Judith Toy has always had a deep interest in the creative process
of children. Several years ago, she took two of her grandchildren
to a then new facility, a children's interactive art museum, in
the Green Hill Center in Greensboro, NC--ArtQuest. From the moment
she walked through the colorful doors of ArtQuest, Judith was inspired
to do the same.
After repeated visits and several years later, Judith and her poet
husband, Philip Toy, moved to Black Mountain, North Carolina from
the Northeast, and she began to gather other talented artists who
were as excited as she about the concept of a mobile arts education
program and eventually a one-of-a-kind children's art museum.
While Open Art has been several years in the making, with principals
director Judith Toy and art director Theresa Cote, we launched our
program with its signature sun puppets at the Lake Eden Arts Festival
in Black Mountain, NC, in the Spring of 2001. The same year, Open
Art exhibits debuted in June and July at the Black Mountain Center
for the Arts, where director Gale Jackson supported Judith and her
colleagues in the grand opening of Open Art.
Kismet brought Judith together with Candace Gale and the Institute
for Inspired Living. They have recently created a partnership which
will allow tax-deductible donations to be sent to Open Art through
the Institute for Inspired Living's nonprofit 501-C-(3) designation.
Their alliance is already proving to be a dynamic and energetic
connection. Judith's goal is to be able to give away all of Open
Art's services free, through funding, grants and donations.
We are available through the Asheville Area Arts Council, and we
encourage teachers to apply for the teacher's mini-grant from the
Council, so that Open Art can schedule a training with faculty.
Larger funds are available through the Council for our residencies.
Call us directly at 828-669-4445 for detailed information.
Please contact Adrienne Crowther at 828-258-0710.
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