RedBird Art Studio, located at Cardinal Services in Warsaw, offers a creative outlet for Cardinal clients as well as beautiful artwork the public can buy to enjoy. Photo provided by DeeAnna Muraski.

By Darla McCammon
and DeeAnna Muraski
Guest Columnists

Darla McCammon and DeeAnna Muraski

WARSAW —  My favorite moments are those not anticipated which bring great joy. Recently, I got to experience one of those moments. Like most of us when we get in a hurry we are focused on what we need to do in that moment and what is coming next that we need to do after we are done. I was at Ivy Tech finishing up a meeting and getting ready to attend my next meeting when something caught my eye.

As I was walking down the hallway, I saw a beautiful piece of artwork. I stopped to study its beauty but knew I needed to move on. However, I came across another beautiful piece and realized the artwork was following me down the hallway. Now, I knew I could no longer ignore it and needed to inspect the work closer. I was delighted to find the description identified it as a piece of artwork from RedBird Art Studio located in Cardinal Services.

I moved on upstairs to go onto my next appointment but was again stopped as the morning sun was streaming through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows and illuminating an entire gallery of RedBird Art on the wall. The installation looked so beautiful splashed onto canvases showcased along the wall. Without even meaning or intending to, I got to go On the Road for our Art on the Road series.

RedBird Art Studio started as a way for those with differing abilities to express themselves artistically. My gallery experience at Ivy Tech reminded me of my recent trip to see the RedBird art studio. I had attended a luncheon at Cardinal to learn about its services. They have done a great job of not only instructing the students with professional materials but also helping them to create and sell their works of art. They segued into art on coffee mugs, jigsaw puzzles, canvases and pretty much whatever you could imagine. Each artist is able to keep track of which of their art pieces sell the most and are in highest demand. The joy on the students’ faces as they were working on their art was wonderful to see. They were all pleased as peacocks to show what they were creating at their work station.

To Go

RedBird Art Studio is open to visitors, and art is available for purchase. It is open from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and is located at 504 N. Bay Drive, Warsaw. You can find wonderful Christmas gifts that help to give back to Cardinal Services.

Ivy Tech Community College – Warsaw, 2545 Silveus Crossing, Warsaw. Stop by to see the display of RedBird Art on the first floor and lower level. There is an elevator to get to the lower floor.

Darla McCammon is an artist, columnist and author. DeeAnna Muraski is executive director of Operation Read USA Inc. Send an email to the mother/daughter team at [email protected].