In
February 2001 with the support
of the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen
(TASK) Board of Trustees, a group
of artists who regularly use
the services of the soup kitchen
formed an artists’ cooperative
known as the A-Team Artists of
Trenton. The purpose of the group
is fourfold:
1 to
promote the work of TASK
artists, including visual
artists, musicians, writers,
actors and craftspeople;
2 to
work together as a group
to support and encourage
each other’s success;
3 to
learn entrepreneurial skills
by taking responsibility
for developing and maintaining
the A-TEAM as a business
entity;
4 to
generate good will and public
support for the artists, the
TASK community and the city of
Trenton.
Studio
space and basic supplies are
generously provided by TASK,
and the day-to-day workings of
the group are coordinated by
a longtime TASK volunteer. The
artists and volunteer coordinator
meet once a week in the art room
at TASK for about five hours,
during which time the artists
work on projects of their choice.
All the A-TEAM artists are self-taught,
and they work in a wide variety
of media, including paint, pencil
and ink, pastel, collage, and
found object construction. Their
work is displayed throughout
the year at TASK and at group
and individual shows in area
galleries and other such spaces
when they are offered. The group
is open to all members of the
soup kitchen community, and the “price
of admission” is a piece of artwork
and participation, when possible,
at A-TEAM meetings.
The
A-Team holds biweekly meetings
to plan exhibits and projects,
make policy and budgetary decisions,
host visits from local artists
and arrange field trips. In
addition to the individual artwork
they create throughout the year,
A-TEAM members, as a group, have
designed and produced group note
cards and posters that are on
sale at local art galleries and
museums as well as at all
A-TEAM exhibits and year-round
at the soup kitchen. The artists
are currently planning two new
projects: a booklet about the
A-TEAM including a description
of its beginnings and growth,
biographies and photos of the
artists, and representative examples
of their work; and a CD of gospel
songs sung by one of the many
multi-talented A-TEAM artists
and produced by another. Proceeds
from all sales, whether individual
or group, go directly to the
artists.
If
you would like to attend a meeting,
volunteer to work with the A-TEAM
or find out more about the group,
please contact Susan Darley at
609-695-5456. The TASK artists
would be grateful for any suggestions
you might have and would like
to thank the many members of
the community who have already
expressed interest and offered
encouragement to us.
