Me In Sunny Carolina: Giving Back

Monday, September 30, 2019

Giving Back

I’ve been called a “serial volunteer” and believe me, it’s true. There are a number of reasons for this:

My first volunteer gig was shelving books at my middle school library (just to be around the books) and I discovered how much I enjoy doing a task that is desperately needed.
Volunteering is a great way to meet people.
Many volunteer assignments can be physical and so I get a great workout at the same time.

Project Host soup kitchen volunteering
I learn something new with each experience. I’ve learned about nutrition, music, and sports, how to select wine, fold fancy napkins, write grants, make bruschetta, pull a draft beer, call bingo, plant a garden, paint (a wall), put up a tent, stack pumpkins, organize a silent auction, lots of doggie care, and, of course, the Dewey Decimal System.
I’m passionate about missions I believe in.

So, when my work also commits to giving back, that’s pretty special for me. TCNA’s annual trade show, Coverings, is the preeminent event for the ceramic and natural stone industry in North America. With over 25,000 attendees, the show gives exhibitors much exposure. Part of the show is an Art Tile Courtyard that showcases boutique tile makers. For the past few years, TCNA has sponsored a display of doghouses creatively tiled by these artisans. The doghouses are on view during the show and then donated to a local animal charity to use for fundraising. The charity is also invited to participate by bringing adoptable puppies to the show.

I had fun creating signage for this event, “Hot Dog!”

I created paw print stickers that we used to lay a path through the showroom to the puppies. Each sticker had a playful puppy pun.

The courtyard was undoubtably the most popular exhibit of nine total miles of international tile and stone displays.

I also designed the graphics for the show booth, seen in this video that I pieced together as a quick thank you to everyone who worked so hard on a great show.

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References

I have known and worked for Cindy Faber Smith since 1998 when she, as the art director for Science magazine, commissioned me to do the cover art for the magazine. It was a bit of a surprise since my artwork is geared towards the children’s market. Typical of Cindy, she wanted to bring a different approach to that month’s cover of a rather dry, technical publication. What at first seemed to be a rather impossible assignment (a “hidden picture” type of piece, incorporating many diverse elements) turned out to be one of the most satisfying assignments I have had in my career. She contacted me again a couple of years later with another fresh approach to the cover art utilizing the red queen from Alice in Wonderland as the theme.

I was surprised, when a few years later, she contacted me as the new art director of Highlights. As a child I had a subscription to Highlights, so I had quite an affection for this magazine. Cindy has brought her many skills as a designer to give this 60+ year-old magazine a fresher, more updated look, while still keeping the trademark Highlights style.

Working with Cindy is always a pleasure. She is simply the best art director I have worked with in my 30-year career. She does not over direct and she allows the artist enough freedom to make them feel that they are adding something of their own selves to the illustrations. She is not heavy handed with her suggestions which produces a very positive collaboration.

Because Highlights hosts an annual party for their illustrators, I finally was able to meet Cindy in person. She is a delightful person, filled with humor, intelligence and warmth. I cannot sing her praises more boldly.

David Galchutt

Illustrator

I’ve known Cindy Smith for 25 years. Over the years, I’ve come to rely on her for her humor, earnestness, and enthusiasm in countless situations.

Aside from being an artist, she is a keen observer who thrives on the challenge of dissecting problems and always seems to find a creative solution. She also has the ability to guide others in solving problems that seem insurmountable. In many ways, I’ve become a better person through observing her at work, in our community, and at play.

I admire the way Cindy experiences life and am proud to count her among my closest and most trusted friends. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her for any job. I know she would embrace any challenge and undoubtly rise to any occasion.

Sincerely,
Dolores Motichka

“In the cynical world of illustration, I hold Cindy as a ray of light, a turning point in my hopes of a career in illustration. The über belief she had in my work encouraged me to chase after my dreams. My illustrations have now appeared in The New Yorker, for Major League Baseball, in hosts of magazines and children’s books.”

David Leonard