By Renee Larr
The Urban Chalkboard in Carmel will host a silent auction to benefit Geist Orchard Cooperative Preschool July 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. during its Patio Night. Auctioned will be portions of a large canvas created by participants in an art class at Urban Chalkboard called Process Art.
“Process Art is really just about the process and not the end product,” said Cheyenne Land-Requiz, a teacher at Geist Orchard Cooperative Preschool. “The kids have lots of opportunities for messy fun and letting their imagination run wild to create, using a lot of different materials and mediums.”
Land-Requiz teaches the Process Art class at Urban Chalkboard. Each week, she brings in different items such as plungers, pendulums and old CDs for kids to use to add to the canvas.
“It’s really messy, but she brings in all these incredible materials each week,” said Jessica Beer, co-owner of Urban Chalkboard. “This canvas is around 4 by 10 feet. We lay it on the floor, and the kids just gather around the canvas to explore all the materials and the canvas. It’s really cool to see how it’s changed each week.”
The canvas will be divided into pieces that families can purchase at Patio Night. Pizza, beer and wine will be served for parents.
“We try to tailor Patio Night to the parents as much as we do the kids,” Beer said. “This particular evening is going to be dedicated to the Geist Orchard Cooperative Preschool silent auction. We’re hoping the community will come in to support them because they’re a nonprofit. It’s all about getting them funded.”
Urban Chalkboard will offer all its normal play activities for children during Patio Night. The cost is $5 per child with pre-registration and $8 per child at the door. Adults and children 9 months and under are free. To register, visit theurbanchalkboard.com.
