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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Art program created specifically for children


Ali Shute is the founder of St.Vincent de Paul's Art on the Edge.
 (Kathy Plonka / The Spokesman-Review)
Laura Umthun Correspondent

Unlike the children she witnessed while working at the St. Vincent de Paul homeless shelter as a VISTA volunteer in 1994, Ali Shute grew up having choices.

“The kids in the shelter were living in desperate circumstances, and their environment taught them that they had no choices,” Shute says.

Shute’s mother was a talented artist and taught her daughter that art was a great tool. Shute knew that art was a way to help boost the self-esteem of the children living in the homeless shelter while teaching them valuable problem-solving skills.

Since the target audience was kids who literally lived “on the edge,” Shute decided to name the program “Art on the Edge.”

“The focus of Art on the Edge is not on the art product, but the process it takes to create it. There are many ways to express the creative process,” Shute says.

“Art is a great tool because kids become so absorbed in it. It requires accessing your insides, finding a problem and learning to solve it, and ultimately developing that sense of pride in the finished product because of the process it took to get there.”

Art on the Edge is a nonprofit organization operated through St. Vincent de Paul. It is governed by a 10- to 15-member volunteer board of directors, and employs a program coordinator funded through grants. Shute has been the director since the beginning.

After the program was established, Art on the Edge expanded and offered free art classes to at-risk youth throughout the community – allowing children to “express themselves through dripping, spilling, tearing and just about everything but erasing,” according to board member Stacy Hudson.

“Art on the Edge eventually opened its doors to all children based on the philosophy that with the many challenges kids face today, all children are at risk,” says Hudson.

Art on the Edge has brought valuable life skills to more than 800 children since its humble beginnings 11 years ago.

“We have done amazing things in 11 years,” Shute says. “We have taken small steps but sure steps and everything we have done has remained solid.”

Each year a weeklong art camp is offered featuring a guest artist who explores a unique art form with the children. This year’s art camp culminated with dozens of individual flags gracing the facade of the Coeur d’Alene Human Rights Education Institute.

Each flag was created by a child in the program and featured an artistic representation of the human rights from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

A major fund-raiser for Art on the Edge is mARTi Gras and the Idaho Cuisine Cajun Cook-off which is today from 6 p.m. to midnight at Brix Restaurant, Cricket’s Steakhouse and Oyster Bar, Coeur d’Alene Cellars Barrel No. 6, and the Ironhorse in downtown Coeur d’Alene.

The eighth annual event offers authentic Cajun food prepared by 16 of the Northwest’s finest chefs, and revelers can dance in the streets between venues.

Guests at the mARTi Gras benefit will enjoy all the traditional festivities of Mardi Gras, from beads to king cake to live music. The event includes a no-host bar, performances by belly dancers, dancing to live music and prizes, including king and queen of the mARTi Gras, best costume and most spirited reveler. Party-goers can feel free to wear whatever they choose, costumes are optional.

A new event this year will find Art on the Edge volunteers hosting a variety of free art activities for children of all ages in downtown Coeur d’Alene.

Kids can participate in activities such as mask making, bead making, decorating bikes and wagons for a children’s parade and other activities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Coeur d’Alene Resort Plaza, Erlendson Art Glass, Cafe Doma and Precious Time Photography.

The Art on the Edge art exhibit will be on display through Wednesday in the lobby of the Coeur d’Alene Resort Plaza. The exhibit will feature artwork by children in the program, including self-portrait collages, mixed media fiber arts collages, ceramic plaques and water color stills.

Advance tickets are $40 per person and available at St. Vincent de Paul, area Super One Foods, Finan McDonald’s, Christmas by the Lake, Coeur d’Alene Resort and Optique. Tickets at the door are $45.

“Ali’s vision for Art on the Edge has had a profound effect on the community,” says Hudson. “She is a dedicated volunteer, but she’s also an artist and truly believes in the power of art to change lives. For the last 10 years she’s seen it work its magic on hundreds of kids throughout the region who have gained self-esteem and direction through the principles of Art on the Edge.”