Fairfield Artist Spreads 'Art and Kindness' for Operation Hope

When Superstorm Sandy barreled through Fairfield in October 2012, Stephanie Peterson Jones' beach area home was hit hard.

The yard and basement flooded, and the fence lining her property was wrecked.

And while the fence could no longer act as a border on her land, Jones had another idea -- she would use what was left for art.

Jones -- who works as an art teacher at Roger Ludlowe Middle School -- began painting the pieces of wooden fence that her husband, Paul, had fashioned into different shapes, like fish and flags.  

Like many Fairfield residents, the Joneses had to apply for aid through FEMA and the Small Business Administration, and heard about the fund that Operation Hope had established to help Sandy victims.

Jones had worked on a project with her students to raise money for the fund, and through that project she met Operation Hope's executive director, Carla Micklos.

"She was just lovely and supportive and kind," Jones said.

So Jones decided to donate sell the repurposed fence art and donate 25 percent of the proceeds to Operation Hope.

"They've been incredibly well received," Jones said of the flags and fish, which she has so far been selling to friends and through Facebook.

She has called project "Art and Kindness," because, as an art teacher, Jones sees firsthand how one can teach kindness through art making.

That's how she felt when her students created a gingerbread house to auction and benefit Operation Hope following Superstorm Sandy, and that continues with her own project.

"It's spreading art and kindness through the community," Jones, who creates a lot of artwork for various charitable organizations and efforts, said.

Those interested in ordering a fence fish or flag should contact Jones through the Art and Kindness Facebook page or her Etsy shop.