LA never ceases to surprise me in the best way possible and this weekend was no exception. We spent Sunday afternoon walking through the Barker Hangar at Santa Monica Air Center where the P.S. Arts Express Yourself event sponsored by Target and The Bell Family took place. They have been doing this arts fundraiser since 1991 to raise money for local arts programs in schools around the city and if there is anything that gets me excited it’s arts and education. There is nothing more important than the foundation of a great education and nothing more heartbreaking than knowing there are so many kids who miss out on that gift in this country. So when anyone tries to alleviate the holes, especially with arts funding, I will do anything for it. And these guys do it brilliantly. Aside from an endless array of art projects for the kids that even the adults can get their hands dirty with there is great food from amazing restaurants, music and an impressive crowd. Target even gave away books and blankets including two of my favorites as a kid, Madeleine L’Engle’s “A Wrinkle in Time” and “Charlotte’s Web”. Something about stumbling on old childhood favorites that is very comforting these days. Books and caramel apples alike. One of the highlights was decorating a small mirror for your school locker. Jon Layne from PartyLayne specializes in organizing fun events for kids parties and has an endless array of ideas. We couldn’t resist sitting in the kids’ chairs and getting ourselves into the paint pens and stencils and personalizing small hand mirrors that we got to take home. There was also doll making, flower pot planting and decorating, sock puppets and of course dressing up for the red carpet. This is LA after all. www.psarts.org
