This past weekend my family headed back up to Minnesota. I was there for work but it also was a great chance to see friends and family!

I am the Director of Art of Edina. We take community art and display it in public spaces.

Sometimes we also like to shine focus on a non-profit!

This weekend we did a project with many partners! We decided to use the space that Southdale Center donates to us to raise awareness of a great local non-profit called the Pinky Swear Foundation.

The Pinky Swear Foundation is an amazing organization that has been helping kids with cancer for over 15 years! It all started when a dad made a pinky-swear to his son who was battling cancer to help other kids in the same situation.

We enlisted the help of the Edina Football Association (EFA.) On Saturdays in the fall they have about 300 kids from 2nd grade through 5th grade come out to their fields and play flag football!

So on Saturday October 13, 2018 all 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th grade EFA players got to learn about the Pinky Swear Foundation and participate in a “hands on” Art of Edina project.

Two representatives from the Pinky Swear Foundation, Joe Zander and Erica Campbell, spoke to the kids about the organization and the importance of supporting friends, family and people in our community.

After the kids heard from Erica and Joe, they headed over to the “Art of Edina Station” where their hands were photographed doing a “pinky swear.”

The kids also received treats and hand-outs. Art of Edina had so many great helpers that day!

We were so lucky to have the help of volunteers from the Edina Service Organization as well as some great friends and family!

Art of Edina is currently working on editing all of the photos together to make a 25 foot artistic banner that will be displayed for 3 months at Southdale Center!

I am excited to share photos of the installation once it is up at Southdale! I can’t wait to see how all of the smaller photos look as one big artsy banner. My friend Paul Johnson is our designer and he is so wonderfully talented - I know it is going to look amazing.

Art of Edina is funded solely by Tradition Companies of Edina as a part of their Pass It On Initiative and I am honored to be a part of it!