On December 21,The Art League of Cheatham County presented a check for $6630 to benefit the Dept. of Children Services for foster care children's needs in the General Sessions Courtroom. (Submitted Photo) Co-founder and patron of the Art League of Cheatham County, John R. Lindahl in his years of working with Judge Phillip Maxey and the Cheatham County Juvenile Court System, discovered a serious financial need to help support foster care children- many who have nothing as they move from home to home.
Lindahl reached out to the Art League of Cheatham County and shared what he thought would be a great partnership to raise needed funds and help artists as well. To "foster" this mission, Lindahl donated $10,000 to the Art League. When the Art League held its 2021 Fall Gala on November 19, 2021, at the Livery Stables in Pleasant View, exhibiting artists were encouraged to choose one or more pieces of their art to donate to the cause.
The Art League then auctioned off those pieces, raising money for the needs of foster children in Cheatham County. As a thank you to the artists, each received one ticket that was placed in a raffle where $6,000 was given away to three lucky artists. In total, over 30 pieces of art, valued over $9,000, were donated, with $6,630 ultimately going to local foster children.
The highest winning bid was $2,250 for Sunset on Santa Maria, a 36 x 38 oil painting by Art League member, Kristi Baker. Auction funds will be administered through The Art League of Cheatham County with the help of DCS and the juvenile court system. "For me, the Art League is not just about helping artists," said Debbie Keenan, Art League president. "It becomes more about inclusion and paying it forward to benefit the community in a meaningful way, especially children. We are not just a group of what shall I say, Sunday painters. We are a varied group of over 70 members of community-minded professionals, business owners, artists and art professionals, and members who believe that art benefits our community."
