Standing before a tin pan full of paint, the floppy-haired boy looks slightly askance. "So, we just jump in?" he asks, glancing at his mom across the yard. A nod of approval is all it takes. Hours later, he and the seven other young guests at this "messy art party" are covered in paint—not to mention dirt, glue, and feathers—and have some colorful masterpieces to show for it. "Art is my life," says Tammy Winser, an energetic mother of three, who hosted the party at her Westport, Connecticut, house. "My goal is to show the kids how much fun it can be." She led the guests, ranging in age from 4 to 8, through hands-on activities designed to teach the group about the unconventional techniques of artists like Jackson Pollock and Jim Dine (who specialized in mixed media). The message: Creativity is messy, silly, and important.
The art party is just one of many events conceived by Winser and her business partner, Ruth Hurwitz. In the summer of 2004, the two friends, who met through their children's Montessori school, launched Big Bash Productions, an event-planning company devoted to what they call "philanthroparties"—occasions that raise money for or awareness of a cause—for kids and adults. "We were appalled by some of the ridiculous extravaganzas we've seen and thought, 'How can we be different?'" says Hurwitz. "A philanthroparty is a celebration where you take a moment to think of others."
Hurwitz, who has two girls (Bella, 8, and Gabrielle, 6), is the more business-minded partner, having worked in fundraising and marketing for years. With her experience in fashion design and photography, Winser, the mother of three boys (Kieran, 8, Xander, 4, and Trevor, 2), handles the creative end.
The messy art party was offered as an auction prize at their children's school and was designed to highlight the importance of art programs for kids; Winser and Hurwitz donated art supplies to a youth program at a local housing project and encouraged guests to do the same. But the event was not a true fundraiser. "We try to raise consciousness without being too Debbie Downer about it," says Hurwitz. "If we happen to motivate guests to donate to a cause, then great."
