Artist: Kathy Bird

Kathleen Bird always loved drawing, coloring,
painting, sewing and arts-and-crafts projects as a child growing up in Hamilton
Township. These fun activities fell by the wayside as she pursued
traditional academic subjects in high school and college. After a nearly
20-year career as a journalist and more than 10 years in top communications
posts in New Jersey state government, Kathy in recent years has been
unemployed, lost her home in foreclosure and ended up homeless. Following
more than 30 years in serious, professional posts including Mayor of Hopewell
Township and raising two sons, Kathy has rediscovered her creative and fun side
through the welcome prodding of the ArtSpace team. Art is therapeutic for
Kathy, who is disabled as a result of mood disorders and back disorders, as a
way to reduce stress, relax and basically lighten up. Self-taught, she’s
learning every day and especially enjoys watercolors. Kathy is very
grateful to HomeFront for putting a roof over her head and access to
ArtSpace, where she can unleash her creative spirit again after decades of
being buried. Kathy has been living in Hackettstown, NJ, since September 2013,
paints nearly every day, and is entering Centenary College in August 2014 for
formal art training and aims to obtain an undergraduate degree in art.