Events

Very Special Arts (VSA) Tennessee is offering its 9th annual art institute at Volunteer State Community College at the end of July.  The focus of the Art Institute this year will be the Cowboy Culture.  This is a fun and educational week for children with and without disabilities.  VSA offers scholarships for children who cannot afford the $35 fee.

July 25-29, 2011

9am to noon

Volunteer State Community College

Grades 3-8

Cost $35 (some scholarships available)

Registration Form

 

Participants will learn about the cowboy culture through dance, music, visual art and literature.
At the end of the week, the participants will have the opportunity to demonstrate what they have
learned through performance and an exhibition.  The students will also receive a special
performance by Cowboy Dan.

Cowboy Dan was born in the ranch country of West Texas and earned a degree in agriculture. He moved to Nashville in 1990.  "Writing and performing children's music was not something I
planned on doing when I came to town.  It kinda pursued me.  Now I can't imagine doing anthing
else." states Cowboy Dan.

While working for the music city cattle exchange, he was approached by the Tennessee Beef
Industry Council to develop an assembly program for elementary age students.  Since 1996, he
has performed his high energy show for over 450,000 kids, parents and teachers.  In addition to
covering the entire state of Tennessee, Cowboy Dan performed for families at such major events
as the Houston TX State Fair & Rodeo and the TX State Fair as well as in large markets like
Chicago.  Major television network and newspapers in Memphis, Dallas, Houston and Nashville
have all featured Cowboy Dan.  His Album "Yee Haw Says It All" won Best Children's Album
at the Nashville Music Awards in 1998.

Teaching Artists for the week include:

Music - Tammy Vice
Tammy believes that every child enjoys and deserves the opportunity to be creative."
This Nashville recording artist is produced by GodsChild Records. Her CDs include “Love Can
Grow”, “Miracles & Memories”, “Breaking The Chains”, & "More Than Just Getting By".     
As a songwriter and artist, Tammy has had four songs hit #1 on Christian and Country charts.
She was the Country Music Hall of Fame's 2009 Nominee for the Mary Catherine Strobel
Volunteer Award.  Tammy is the originator and host of the annual “Breaking The Chains” event
held at the Bluebird, each year in April, to promote autism awareness. She has become a strong
advocate after her younger daughter, Morgan, was diagnosed at age 3.

Visual Arts – Tiffany Dyer
Tiffany is responsible for the visual art activities and instruction. Tiffany Dyer is a certified and
highly qualified K-12 art educator and practicing visual artist. She has taught in the elementary
classroom for nine years and has taught numerous workshops to artists of all ages including
professional development to art educators. She has organized and led her own art camps for a
number of years.  She is the owner, director and curator of Talula Gallery in Nashville and is a
member of the Nashville arts community.  Her work has been show all over Tennessee,
Kentucky and Massachusetts. She is currently working on her Master of Fine Arts in a low
residency program at The Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University in Boston, MA.

Dance - Deanne Collins
As a teaching artist, Deanne is known for her lively, information-packed happy presentations.
Activities become metaphors for curricula concepts and at the same time make the art form
accessible to teachers and students.  Deanne traveled throughout the United States as one of the original Movement Specialists with the National Endowment for the Arts Arts-in-schools
program, and was affiliated with Wolf-Trap, the Nashville Art Institute and the Kennedy
Center’s Events for Teachers Program, and is part of the Tennessee Arts Commission’s Teaching Artist Roster.  Deanne has done several programs for VSA Tennessee in both dance and theater and has always received rave reviews.  She works with our summer arts camp in dance every year.  Deanne has a hearing impairment and is considered an artist with a disability.

Literature - Debbie Watts
Debbie Watts is an award winning author who has worked with the Art Institute for many years.
She also taught for several years in the Sumner County system.

For more information: contact Lori Kissinger at userk7706@comcast.net or (615) 825-5252.

Registration Form 

Libby Garner is the Legislative Liaison (Lobbyist) of Tennessee Mental Health Consumers' Association (TMHCA). Recently, a piece of Libby's artwork entitled 'Stepping Out' was chosen to be featured at this year's TN Disability MegaConference where it will be used on the conference program and t-shirts.

Libby is a Tennessee Certified Peer Specialist; she has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Middle Tennessee State University, and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Illinois.

Since becoming employed at TMHCA Libby has helped establish several new programs. Libby has helped incorporate art and art therapy into TMHCA’s programs and her efforts have helped others develop new recovery tools that help reduce symptoms of mental illness.

Libby’s recovery path has included a lengthy study of the complexities of, and tools for handling, the symptoms of Bi-Polar Disorder. Supportive friends and family, correct medication, and therapy have all contributed to her ability to have a rich and fulfilling life. Libby has recognized that by helping others who share many of the same challenges of mental illness, it has empowered her to succeed and overcome her own challenges.

She says, “The disorder that is part of me is also my credential.”  'STEPPING OUT’ represents coming out of the darkness and into the light.

Visit the MegaConference website

To learn more about TMHCA

 

Thousands of runners will take to the streets of Nashville this weekend, hoping to accomplish a personal goal of completing a marathon.  Nashville runner Zac Koffler has the same personal goal, but it is the goal of raising money for local students with disabilities that truly inspires him to finish the race.  As part of “Run, Walk, Wheel & Roll” (RWWR), a Nashville-based, multi-national volunteer initiative pairing students with disabilities with pushers for the duration of a marathon, Koffler, RWWR’s Founder, will run the marathon while pushing students with disabilities.  This year, RWWR has chosen ABLE Youth, a Nashville area youth wheelchair sports and independence organization, as its beneficiary.

In addition to training for the marathon by pushing a chair weighed down with bricks to simulate a child riding with him, Koffler has also been busy fundraising, with nearly $17,000 raised for ABLE Youth so far.

While running the marathon, Koffler, a music industry professional, will be pushing three ABLE Youth student athletes in three shifts during the race.  Braden Teague, J-rod Denning, and Fiona Murphey of Nashville are some of ABLE Youth’s younger participants, and it is the hope of the organization that participating in the marathon through RWWR will inspire them to complete a marathon of their own when they get older and stronger.  RWWR hopes to have more volunteers join their team in years to come. 

About Run, Walk, Wheel & Roll:  RWWR is a multi-national volunteer initiative designed experiences that transcend the physical limitations of the body by pushing children with various disabilities in their wheelchairs through Marathons, 1/2 Marathons, and other physical endeavors while simultaneously building awareness and raising money for the amazing programs and schools that support such children. More information about RWWR can be found at www.rwwr.org.

About ABLE Youth:  ABLE Youth exists to teach children in wheelchairs the importance of living healthy, happy, successful, and independent lives from their wheelchairs. As the children show independence, they are introduced to all types of wheelchair sports and recreation, such as basketball, cheerleading, tennis, swimming, water skiing, snow skiing, golf, fishing, bowling, etc.  The goal for ALL ABLE Youth kids is to become totally independent, graduate from high school, and either enroll in college or secure full time employment. More information about ABLE Youth can be found at www.ableyouth.org.