up for drawing mania in Manhattan on Aug. 1st! Days later Tim Hamilton, Julia Durgee, Rami Efal and Pedro Delgado headed to Brooklyn for a mixed media party. It sure is rewarding to come to know these kids so well over the years and watch as their artistic skills and confidence grow.
Many thanks to Tim Hamilton, Dan Shefelman, Rami Efal and Brett Jackson for attending a peaceful event at New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn!
Many thanks to Rami Efal, Julia Durgee, Ray Alma and Dan Shefelman for a fabulous night at The Ronald McDonanld House! We joined members of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in decorating bandanas which will be worn by cats and dogs offered for adoption! Many parents and our hosts wrote to say what a ball everyone had. We did too!
Many thanks to Ray Alma, Sal Amendola, Patrick Merrell and Dan Shefelman for coming along to Bellevue hospital tonight. We got to collaborate with some familiar friends and made a few new ones too and everybody contributed their own flavor to our exuberant drawing festivities. Thanks members and thank you, kids, for being more involved than ever in creating your own artwork!
(Sal, Little Shainn and Dan at NYMH)
We had great time gettin’ creative with the kids and their parents at New York Methodist Hospital tonight. Thanks go to Sal Amendola, Dan Piraro and Julia Durgee– you guys really know how to work a room!
Bellevue Hospital, Manhattan: May 14th, 2007
Many thanks to Rami Efal, Maasa Kuwana, Sal Amendola and Ray Alma for coming to Bellevue Hospital! The kids and staff were so enthralled and grateful they asked us to return as often as we can. Indeed we had exceptional time with the twelve kids drawing Pokimons and spider-villains and watching a beautiful spring sunset way up on the 21st floor.
Gilda’s Club, Brooklyn: May 8th, 2007
A tremendous time was had as always at this special club house which seems to have the transformative power to turn us all back into little kids! Thank you members and GC children and staff!
Gilda’s Club, Manhattan: April 18th, 2007
We got swanky in SoHo tonight with messy messy art! I bet we could have sold our smudged up clothes at the end in one of the nearby haute couture boutiques!
New York Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn: March 27th, 2007
X-Gentlemen, Dancing Ladies and Evil Penguins! Many thanks to Elizabeth Winter, Rami Efal and Brett Jackson for a delightful evening with the children at New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn!
Ronald McDonald House: February 10, 2007
Thank you to Ray Alma, Rami Efal, Valery Reupert, and Elizabeth Winter for our debut event with new participant, The Ronald McDonald House, on the Upper East Side. We were tearing through comic book heroes and portraits and Dr. Seuss style fantasy lands as the requests came rolling in. Well done, guys!
New York Methodist Hospital: January 23rd, 2007
We had a great time at our first event of 2007 with the New York Methodist Hospital where Rami Efal, Henry Hillaire, and Elizabeth Winter drew with kids both in the recess room and bedside. We drew lots of portraits and Elmo Elmo Elmo! We plan to make this one a regular event so brush up on your Sesame Street characters and come along next time.
Noogiefest
Thank you very much to Ray Alma, Rami Efal, Henry Hillaire, Maasa Kuwana, and Elizabeth Winter for braving Gilda’s Club’s spooky halloween Noogiefest! We had a great time drawing creepy caricatures and other creatures for the many children who came by for this annual party.
Superhero night at Bellevue Hospital
Thank you to Ray Alma, Rami Efal, Henry Hillaire, Elizabeth Winter and Sarah Worden for your heroic artistry!
Valentine’s Day party with CancerCare, Midtown Manhattan
Thank you to Steve de Seve, Joe Meland, Elizabeth Winter and Voltaire who were able to show the love this Valentine’s Day way up in CancerCare’s hi-rise in the clouds. What a sunset that was!
Gilda’s Club, Park Slope
Thank you everyone for many wonderful evenings with both Gilda’s Club locations
Gilda’s Club, SoHo
Thank you everyone for many wonderful evenings with both Gilda’s Club locations
Ink Well Kids Foundation 
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