SAN ANTONIO -- What was your favorite class in school? For many children, it's art class.
Art teacher Oralia Lopez says it's not easy to keep her kids' attention but making art does just that. For a bead project, they use materials she got from Spare Parts Studio, a local organization that gathers leftovers from art studios and donates them to teachers from Pre-K to college.
"I guess they are things that people might want to throw away and stuff," Lopez told us. "But they come in handy for people like me and other teachers like me that have an imagination and want to run wild with it."
Lopez often digs into her own purse for classroom supplies. These free 'Spare Parts' save her and her colleagues a lot of money.
"I didn't have the means to go collect some of the stuff that we're donated," said Lopez.
"Spare Parts was founded last year as sort of a response to all of the creative and cultural vibrancy in the city, the city wanting to go to zero waste," explained Mary Cantu.
Cantu is the founder of Spare Parts Studio. She calls what they do 'creative reuse.'
"Some people's trash or business' extras or people's box of things they have laying around their house could be used in education," Cantu said.
But now, Spare Parts Studio has a big problem. The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center was gracious enough to provide a rent-free gallery over the summer, but they now need their space back.
"Right now, we are looking for partners. We'd love to have a permanent space," Cantu told us. "We need the connectors and folks that have those resources to get in touch so we can continue to serve thousands of kids all over the city."
Cantu's foundation could use a little help so they can continue to serve teachers and students throughout the city. If you want to help them or want to know when the next giveaway is, you can join their mailing list at
SparePartsStudio.org.
