Paint Nite is coming to an east Bronx school.
Villa Maria Academy is hosting a Ladies Paint Nite Fundraiser at the Country Club school to benefit its yearbook committee and an eighth grade year-end dance.
The event, capped at 100 participants, costs $45 per person and will take place at the school’s cafeteria on Saturday, January 30. Local Pelham Bay artist Nikki Doniere will host it.
Doniere said that during Paint Nite events, which have become a popular activity in bars and restaurants throughout the city and the country, participants work together following artists’ instructions and create their own versions of the same painting.
She added that public events are available virtually any night of the week at various locations around New York City and Westchester.
“Most of the people who come to Paint Nite don’t paint or do anything artistic, so it is a really fun way to do something you don’t normally do and have a great time,” she said, whose own art work consists of installation, sculpture, video and mixed media painting.
Blanca Zigrossi, parent and chairwoman of the Villa Maria Academy yearbook committee said that different parents have used various methods to offset the cost of the yearbook and dance.
At least once a month the committee holds an event, from bake sales to selling ‘spiritware,’ items with the name of the school on them, and Paint Nite is something new that they are trying this year.
The company that hosts the event will provide all supplies for the evening, said Rosemary Haney, a teacher’s aide at the school who is helping to coordinate the event.
“It supports the class of 2016; any fundraiser at this time is really a good thing,” said Haney. “The kids get their yearbooks and it takes a lot of pressure off the parents.”
The event is not only to raise money, but is also for the parents to get together socially, she said, adding that she expects there to be a nice group of people, and that some attendees will likely invite friends and family, as well as alumni.
Creating a painting from a blank canvas is often a thrill for the participants at Paint Nite events, indicated Doniere.
“We get people who say that they can only draw a stick figure and they wind up creating these beautiful works,” said Doniere, who added the activity is a great way to spend an evening with your friends.
People are encouraged to bring their own wine or beverages to the Villa Maria event.
To learn more about a Paint Nite near you, go to www.paint
Tickets to the Villa Maria event must be paid for in advance and will be sold on a first come, first serve basis.
For more information on that specific event, visit: www.paint
