The ArtThread Foundation and VSA arts of Florida were awarded a prestigious grant from The Able Trust, also known as Florida Governor’s Alliance for the Employment of Citizens with Disabilities, to create an innovative program designed to help artists with disabilities in the greater Tampa Bay area achieve success as working artists
[/caThe full-day training session took place on November 8, 2008 at the Tampa campus of the University of South Florida. During the training 26 artists each had their own computer and experienced the fun of working with ArtThread's Online Gallery and creating art online with Splash! as well as in the studio with traditional art supplies.
Each artist made their own Thread on the VSA-ArtThread Gallery, and all the hands-on art made that day can be seen in the WOA Day thread. Each of the participants created their own Thread on the VSA/ArtThread Gallery. These threads serve as a personal online gallery, as well as a launching pad for each artist's online merchandising store. Of the 26 artists in the class, seven chose to create stores right away. These stores are now up and running online, and some of them have custom elements created by the artists.
Anyone can now look at art online made by the artist, and in two clicks they can buy a product custom imprinted with the work of each artist.
One VSA artists in particular, Margaret Zabor, is making some amazing art with Splash! in addition to photography and traditional art and she has shared how much she is enjoying the process after attending the WOA training. Follow this link to Margaret's thread, click on the t-shirt icon on any of her art, and you can buy something from her store – or view the full VSA Gallery and purchase from all of the available art!
