Zoom Group

StudioWorks recently said good bye and good luck to one of our valued Site Coordinators.  At the time of this writing, newlyweds Rebecca Crutcher and her husband Stephen are trucking their worldly goods across the country to begin their new lives in Seattle.  Rebecca (aka “Reba”) was a valued member of the StudioWorks team and a wonderful advocate for the artists we serve and her presence and energy will be missed.

Rebecca is a people person who is able to make an almost immediate connection with most of the individuals she meets and works with.  This is especially important when working with artists who may not be as verbal.  At StudioWorks, the joy of making visual art becomes our common language and a lot of trust is built up working closely together.

Among the many qualities we look for in a Site Coordinator is an appreciation of the creative process and a belief that everyone regardless of circumstances benefits from being involved with art.  Rebecca was willing to initiate new projects even if the end results weren’t apparent from the beginning! Sometimes…you just need to try something different!! We will always remember the scrap fabric project she started and finished mostly with Terry’s enthusiasm.  In the end, the collection of torn, knotted, and braided cloth became a wall hanging that sold to an appreciative collector.

Rebecca came to us as a practicing artist and an intern through the Louisville Visual Art Association.  By the time she left StudioWorks, she had learned a new vocation helping folks with special needs and discovered that she was good at this profession.  Much of what our Site Coordinators are involved with isn’t particularly glamorous or even noticed by the general public.  It takes a highly organized person to manage all the paperwork requirements to remain in compliance with state and federal law.  It takes a practiced eye and concern for each individual’s welfare to notice the little things like how people are feeling on a particular day and to alert all responsible parties if anything unusual is detected.  Among other duties also includes meal preparation, personal care, and outings led into the wider community. The safety, well-being, and happiness of our artists always comes before the art does.  Fortunately at StudioWorks, art and happiness are close to one another.

Reba…thank you for giving so much of yourself to help build our program.  We appreciate how you got your family and friends involved with us and helped extend our community relationships which is also at the core of Zoom Group’s mission.  The torch has been passed and StudioWorks wishes you and Stephen all the best in your new venture!  Stay in touch and we look forward to seeing you in our space again!