Buy Art Not Drugs

Purpose:

This project has two main goals:

Provide students an opportunity to have original art in their home.
Provide students with an opportunity learn from original art,

Rules:

Artwork is for student purchase only. Not even the art teacher may purchase a work.
All proceeds will be donated to our school district foundation, which provides food, supplies, and other necessities to our students.
Artists may remain anonymous
Artwork will be priced from $2-10
Students are required to write a thank you note on a postcard that will be sent to the artist
Before the art sale, art will be used in the classroom as a source for learning critique and curation. Any leftover art will remain for sale and for use in the classroom

How it began:

Fellow art teacher and artist, Clint Whiting, and I were sitting in the audience of a panel discussion at the annual Utah Art Education Association conference. Another raised his hand and asked how he can engage his “football player students” in his art class. The picture of Lebron James (not a football player, still a jock) popped into my head. The idea for a sale quickly followed. Two days later I presented the idea to my principal. He said he liked it and asked for a bit of time to think it though. At the end of the day, I talked to him again. We worked out a few details and I made the following post on Instagram and Facebook:

**justinwheatleyart**
I want my high school students to have an opportunity to purchase original art. One of my goals as an art teacher is to educate my students on the joy that can be found in having art in their home. Fellow teacher,@clint_whiting, and I are going to hold our first ever “Buy Art, Not Drugs” fair to provide students with an opportunity to spend a few dollars on an original work of art. Students will be encouraged to skip something for a day or two and use the money they saved to purchase art that they can enjoy for a much longer time. Instead of a bag of Cheetos, a soda, a coffee, or something else, they can take home a drawing, collage, or some other work of art that they appreciate. As part of the project, we will talk about various celebrity art collectors the students can identify with and why art collecting is important to those people, and how it can add to their own lives.

We teach at a public alternative high school and much of our student population is on free or reduced lunch. Money is tight. In order to make this work, art works will be priced from $2-$10. 100% of proceeds will go to programs that provide food, supplies, and glasses for our students.
I don’t like asking for donations. I understand the work that goes into creating art. Instead of asking for completed paintings or drawings that you have spent hours on, please consider a quick study, drawing, collage, maquette, or other work that is simple but still beautiful. The goal is to have work that the students find interesting enough to want to take home. If you do want to send a finished painting, we won’t say no. Artwork done by students will also be included in the sale. The works do not need to be signed or associated with you in any way. Please only contribute works that are appropriate for a high school setting. Students will be encouraged to write a thank you and describe why they found joy in your work. If you include your name and address with the artwork, I will send the thank you to you. Please consider taking part in this project and please spread the word. Send donations by mail before March 21st to:

Attn: Justin Wheatley
Connection High School
501 E 3900 S
SLC UT 84107

The response was amazing! Here are just some of the comments from Instagram:

habbenink
Count me in!
erikadonaghy
@justinwheatleyart will do! This is such a cool idea!
k8hart88
Fantastic idea. Thank you!
crystal.despain.art
Awesome!! I'll try to get something over!
justinwheatleyart
@crystal.despain.artthanks Crystal!
justinwheatleyart
@habbenink awesome!
houseofmeggs
@justinwheatleyart nice one, what a great initiative, I’ll send you a paper study 🙏🏻 will DM to follow up.
justinwheatleyart
@houseofmeggs thanks so much! I’ve got some students that showed me your work. They are going to be stoked!
houseofmeggs
@justinwheatleyart your welcome, I’m very stoked to hear that!!
justinwheatleyart
@sayawoolfalk @kehindewiley @bentolman @misterctoons @origidavila @mac.arte @vhils @dface_official @wrdsmth @nos.mao
justinwheatleyart
@tpack.art sweet! Thanks Tyler! You should do it at LP.
caseyjexsmith
👏🏼
carmenduran_art
Count me in! This is an amazing idea! Way to go
justinwheatleyart
@carmenduran_artawesome! Thank you!
moffeezy
I love this! So much! Yes, count me in.
moffettfineart
And me!
pretty_minimal
I have a little piece to give. Also, happy to do something to help with backstage/ boring details. If needed.
jhwilliamsfromtx
My husband and I will contribute to this, too! EXCELLENT idea!!!
mamahollsballs
@lindanearon @mrsnan @flip.j The two men that are putting this together are in my Ward and are both very talented artists. They happen to also be incredible father’s, husbands and men. It’s a fabulous idea and cause that I thought you fellow artists could appreciate!!
mrsmasterchief
@andromed.art ‼️
wdouglasday
@mbenn3tt thanks! @justinwheatleyart count me in, what a cool thing you are doing. Besides sending a piece or two, let me know if you need any other help. Now or in the future. Very impressed.
emilythecliff
@gohomehayley
gohomehayley
@emilythecliff i dig this
lindanearon
@mamahollsballs thanks for sharing
loveheartsart
@rachdwils want to do this with me? 😁
rachdwils
@loveheartsart cool! Let's do it!
jhwilliamsfromtx
You're welcome. 😊
hilbates
@shelby.lynn1 you should submit something :)
urbanluxelife
I’m in, love this idea and would have been so excited about this when I was in school!
urbanluxelife
@dubelyoo @katgoduco @jasonphillips_tattoos
justinwheatleyart
@urbanluxelifeawesome! Thank you Toni!
capparellecreative
@justinwheatleyart any Dodgers fans in Utah? I have a Max Muncy watercolor painting commemorating his walk off home run in the 18th inning during the WS!
justinwheatleyart
@capparellecreativeWow! I see Dodgers jerseys all the time. We’ve got quite a few LA transplants.
shelby.lynn1
@e.giblette we need to do this
hilbates
@childspartyof8 you should have Maddie submit something for this
childspartyof8
@hilbates I totally should! 🤔
funkefolklore
local artist here and would love to contribute. Where would I be able to drop something off at? Awesome idea!