i went on a field trip with some of the artists from imagine art a couple of weeks ago.  we went to the blanton museum of art which is on the edge of the UT campus.  we parked around back, and it was a good thing we did otherwise we would have missed this awesome installation they have hiding back there!  according to my co-worker, it was originally at the mfa in houston.  i can't remember what it was called or who the artist was (and my attempts to google it have been unsuccessful) but it was definitely my favorite. 

we pulled up behind the museum and there it was--a metal canopy of sorts with hundreds (???) of flexible yellow tubes hanging from the top.  the yellow tubes were gently swaying in the wind like jellyfish tentacles in the  ocean.  however, unlike a jellyfish, i wanted to run into the middle of the sculpture and stand amidst its 'tentacles'... so i did. it was amazing.

on weekdays, i work as an americorps volunteer at imagine art, a non-profit in east austin.  our non-profit helps artists with disabilities professionally access the arts.  we are located in a small house with two offices, a studio and a kitchen.  i am one of 5 americorps volunteers here.  at any given moment you can find one of us diligently working on the futon, in the studio, at the kitchen table, or in our tiny "office." 

after just one visit, my mom described imagine art as "a magical place."  what makes us unique is that we are first and foremost a creative community.  in addition to providing shared studio space, we also hold a monthly breakfast, weekly bible studies, and field trips to provide artists with the opportunity to engage in relationships that feed their creativity. 

i have met some amazing people working here.  our artists may have mental, physical, or learning disabilities but their creativity is what defines them.  they make every day on the job interesting and different.