Aha! Retreats

Connecting Artists

Creative Folks network through nonprofit group

Printed Monday, November 1, 2004 in the Pasadena Star-News

written by Anissa V. Rivera, Staff Writer

ALTADENA — It’s no accident that this group’s acronym is AHA.

Artists Helping Artists, a nonprofit arts, education and community service organization, was born from an “Aha!” moment experienced by founder Glenn Horton, 46.

With a membership stretching from Covina to Pasadena arid Altadena and on to Santa Monica, AHA’s goal is to recognize, promote, connect and ener­gize artists as well as the groups that serve them. The group is open to creative individuals, artists, leaders and visionaries from all races, faiths and artistic disciplines, Horton said.

“A key purpose of AHA is to bring artists and groups together in a spirit of cooperation and creativity," he said.

“There are many good arts and cultural organizations out there, but I haven’t seen one that reaches out broadly across cultural, philosophic and artistic disciplines and brings creatives behind a common vision and purpose,” Horton said. “The great thing is that the artists are enjoying this a great deal. In the past, there have been periods of renaissances and great movements in the arts where artists have come togeth­er and made a difference.”

Artists are encouraged to bring their business cards, port­folios, music CDs, head shots, prints, event announcements and - promo filers to share or announce during the round table. Musicians, poets, singers and songwriters, dancers, story­tellers, voice-over artists and authors can perform one of their works; visual artists may bring two or three of their works to display.

Meetings are free for first timers, then $4 for subsequent sessions. Locally the group meets at the Pacific Asia Muse­um in Pasadena and Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena.

Horton, publisher of the arts and music publication The Creative Line, has been very active in arts, music, marketing, pub­lishing and civic work for more than 20 years. He said he sees himself as a blend of artist, administrator and community builder.

Horton organized goodwill campaigns honoring athletes and international sports organi­zations in the Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992 and at the 1996 Centennial Gaines in Atlanta.

In 2000, he released an album, “Breakin’ Out” under his old baseball nickname, “Boomer.”

In 2002, Horton wrote a series of essays and literary pieces relating to the arts, artists and creative vision including, “The Code to Helping Artists,” “The Call to Arts!” “The Magic of Helping Children be Creative,” “Creative Renaissance” and “7 Big Lies About Artists.”

He also wrote books includ­ing “The Power and Freedom of Uniting Creative Forces” and the upcoming “Changing the World through Art and Song!”

But it’s the round tables that are keeping him busiest.

Recent arts educators who have attended the round tables include Ann Storc, an arts instructor at Cal State Los Angeles; Martin Isaacson of UCLA Arts Extension; IIlaan Egleand, director of family programs at Skirball Cultural Center; Georgia Garside of the Covina Arts Commission; Crystal Erickson of 99.8 FM; Ardis Willwerth, director of exhibitions at Pasadena Museum of History; and Janet Gervers, founder of the Venice Arts Collective.

Artist Patrick Gothard of Altadena joined AHA because his wife Mary suggested it.

“My wife wanted me to meet artists, see what’s going on in the art world and through AHA I have been able to connect with artists, promoters, and put my art on the Web,” he said.

Gothard even placed second in the nonprofit’s annual “Call to Art” juried art show.

“I’ve been painting for 40 years and this is my best year ever,” he said.

"Between 16 to 40 people attend meetings, depending on the location," Horton said.