36 Rutland Street: A Children's Picture Book about the Children's Art Centre by Julia Glatfelter

This summer, I sat down with artist Julia Glatfelter to learn about her time at the Children's Art Centre and to learn more about her upcoming picture book about the history of  36 Rutland Street. The book has a Kickstarter page, and all funds go toward a first printing of the children's book. Help make Julia's book a reality by supporting her through Kickstarter. The campaign ends at 10pm tonight and she is about 50% of the way to her goal of $2,850.

How did you come across the Children's Art Centre at 36 Rutland Street?
I first heard of the Children's Art Centre when I was in undergrad! I was part of a fascinating class called Urban Systems. Being an art major, I was drawn to community-based organizations that utilized the fine arts. I was impressed by the history of USES as a whole and eager to learn more. I read up on the Children's Art Centre using resources from the Boston Public Library. I was living in Mission Hill at the time and upon visiting the South End one day, I remember stopping by this infamous 36 Rutland Street to take a peek. I looked through the iron gate and held my breath. I wondered if I might ever have a look inside. A year later, I applied to work as a Vacation Arts Teacher under the leadership of Melissa Buckley. That was 2017. I taught for the first time in the Children's Art Centre for February vacation week. I loved every moment.

Why did you decide to create this children's book? What is its purpose?
The beauty of the classroom and courtyard is unmatched. While I taught during the February, April and Summer vacation seasons, I made art with the CAC as the subject. It is a practice of mine to encourage my students to make observational drawings. I would participate in this practice with them and over time I had amassed a number of renditions. 
When I began teaching for the first week of summer, the staff was told that this would be the last Vacation Arts Program and that the future of art making in the space was quite uncertain. During teaching hours, potential buyers were shown the property. 
This news motivated me to learn as much as I could. During breaks, with my students and in the off hours, I tried to create representations of the space. It felt like a way to preserve this last season. Creating replicas of the space on paper, in ink and with paint was my way of memorializing this sacred space. But these private sketches didn't seem like enough.
That summer the teachers of the Vacation Arts program included: Melissa Buckley, Julia Heinzmann, Meredith Callis, Emilia Forsythe and Katarina Gillespie. We created a beautiful bond during this season. We shared a determination in our teaching methods to provide the best program that we could for each student. We also shared a sense of awe for the precious building at 36 Rutland Street. It was my peers: Meredith, Emilia and Julia who came up with the idea for a children's book to preserve the untold stories of 36 Rutland. They pushed me through the process and have been my absolute cheerleaders. This entire book is indebted to each of them.

What do you hope to gain with the publication of this book?
The goal has always been to see this text in area libraries and schools. The audience is children and families who have experienced the magic of this place. I hope the text comes alive and is a capsule for them. But also those who never have experienced the magic and quite possibly never will, I hope they get a sense of the impact and miraculous nature of the art programs that have existed here for 100 years. That awe and amazement I feel? I hope to spread to spread that reverence to every reader and as may neighbors in the South End as I can.

How can the South End community help you with this endeavor?
To fund a first printing, I have created a Kickstarter page. Your support will propel this effort forward. Otherwise - talk to a neighbor, a teacher, the clerk at the post office. Spread the word! Your sharing of this project is certainly helpful for the physical product I am creating but by doing so, you're furthering the mission of this entire effort: telling the untold story and reconnecting the South End with this monumental legacy.