Overflow Show: LACC Students to Raise Money for Trip to Africa at the Down N Out
With more than 35,000 children receiving welfare services in LA County alone, Free Arts for Abused Children strives to reach more kids every year with the purpose of inspiring and transforming their lives through the power of artistic expression. Free Arts programs inspire hope in the lives of children who have experienced abuse, neglect, poverty, and homeless issues through innovative creative arts programs and positive interactions with adult volunteers. I recently had the chance to sit down with Matt Blackwell, one of the volunteers at Free Arts for Abused Children, as he prepares for his charity event on Saturday, March 23rd at The Mezz Bar in downtown Los Angeles.
Matt first got involved with Free Arts about two years ago when he was doing fund raisers for various local charities every two months. He states that he, “Just ended up at their site one day.” The more he read about Free Arts, the more interested he became. His interest caused him to suggest this charity to a group of artists and musicians (Des Grisham, Clairfoster Josiah, Nick Knudson, J.W. Pippen, and Emmeric James Konrad) who all agreed that it would be the perfect charity due to their similar views of using art and music as an outlet for children to cope with the damage done to them from being victims of drug and alcohol-inhabited environments.
Natalie Anita Villalobos (NAV) and downtown local artist and charity fund raising hero, Matthew Blackwell in conjuction witht the Down N Out located on the corner of 5th and Spring, are putting on an event this month, to help students travel and study abroad.
Villalobos currently attends Los Angeles City College (LACC), and was granted an opportunity to study abroad (supervised under Dr. Brian Bartelt under the Social Sciences Dept.) with 12 other students and one professor to the coast of Cameroon, Africa.
For two weeks the students will be studying the African way of life, staying with host families and emerging themselves within the culture.
This trip is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the students, yet unfortunately, LACC could not sanction the trip for liability reasons. Although, the cost of the trip is paid for, the reason for the fundraising event is to raise money for more activities during the 17 day stay as they travel across cities like Bamenda and Oku, in Cameroon.
Some the funds raised will be used to cover any carry-on bagage fee’s allowing the students to bring gifts such as clothes and books to their host families and to their children. The remainder of the money will be used as emergency funds should they need it.
The name “Overflow Show” is Matthew’s genius idea. Plans for the show enclude the walls of the Down N Out be covered with original art work, “walls that are overwhelmingly beautiful with creativity” says Matthew.
Matthew’s Soul Compass Collective is the group of local artists and musicians who will come together to serve this awesome cause
The event will be held at the Down N Out on June 14th, at 7pm and will transform the popular corner bar into a gallery featuring 20 artists, and 4 live bands.