Though Absolutely Art is a for-profit business, Blake-Horst says it has a "nonprofit mentality" since it focuses on giving back to the community.
Blake-Horst works with organizations across the city to build a culture that encourages local people to make and buy art. She also stresses the importance of using art to support charitable giving, both locally and globally. Absolutely Art has featured works by elementary school groups raising money for international organizations. It has also created a program that sells T-shirts to help Lowell and Marquette elementary schools, the Goodman Community Center and the Respite Center acquire much-needed supplies. And it hosts a free arts-and-crafts booth at Atwood Summerfest to help non-artists bring their creative ideas to life.
In addition to contributing to Madison's creative community, Blake-Horst draws inspiration from it.
"I'm constantly surprised by the initiatives I see growing out of Madison and [how these efforts] become poster children for other creative initiatives around the country," she says.
Blake-Horst stresses art's power to make people see multiple points of view.
"It's finding ways to shift people's perspectives and also educate them," she says. "I think our creative community does a lot of that."
