Ad Fed celebrates trailblazer & Art Buddies founder Sue Crolick on June 25, 2015!
The Advertising Federation (Ad Fed) of Minnesota invites you to a MAD/AD/BASH on Thursday, June 25, featuring a presentation by the dynamic Sue Crolick, Minneapolis' first female art director and founder of Art Buddies.
Sue started her advertising career in the MadMen era (and knows all about those 3-martini lunches). She was the first female art director at two of Minneapolis’ largest ad agencies and won the top awards in her industry, including Golds from the One Show and New York Art Directors Club, Best of Shows and the Silver Medal from Ad Fed MN, plus features in Communication Arts and Graphis.
Sue will tell what it was like to be a female in the male-dominated ad world, what happened after her agency burned down, and how much fun she had making ads for creative people. See how a failed romance led her to start her own advertising and design business, and how a major illness inspired her to start Art Buddies, a nonprofit helping kids in need by matching each child with their own creative mentor. Enjoy great stories from one of Minneapolis’ most unique creatives.
After Sue’s talk, party with the Twin Cities’ original MADMEN&WOMEN. Drink Martinis or Manhattans, enjoy swanky hors d’oeuvres, and go MAD with your evening attire! Also featured “The Show” winners that won at the National AAF ADDY competition.
Thursday, June 25, 5:30pm–10pm
Radisson Blu Hotel
35 S. 7th Street
Downtown Minneapolis | MAP
5:30 Registration
6:00 Keynote by Sue Crolick
7:00 Party
Cost Ad Fed/Ad 2 members: Free
Non-members: $40
Students: $15
Register at: http://www.adfed.org/events/adfed-program-5/
[Photo courtesy Ken Friberg]
Art Buddy Spotlight: Katie Tholke, Intern
Meet Katie Tholke, the Art Buddies Intern for our spring 2015 semester.
How did you get connected with Art Buddies?
I found this awesome opportunity to intern for Steph and Scott through St. Catherine University in St. Paul. I’m currently a junior in the Financial Economics program, minoring in Business Administration. St. Catherine’s was awarded a grant through Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation that provided paid work experience with local non-profits, including Art Buddies!
What do you do as an intern for Art Buddies?
I’m currently working on finishing up several projects at our downtown office hosted at Carmichael Lynch, in addition to the time I spend helping with programs at our partnering schools. One project is researching and reaching out to past Art Buddies students who are now adults, to see what they’re up to today and how Art Buddies impacted their lives.
I’ve also been chipping away at updating our contact list. Most recently, I have been requesting donations from local businesses for prize drawing items for our Letter-Palooza fundraiser in May. So far we have tickets for several awesome theaters and the Walker Art Center, some locally roasted coffee beans, and gift cards to some great restaurants.
You'll have to attend Letter-Palooza to check it out: http://www.artbuddies.org/fundraisers/
How would you describe Art Buddies to someone who has never heard of the program?
Art Buddies is a one-on-one arts mentoring program that serves lower income neighborhoods with free after-school programs.
What has been your most memorable experience with Art Buddies?
Finding out that Jesus Barrera was a former Art Buddy through my research, and that he works at Bancroft! I’ve also gotten the chance to hop in a couple of times when an adult buddy has been absent or we’ve had a shortage of mentors for whatever reason. This has given me the understanding and appreciation for what our volunteers do every week.
Why did you decide to become active with Art Buddies?
Art Buddies is a great combination of many things I love; non-profits, arts, and mentoring. I have a background in architecture from the University of Minnesota, and even though I’m not pursuing that career path now, I definitely still enjoy spending time creating. Art Buddies seemed like the perfect organization to see what working at a non-profit would be like, which is my ultimate goal.
What advice would you give to rookie Art Buddies volunteers?
Be flexible; you never know what kind of costume your buddy might like. You’re there for guidance and support!
How do you feel the after-school combination of creativity and mentoring helps children with school work?
I think getting to know their adult buddies and what they do in their jobs is important for kids to see how their hard work at school can pay off in their future. Not all children have the opportunity to know creative professionals in their personal lives, or know how important school is for their future.
Tell us a unique or interesting Art Buddies experience that inspired you.
I love how the child I got to work with didn’t have fear of starting a project like I do! She just went for it and cut into the fabric, while I might take a lot longer to get the same results.
I also learned not to be afraid to express yourself; the kids combined many of their interests into one costume. I don’t think even as a kid I would have been as openly creative as so many of them are. I would have been afraid of looking silly or not fitting in, so I definitely learned something from the confidence they build at Art Buddies.
Art Buddies accepts mentor applications every fall and spring. Learn how you can volunteer with Art Buddies at http://www.artbuddies.org/volunteer/.
Art Buddy Spotlight: Jesus Barrera, Student Alumnus, Monitor and Mentor
A wonderful story to help celebrate our 20th year that seems too perfect to believe...
At each Art Buddies program, we work with school staff to help monitor each session and fill in for missing volunteers when needed. Sometimes our school helpers volunteer themselves to be creative mentors as well.
For the past two seasons, Jesus Barrera has been our school staff assistant at Bancroft Elementary School, helping monitor Art Buddies sessions and even being a creative mentor for one child last fall.
What's even more special about Jesus is that he was actually an Art Buddy himself when he was a student at Whittier International Elementary School back in 1999-2000!
After 15 years, we are so fortunate to have Jesus back working with us, and even volunteering as an Art Buddies mentor. What a wonderful way to celebrate turning 20!
Jesus Barrera with his Art Buddies mentor, Kyle Oglesby, at Whittier International Elementary School (spring 1999).
Jesus Barrera with his Wolf Mask creation during Art Buddies at Whittier International Elementary School (spring 1999).
Jesus Barrera sporting his Bulldogs Hockey costume he created with his Art Buddies mentor, Chad Nestor, at Whittier International Elementary School (spring 2000).
Jesus Barrera with his little Art Buddy talking about the costume the created together during Art Buddies presentations at Bancroft Elementary School (fall 2014).
Jesus Barrera with Art Buddies Program Director Stephanie Vagle while helping monitor sessions at Bancroft Elementary School (spring 2015).