OUR VISION TO SPARK SELF-EXPRESSION AND HOPE.
OUR MISSION TO INSPIRE YOUNG LIVES THROUGH ART, WORK, AND COMMUNITY.
CORE VALUES AT VAN GO WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF ART CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR SELF-EXPRESSION PRIORITIZE OVERALL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING ENCOURAGE SELF-EMPOWERMENT NURTURE COMMUNITY AND A CARING “HOME AWAY FROM HOME” INSPIRE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
25 YEARS
OF
VAN GO A PHOTO TRIBUTE | 1997-2022
Perhaps the mission of an artist is to interpret beauty to people — the beauty within themselves.
~ Langston Hughes
It is our honor to usher Van Go, a homegrown original, into its’ 25th year! Our leadership is dedicated to the youth we serve. Our focus is on strategic visioning, infrastructure investments, and amplifying the voices of our youth – all vital components to inspire young lives through art, work, and community. ″Twenty-Five Years of Van Go: A Photo Tribute″ is dedicated to the many hearts and hands who created this very special place: the young people in our programs, members of our Staff and Board, volunteers, donors, family and friends. The many faces and artistic creations in this book represent our colorful foundation – essential for keeping Van Go Go-ing! We extend our deepest gratitude to each and every one of you.
ELIZA DARMON & KRISTEN MALLOY Co-Executive Directors
ORIGIN STORY
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TIMELINE INTRODUCTION
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1997-1999
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2000 - 2004
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2005 - 2009
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2010-2014
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2015-2019
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2020 -2022
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BENCHES
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REUNION
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FACES
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EVENTS
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ARTWORKS
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PROJECT LIST
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THANK YOU
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ORIGIN STORY IN 1995, AT A CROSSROAD IN MY OWN LIFE, and approaching middle age, I looked around my community to see what was missing and how I could help. What could a former special ed. teacher with a B.A. in social work and former art gallery owner contribute? Though culturally rich, Lawrence, KS had a glaring gap in services–nothing existed for young people who didn’t ″fit the mold″–those who were economically disadvantaged, had mental health challenges or were in the system. Perhaps those ″out-of-the-box″ kiddos, who don’t play sports or a musical instrument, those with unrealized abilities–perhaps they would thrive through the Arts? And although I had no concrete plan for what to do or how to do it, I possessed a deeply held conviction: that art making had the power to heal what was broken, could be transformational and could change young lives for the better. So in 1997, with only a belief system, no funds and a borrowed van, I began sharing my passion with anyone who would listen. Mostly, it fell on deaf ears. Ultimately, it was a $2000 Kansas Arts Commission grant that kick-started the first Van Go Mobile Arts program called, ″There’s No Face Like Home,″ a mural project for 11 and 12 year olds at New York and East Heights grade schools.
LYNNE GREEN VAN GO FOUNDER
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It’s important to understand that the Van Go Inc. we know today is not the organization that existed 25 years ago. In fact, Van Go Mobile Arts began as a traveling arts outreach to disadvantaged neighborhoods, serving 8-13 year olds. There was no building in 1997, no owned vehicles, no employees. The arts outreach was brief, however. It soon became apparent that Van Go needed a permanent home and staff to be effective. So when we stumbled upon an arts-based youth employment program in Chicago Ill. called Gallery 37, the current Van Go came into clearer focus. Gallery 37 was a summer jobs initiative serving 14-18 year olds in high crime neighborhoods in Chicago. After attending an inspiring workshop in 1998, witnessing inner city teens painting, printmaking, sculpting and clowning under tents in downtown Chicago, the job-training piece of Van Go was born.
We rented a small part of our current site at 715 New Jersey in 1999 and with 2 fulltime and one part time staff, began hiring 14-18 year olds, ″MAKE SOME BREAD WITH JAMS″— our 1st recruiting poster read. Adopting the jobs piece, paying high needs teens to make artwork, was the ″hook″ Van Go needed to attract high schoolers…and once we found the federal grant to pay them…we were in biz! What set VG apart from Gallery 37, whose goal it was to hire the best artists, Van Go’s mission was a social service one: to improve the lives of high needs teens using art as the vehicle for self-expression, self confidence and hope for the future. Unlike traditional arts programs, our goal was not to create artists; rather it was to use art to change young lives for the better, no art skills required! Giving marginalized young people the opportunity to succeed through completing public art projects while simultaneously imparting job skills, life skills and needed social services, that became the major focus of Van Go as it evolved into the organization that exists today. Pivotal to creating that success is understanding the importance a public recognition ceremony has in building the self-esteem of our young people. Dedicating a commissioned mural project as supporters cheer its completion is a powerful experience and can permanently impact their life. And when one observes the proud look on an artist’s face as the sheet is pulled off their bench to a drum roll, the sound of roaring applause, and the sight of beaming family faces, that becomes an ″aha moment.″ Clients, friends and community members, there to bear witness, finally get it—so this is what Van Go’s about!
TIMELINE STROLL DOWN MEMORY LANE AND ENJOY WATCHING VAN GO’S HISTORY UNFOLD. EACH COLLAGE IS A GLIMPSE INTO SOME OF THE MOMENTS THAT SHAPED OUR STORY.
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 • Van Go founded with a $2000 Kansas Arts Commission grant
• Van Go rents 3,500 sq ft space at 715 New Jersey St. • Establishes JAMS, an arts-based job training program for 14-18 year old qualifying Douglas County teens
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2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 • First Adornment show; Benchmark begins
• Start of Capital Campaign to purchase 715 New Jersey St.
• First ever “What Floats Your Boat” fundraising event
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2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 • Van Go wins prestigious national Coming Up Taller award, visits the White House
• $1.5 Million Capital Campaign concludes
• Van Go celebrates 10 year anniversary • Strategic Planning process
• Van Go wins Kansas Governor’s Arts Award
• Completion and dedication of 12,000 sq ft expanded facility
• Van Go purchases 715 New Jersey St.
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2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 • The Arts Train program for 18-24 year old qualifying Douglas County youth is officially launched
• Launch of formalized “Go Healthy” initiative
• Van Go celebrates 15 year anniversary • First “Culinary Hearts” fundraising event
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2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 • Launch of “The Big Picture” Endowment Campaign
• Van Go celebrates 20 year anniversary
• Founder Lynne Green retires
• Carol Kobza named Executive Director
• First “Dinner on the Curve” fundraising event • Launch of “Lynne’s Legacy” Campaign to bring Endowment to $1 Million
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2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 • Pre-Employment Preparation Program (PEPP) for 14-15 year old youth launches in response to Covid-19
• Eliza Darmon and • Van Go celebrates Kristen Malloy 25 year anniversary named Co-Executive • Updated vision, Directors mission, brand •P rogramming continued dimensions launched • First virtual uninterrupted onsite • Debut of award fundraising events: throughout pandemic winning short film, “May Day Hey Day” & • Strategic Planning The Beauty Within “Dinner on the Curve” process • Largest allocation • Van Go launches of WIOA funding in online store Van Go history 2 5 Y E A R S O F VA N G O
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BENCHES BENCHMARK is a quintessential Van Go program dating back almost to the founding of the organization. Since 1999, each summer has seen JAMS Apprentice Artists, ages 14-18, crafting unique, colorful benches for businesses, organizations, and individuals. Bench clients have included notables such as Toni Morrison and Rita Dove, and benches have found homes as far east and west as Seattle and North Carolina, and to the north and south from Michigan to Mexico City! As of 2022, Van Go had produced over 438 benches, with no end in sight. TWO BENCHES PER EACH YEAR ARE REPRESENTED HERE. TO SEE ENTIRE BENCH LIST PLEASE FOLLOW THE QR CODE.
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2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
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2011
2012
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2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
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2021
2022
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25th REUNION
REUNITED. Current and former Van Go Apprentice Artists, staff, board members, and supporters gathered on
November 27, 2022 to commemorate 25 years of Van Go. It was a day full of hugs, speeches, good food, laughter, and most of all a reminder that, “Once a part of the Van Go family, ALWAYS a part of the Van Go family!”
FAMILIAR FACES
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VAN GO CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
IN 2005 Van Go embarked on a Capital Campaign to purchase and renovate 715–717 New Jersey St. Led by Executive Director Lynne Green, Board President Brad Chindamo, Campaign Chair Susan Tate and Development Director, Heather Hoy. $1.5 million was raised through donations and tax credits. The lead gift was made by Tensie Oldfather. Rockhill and Associates served as the design/build firm for the renovation, resulting in an artful entrance to the now Warehouse Arts District of East Lawrence.
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THE
BIG PICTURE ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN
IN 2015 Van Go embarked on The Big Picture Endowment Campaign to secure the future for Van Go. Led by Executive Director Lynne Green, Board President Ross Freese, Campaign Chairs Sandy and Mark Praeger and Development Director Eliza Darmon, $1 million was raised through a private and public campaign. The lead gift was made by Betsy and Scott Coons. Gifts were commemorated through The Big Picture glass tile mural wall on the North facade of the Van Go building. Lynne’s Legacy Fund accounted for $250,000 of the funds raised with this effort.
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EVENTS
EAT, DRINK & DONATE. Van Go is known for signature events that create community connections, set the stage to celebrate our Apprentice Artists, and raise funds to support our mission.
ART WORKS Van Go Checker Limo – 1998
Van Go van – 2011
ARTY FARTY STUFF. Consectetur libero id faucibus nisl tincidunt. Id aliquet risus feugiat in ante metus dictum at. Mauris nunc congue nisi vitae suscipit tellus mauris. Mauris nunc congue nisi vitae suscipit tellus mauris.
Van Go Checker Limo – 1998
Van Go van – 2004
Resilience: A Moving Kansas Tribute – 2015
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All Hands on D.E.C.K. – 2010 for Lawrence Public Library
Our Family JAMS – 2009
Business in Motion – 2007 for KU School of Business
Emergence – 2012 for Van Go
Circulating Hope – 2021 for Children's Advocacy Center
Restoration – 2020 for Douglas County
Just Food Cruising Cupboard – 2020
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ART WORKS Sustenance – 2021 for Lawrence Restaurant Association
Home Grown – 2018 for Natural Grocers
Tunnel Vision– 2013 for Pinckney Elementary School
Reassurrance – 2019 for LMH
Van Go Building 2001
Our Pets, Our Passion – 2007 for Hill's Pet Nutrition Adornment Artwork
PROJECT LIST SO MANY PROJECTS. Van Go has a reputation for creating works of art both small and large. Our murals and works have adorned buildings and buses, vans and newspaper boxes. Enjoy perusing our project list to see how Van Go has made its mark on our building and our community over the years and how others have recognized our accomplishments.
1998
2006
1999-Present
2006
2001
Our Pets, Our Passion for Hill's Pet Nutrition
2002
Business in Motion for KU School of Business
Painted Checker limo for Van Go 400+ Custom benches for public & private locations around Lawrence and the United States Mural for Van Go building Life Changes for Bert Nash Theraputic Classroom
2002
Nature Nurtures at Community Mercantile
2002
Newspaper boxes for Lawrence Journal-World (12 boxes)
2003
Paradise Lounge for D.S.T. Systems
2003
DCAP Quilt for Douglas County AIDS Project
2004
Pages in Time for Lawrence Public Library
2004
Painted van for Van Go
2005
Casa 4 Casa Playhouse for Casa
2005
Mural for Amarr Garage Door
2005
Mural for Colyer Prairie Grassland Heritage Foundation
2005
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Mural for United Way Mural for 6th Street Zarco
2007 2007
2008
Vegetable mural for Van Go
2009
Painted pickup truck for Cottin's Hardware
2009
Our Family JAMS mosaic mural for Van Go entryway
2010
All Hands on D.E.C.K." for Lawrence Public Library
2011
Painted van for Van Go
2012
Emergence for Van Go computer lab
2013
Tunnel Vision for Pinckney Elementary School
2014
Painted van for Van Go
2015
Resilience: A Moving Kansas Tribute wrap for City bus
2015
The Big Picture glass tile wall for Van Go Endowment
2016
2020
Van Growth: Celebrating 20 Years for Van Go
Just Food Cruising Cupboard imagery for vehicle wrap
2017
2021
2018
2021
2019
2021
2020
2022
Painted truck for Van Go Home Grown for Natural Grocers Reassurance for Lawrence Memorial Hospital Essentials needs pantries for the community (17 pantries)
2020
Restoration for Douglas County 31st & Louisiana underpass
Circulating Hope for Children's Advocacy Center Zentangle art for Studio 804 Monarch Village Zentangle art for Lawrence Transit bus stops Sustenance in partnership with KCAIC & Lawrence Restaurant Association
2022
Coalescence of Hope for Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center
AWARDS 2000
2013
2005
2013
Phoenix Award for Arts Education
Coming Up Taller Award
2008
Governor's Art Award
2012
KU Community Partner Award
Lawrence Journal-World "Only in Lawrence" Award KU Outstanding Community Campus Collaboration Award
2023
Short film "The Beauty Within" wins ADDYs (American Advertising Awards) Gold for Film, Video & Sound: Branded Content & Entertainment Gold for Elements of Advertising: Video Editing Mosaic Award celebrating creative with a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
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A CREATION DONATION BY