Carly Sobolewski (’13) interned at Studio Outside the Box and never left! She’s currently employed at the local non-profit. Carly works in the art studio (Studio Outside the Box) helping clients create masterpieces that are sold at fundraising events. Each year Studio OTB partners with 10 other not-for-profit organizations around the city for “Heart for a Cause.” This year’s event was held at the Athenaeum.
Outside the Box (OTB) is a non-profit organization that offers day services and employment services for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. The organization’s mission is to empower individuals and help them grow to be the best version of themselves that they can be.
The “Heart for a Cause” fundraiser had works of every shape and size, and for every budget. These little canvases were selling for just #3.00 each!
OTB has a studio (Studio OTB) that provides art classes for the participants five days a week. The studio is always looking for determined and compassionate interns to help carry out the mission and to teach participants everything they need to know about art! Aside from helping lead art classes, interns also learn a great deal about what it takes to put on successful art shows and how to work with a unique population of wonderful people who are recognized for what they can do rather than what they cannot.
View of one of the walls at the Athenaeum in downtown Indianapolis, at the “Heart for a Cause” fundraising event.
Carly says about internships at OTB: “As a prior intern and now current employee of Outside the Box/Studio OTB, I can say that this opportunity will do much more than just teach you important skills to further your degree. Outside the Box and the studio are places that are changing the way we view others. You will quickly realize that everyone has something to offer. The positivity in the studio environment is especially heartwarming. If you are up for an internship that requires quite a bit of interaction with people and hard work, I guarantee you will learn a lot. Not only about art, artistic techniques, adults with disabilities, and art shows, but also about yourself!”
This work from the “Heart for a Cause” event was acquired by the Art Program and is now on display at the Annex along with a selection of Carly’s other work!