The Bootsie Weiss Children’s Garden, a special place on Fleisher’s campus, has provided young artists with an inspiring creative space to learn and grow for more than a decade. The garden was the vision of Beverly ‘Bootsie’ Weiss, a celebrated artist and dedicated Fleisher board member, who passed away in 2009. Named in her honor and supported by generous contributions in her memory, the garden celebrates the innate creativity of children in our community, providing them with a space to make art, as well as display their joyful work.

Above: Beverly ‘Bootsie’ Weiss, pictured here with young artists in 2008, was known for her beautiful mosaics and her vision continues to inspire our community.

The garden was dedicated in 2008, when 100 friends and supporters gathered in the vibrant space adjacent to Palumbo Park. The space includes colorful mosaics, reminiscent of Bootsie’s own acclaimed work, as well as a beautiful iron gate by sculptor Warren Holzman. Bootsie led the fundraising efforts to make the garden possible, sharing her vision of a garden that “would open up a world of opportunities for Fleisher’s programs and for the children who benefit from them.”

Ten years later, her dream lives on. The Bootsie Weiss Children’s Garden is an outdoor studio and exhibition space for hundreds of young artists, an integral part of Fleisher’s campus. We are grateful for the Weiss Family’s continued generous support which allows Fleisher to provide programming in the garden, beautify the space with rotating artwork, and sustain Bootsie’s creative legacy.

Above: artists of all ages enjoy art-making in the garden.

As Rebecca Franco, Manager of Children & Youth Programs, shared, “I can’t imagine Fleisher’s campus without the Bootsie Weiss Children’s Garden. It’s wonderful and so important for our young artists to have a space where they can not only make art, but also see their own work displayed for the broader community. It helps them grow as artists and find their creative voice.”