FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13, 2021
Contact: Kathleen Ganster, 412-377-8364, kganster@nfhcs.org www.nfhcs.org
Not Forgotten Home & Community Services (NFHCS) partners with Carnegie Borough to beautify downtown area
Carnegie, PA – Those driving through Carnegie Borough will be greeted with the colorful crosswalk at E. Main Street and Mary Street thanks to the efforts of Not Forgotten Home & Community Services! Partnering with the Borough and City Connections, NFHCS designed and orchestrated painting the crosswalk during the months of September and October. NFHCS used funding through their C-ART program, an initiative to take art into the community funded by Arts, Equity, & Education Fund, a Pittsburgh based private foundation focused on support for the arts and education through the lens of access, equity, and inclusion efforts.
Not Forgotten Home & Community Services (NFHCS) is a 501 c (3) non-profit whose mission is to endorse the uniqueness of all individuals through inclusion and opportunity. NFHCS serves adults in the Greater Pittsburgh area with intellectual disabilities; many served also have physical disabilities. NFHCS fulfills its mission through home and community habilitation; respite; transitional services; job coaching; behavior supports; residential supports and companion services.
The project began when Joanne Letcher, Executive Director of the Carnegie Community Development Corporation, approached Laura Stuart, Creative Director of NFHCS.
Stuart then created a design based on Carl the snail, the town mascot, which was then approved by the Carnegie Council. Enlisting the aid of NFHCS individuals and students from City Connections, the crosswalk was painted over several days.
The project was a great success according to Letcher. “The color and vibrancy of the crosswalk make it an attractive addition to our Main St. The snails representing Carl add a touch of whimsy. As someone suggested, it may help with safety as well. People will slow down to a ‘crawl’.”
Based on the response of the Carnegie crosswalk project, Stuart would like to expand the crosswalk project.
“Our hope is to inspire collaborative crosswalk projects in each of our 90 Pittsburgh neighborhoods and especially areas that need to have some extra attention. Community Art projects such as these create a sense of pride and reduce negative images of certain areas. Let’s face it, colorful expression makes us feel good,” Stuart said.
For more information, email lstuart@nfhcs.org
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IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 20, 2019
CONTACT: Laura Stuart; 724-674-8856; lstuart@nfhcs.org
THE GALLERY @CLUB FORGET-ME-NOT IN MONROEVILLE CELEBRATES NEW STUDIO GRAND OPENING AUGUST 2 WITH ART SHOW, RIBBON-CUTTING, GAMES, REFRESHMENTS, ART SALE & MORE
NEW MONROEVILLE GALLERY TO SPOTLIGHT IDD ARTISTS AT REGION-WIDE ART SHOW ‘MAJESTIC MOVEMENT’ OPENS SAME DAY AS GRAND OPENING EVENT
MONROEVILLE – A very special art gallery that focuses primarily on artists with intellectual and other disabilities has opened in Monroeville and will be doing a very special art show – “Majestic Movement” - to kick off their grand opening Aug. 2.
The Gallery@Club Forget-Me-Not, 500 Garden Drive, Monroeville, which was created specifically for this community, will open with a ribbon-cutting at 1 PM Friday, Aug. 2 and will include the art show, light refreshments, games, art sales, and other activities to showcase the new gallery space.
“Our goal with the gallery is to exhibit and educate the public on the amazing abilities of each unique artist who participates with us or is a part of the community,” said Laura Stuart, Creative Services Director and Gallery Facilitator, adding that the gallery is a branch of Studio Forget-Me-Not, a division of Not Forgotten Home & Community Services in Carnegie. “This art show is centered around art that moves, art that is moving to the soul and art that inspires movement!”
With the theme of “Majestic Movement”, The Gallery will focus on colorful, expressive, professional quality and original art that emulates movement in some way. Submitted pieces will include wall art, sculptural; fiber arts; photography; mosaic; mixed media; jewelry; fashion & more. “We want the art show to be all-encompassing in its art style and representing the IDD community throughout the region, which is also wide and varied – defying a ‘one-size fits all’ description.”
Stuart, who along with Executive Director Sonja Garnett-Williams, had developed the ‘special abilities’ Studio Forget-Me-Not in Carnegie in 2017 and consider the mission of this new gallery and art maker space in Monroeville, an outreach of the Carnegie studio. It will help spotlight the abilities of their individuals, provide them an opportunity to exhibit and sell in a studio/gallery setting and to participate in community events.
For more event info visit nfhcs.org/special-events or contact Laura Stuart at 724.674.8856 or lstuart@nfhcs.org
The Gallery@Club Forget-Me-Not is a branch of Studio Forget-Me-Not, a division of Not Forgotten Home & Community Services based out of Carnegie, which provides in-home care, recreation and housing for the adult IDD individual. Studio Forget-Me-Not is a community-based nonprofit art venue created first to provide art opportunities for the developmentally and intellectually disabled, with classes also open to the public to create together with the IDD community. The studio can also be utilized for the teaching of art classes and private rentals.
Follow our Social Media at https://www.facebook.com/studioforgetmenotcarnegie or on Instagram @Forgetmenotart4all . Plus follow our tags #majesticmovement
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 2, 2019
CONTACT: Laura Stuart; 724-674-8856; lstuart@nfhcs.org
THE GALLERY @CLUB FORGET-ME-NOT IN MONROEVILLE SEEKS ARTISTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN GRAND OPENING AUGUST 2
NEW MONROEVILLE GALLERY PUTS OUT REGION-WIDE CALL FOR ART SUBMISSIONS TO VERY SPECIAL ART SHOW ‘MAJESTIC MOVEMENT’ THAT OPENS SAME DAY; GRAND OPENING INCLUDES ART SHOW, RIBBON-CUTTING, GAMES, REFRESHMENTS, ART SALE & MORE
MONROEVILLE – A very special art gallery that focuses primarily on artists with intellectual and other disabilities has opened in Monroeville and will be doing a very special art show – “Majestic Movement” - to kick off their grand opening Aug. 2.
The Gallery@Club Forget-Me-Not, 500 Garden Drive, Monroeville, which was created specifically for this community, will open with a ribbon-cutting at 1 PM Friday, Aug. 2 and will include the art show, light refreshments, games, art sales, and other activities to showcase the new gallery space.
“Our goal with the gallery is to exhibit and educate the public on the amazing abilities of each unique artist who participates with us or is a part of the community,” said Laura Stuart, Creative Services Director and Gallery Facilitator, adding that the gallery is a branch of Studio Forget-Me-Not, a division of Not Forgotten Home & Community Services in Carnegie. “This art show is centered around art that moves, art that is moving to the soul and art that inspires movement!”
With the theme of “Majestic Movement”, The Gallery is seeking colorful, expressive, professional quality and original art that emulates movement in some way. Submitted pieces can be flat (wall art), sculptural; fiber arts; photography; mosaic; mixed media; jewelry; fashion & more. “We want the art show to be all-encompassing in its art style and representing the IDD community throughout the region, which is also wide and varied – defying a ‘one-size fits all’ description.”
Stuart, who along with Executive Director Sonja Garnett-Williams, had developed the ‘special abilities’ art maker space Studio Forget-Me-Not in Carnegie in 2017. They consider the mission of the gallery, an outreach of the studio, to spotlight the abilities of their individuals, provide them an opportunity to exhibit and sell in a studio/gallery setting, and to participate in community events along with offering art classes and workshops.
Other submitted art stipulations include that it must be original and not from a kit; that a form found on their website must be filled out and emailed or faxed along with photo samples of their work to be reviewed. Individuals will also have the option of selling their artwork at the show through The Gallery.
Artists Applications can be downloaded at https://www.nfhcs.org/special-events and the form with photos of samples of the artwork can be emailed to lstuart@nfhcs.org or faxed to the attention of Laura Stuart at 412.279.5001. Once the application is reviewed and accepted, artwork drop-off dates/locations will be sent. For more event details contact Laura Stuart at 724.674.8856 or lstuart@nfhcs.org
The Gallery@Club Forget-Me-Not is a branch of Studio Forget-Me-Not, a division of Not Forgotten Home & Community Services based out of Carnegie, which provides in-home care, recreation and housing for the adult IDD individual. The Gallery@Club Forget-Me-Not is a community-based nonprofit art venue created to provide art opportunities for the developmentally and intellectually disabled, with classes open to the public to create together with the IDD community. The gallery is available for public art classes and private rentals.
Follow our Social Media at https://www.facebook.com/notforgottenactivities or Instagram @Forgetmenotart4all . Plus visit https://www.studioforgetmenot.org #majesticmovement
Not Forgotten Home & Community Services
TO: All Media Contacts
CONTACT: Laura Stuart, Studio Forget-Me-Not! Creative Services Director
INFO: 724.674.8856 - lstuart@nfhcs.org DATE: 4/18/19
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Not Forgotten Home & Community Services to Host Three Location Open House May 2
NFHCS welcomes the public to three state-of-the-art locations
for individuals with intellectual disabilities
CARNEGIE, PA – A three location open house will be hosted by the Not Forgotten Home & Community Services (NFHCS) organization, a local nonprofit that endorses “the uniqueness of each individual through inclusion and opportunity.”
The open house will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thurs., May 2. Light snacks and refreshments will be offered. During the open house event all three community centers for adults and children with disabilities will be open to the public to tour and learn more about the many services that they provide.
The centers offer art classes, cooking groups, yoga classes, drumming circles, games, computers, dances, fitness programs and more. The locations are available for use by all agencies who serve ID (Intellectually Disabled) and physically disabled clients.
The locations are:
Studio Forget-Me-Not! 101 W. Main Street, Carnegie, PA.
Studio Forget-Me-Not! is an art space where individuals with intellectual disabilities explore unlimited artistic exploration with a variety of art medium classes, and individuals can sell their work in the gallery/store onsite.
Club NF - 454 Montgomery Ave. Bridgeville, PA.
Club NF is a family friendly location offering weekly activities, including cooking and crafts. It offers a sensory room, modern game room, computer lab, garden club, and an exercise program.
Club Forget-Me-Not! EAST - 500 Garden City Drive 14N, Monroeville, PA 15146.
Club Forget-Me-Not! is a state-of-the art location offering art classes with attached art gallery, music lessons, games, dance, fitness and a variety of special events.
“We are so excited to now offer three centers in our region, and still growing,” said Laura Stuart, Creative Services Director for (NFHCS). “Come to one or visit all three centers on May 2. It’s inspiring to open our doors and meet new faces. We welcome young adults who may be transitioning into adulthood (graduating) and adults of all ages who want to have more activity/community options. We offer an important edge that many other providers do not offer. That edge is to use the arts and creative expression to give individuals a sense of pride, to enhance their self-esteem and to help them develop creative skills that can be carried into many areas of their lives.”
“Club Forget-Me-Not! is our newest location in Monroeville, PA” said Sonja Garnett-Williams, Executive Director, NFHCS. “We are pleased to continue expanding a non-traditional alternative to routine adult day programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The daily activities we offer are based on personal choice and are community oriented - designed to provide individuals with all-inclusive options.”
The public is welcome to attend all three locations on May 2. Large groups are asked RSVP via email at lstuart@nfhcs.org. For more information, contact Laura Stuart, NFHC S Creative Service Director/Studio Facilitator: 412.378.4030 or lstuart@nfhcs.org or visit nfhcs.org
Studio Forget-Me-Not!
TO: All Media Contacts
CONTACT: Laura Stuart, Studio Forget-Me-Not! Studio Facilitator
INFO: 412.378.4030; lstuart@nfhcs.org
DATE: Aug. 28, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Grand Opening Sept. 8 in Carnegie for Community Art Center for Adults with Disabilities
Studio Forget-Me-Not! Art Center Open to all Agencies who serve Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
CARNEGIE, PA – A community art center for adults and children with disabilities will have its grand opening Sept. 8 in downtown Carnegie. The new art center, located at 101 W. Main St., will be available for use by all agencies who serve ID (Intellectually Disabled) and physically disabled clients. Entitled Studio Forget-Me-Not!, it was developed by the Not Forgotten Home & Community Services (NFHCS) organization, a local nonprofit that endorses the uniqueness of each individual through inclusion and opportunity.
“We see art as another vehicle to create sensory and self-expression opportunities for clients with developmental disabilities,” said Laura Stuart, Art Facilitator for (NFHCS). “Art used also as therapy is a viable alternative tool for helping the ID/DD sector with socializing skills, self-empowerment and examining and integrating with their environment”
According to statistics compiled by the Center on Disability at the Public Health Institute, out of more than 320 million U.S. residents, almost 13% of them have a disability, which can be defined as hearing, vision, cognitive, ambulatory, self-care, and independent living.
“Studio Forget-Me-Not is an art space where individuals with disabilities can explore unlimited artistic avenues through a wide array classes,” Stuart said, adding that they plan to offer traditional and non-traditional approaches to art, focusing on each individual’s ability level. “The goal of the studio is to offer classes to all agencies in the region who wish to utilize the space. Art is so important to this population. Not only do they love the creative play but it is another form of communication that provides them confidence and opportunity.”
“Art is self-expression. There are no right or wrong answers. This is one of the few times that our individuals are not judged by test scores.” said Sonja Garnett-Williams, Executive Director, Not Forgotten Home and Community Services.
The grand opening will be held at 5 PM – 9 PM Friday, Sept. 8, in conjunction with the Carnegie Crawl (https://visitcarnegie.com/carnegie-crawl) when many of the local businesses remain open later with additional events and entertainment. Studio events include an art open house, meet & greet with the local artists; Make it/Take it Art opportunities for the public; musical entertainment provided by John Wiatrak and light refreshments.
Future plans for this art space include special guest artists teaching classes and providing public events, art shows centered around and created by the developmentally disabled; a public art gallery and an artist market with sales from the items going directly to those we serve.
For more information, contact Laura Stuart, NFHC S Creative Service Director/Studio Facilitator:
412.378.4030 or lstuart@nfhcs.org or visit nfhcs.org
Or visit the Facebook event page for the grand opening: https://www.facebook.com/manyamazingabilities/