Artist Stephanie Schlatter Hosts Third Art Auction and Wine Tasting for Art Aid for Tesfa and Ethiopian Education

Press Release

(GRAND RAPIDS, MICH) – May 2009 –Artist Stephanie Schlatter hosted an art auction and wine tasting in support of Ethiopian education for a third consecutive year. Each year, Stephanie travels to Ethiopia, where she teaches Ethiopian children about art. Stephanie then brings some of the art back and auctions it off, with all the money going back to Ethiopia to support education. That’s the whole purpose behind Art Aid for Tesfa.

This year’s event was held in Stephanie’s studio in Ada, Michigan. Music for the event was performed by “The Red Frog,” which played African drum music, including a set during a collaborative art project which produced an artwork by attendees who painted on a canvas the emotions inspired by the music, which was then sold at the auction. As a bonus to Art Aid for Tesfa, Stephanie added pieces of her own art into the auction. All this money also went to support education in Ethiopia.

Stephanie is a Board Member of the Tesfa Foundation, which operates the schools. She was honored that Tesfa founder Dana Roskey once again appeared at the event, sharing the remarkable story of how he came to found the Tesfa Foundation and build on his vision for a better future for the people of Ethiopia.

In addition, Stephanie worked with Cascade Winery of Grand Rapids, which printed the children’s art on its wine labels and provided the wine for the tasting. Wine donations from the tasting went to support Ethiopian education.