The Paper Crane, a local art gallery and coffee shop, hosted their first Back-to-School Bash to benefit area schools on Friday, Aug. 29.
The event was held to fundraise school supplies needed for Canyon Independent School District elementary schools. Event attendees could receive 50 percent off of beverages purchased if they donated a package of school supplies. In addition to collecting items, The Paper Crane sold limited edition screen printed T-shirts and merchandise to raise funds to purchase more school supplies.
“This is the first show ever that we have done,” Jesse Melson, owner of The Paper Crane, said. “We are seeing how it goes. It’s a learning experience. Deep Diver wanted to do a CD release concert and it morphed into a back to school fundraiser.”
The event opened outdoor behind The Paper Crane with Avenue Two, a Canyon based band, followed by Sleep for Dreaming, an Amarillo rock/alternative/indie band, and closed with Deep Diver, another Amarillo pop/rock band, performing live. Melson said the Back-to-School Bash was promoted through television previews, Facebook, flyers and through word-of-mouth.
“I heard about this event through my friend, who comes to The Paper Crane a lot,”
Olivia Trabysh, WTAMU English major, said. “I don’t know any of the bands playing, but I think that it is good to come check it out, especially in Canyon. There are not a lot of events on campus like this, so it’s worth listening to.”
The three local bands performed back-to-back sets, playing original and cover songs. Sleep for Dreaming and Deep Diver performed various songs off their latest albums.
“Our slogan at The Paper Crane is: to inspire, to enrich, and to create,” Melson said. “We want to incorporate that in all types of art, be it fine arts or music. We are always looking for local artists and musicians to showcase at the shop.”
The Paper Crane’s next major event is Pink Matter: Solo Show featuring Jacob Bautista, a WTAMU Studio Art major. Bautista, an Amarillo artist, specializes in 2-D art across various medias. Pink Matter opens 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6 at The Paper Crane.
“All the Pink Matter work is done in pastel and there are about ten pieces from me,” Bautista said. “My artwork is about how inside everyone’s mind there’s hopes, fears, dreams, wants, all the emotions you or I have. It’s about discovering this connection everyone has through mother universe.”
The Paper Crane serves a basic coffee menu, along with snow cones and teas. WTAMU students and faculty members can receive 15 percent off all purchases with a valid identification card.