Where is most of the Kids Castle artwork now since the playground looks so barren?

Some of the storefronts that make up the Kids Castle downtown area continue to surround the playground.

On November 16, 2012, more than 50 volunteers gathered to remove the treehouse, rocket ship, pirate ship, castle, and farmyard artwork before another winter took its toll on the pieces and their paint jobs.

To date, the pieces in need of a good spring cleaning are in storage, and the remaining pieces have been enjoying the warmth inside Alchemy Open Studio Therapeutic Arts Center, a nonprofit therapeutic arts center, which is located across the street from Central Park.

The center is run by founder and executive director Renee Bures, MSW, ATR. Renee has been a wonderful addition to the Art and Beautification Committee and her willingness to help the committee is a partnership that is deeply valued.

”We can’t thank Renee Bures and her staff at Alchemy Open Studio Therapeutic Arts Center enough for allowing us to restore the artwork in such a tranquil setting and offering us open studio time on pre-established Saturdays,” said Jacqui Devlin, coordinator for the Save Kids Castle Art and Beautification Committee. ”Talk about giving back to one’s community! Renee and her studio are reminders that we can all make a difference in each other’s lives by taking the time to help.”

To learn more about the studio, its mission and programs, visit www.aostudio.org.

The Save Kids Castle Art and Beautification Committee is looking for volunteers, especially artists, to make additional knights and princes for the eight-story wooden castle.

If you want to leave a lasting legacy and enjoy creating noble figures, please contact aftondevlin@yahoo.com for more information. To volunteer, please fill out the form at http://bit.ly/SKCvolunteer.