Volunteer Spotlight - Ally Rose Halliburton
A lifelong artist and recurring volunteer at Piece by Piece, Ally Halliburton's love for storytelling through art began as a child when she and her mother watched Hayao Miyazaki's animated films. Inspired by the emotional depth and artistry of these animations, Ally followed her passion and has a degree in Digital Arts from Otis College of Art & Design. With extensive experience in private digital art commissions, a family connection to Piece by Piece, and an interest in trying something new, Ally began volunteering with Piece by Piece last September, contributing her time and skills an average of twice a week.
Ally helps the artists’ get their mosaics ready for sale through inventory support. She measures and weighs pieces, gathers pricing information, and generally gets the mosaic ready to be sold. She issues unique SKUs for piece identification and helps attach QR codes which correspond to their specific places on the website. When asked about what has kept her engaged with Piece by Piece, Ally expressed that it is not what she gives through service, but what she gains through community that keeps her coming back. The quality of an inclusive environment, serving the humanistic goals of therapeutic learning, individual growth, and the fostering of productive social connections, means much more to Ally than resume experience. She expresses gratitude for the opportunity to learn while serving a community she loves.
In regard to Ally, Volunteer Coordinator, Amir Abdolvahabi, states that “She is an exemplar of everything you would hope to see in a volunteer. Compassion, generosity, and an authentic desire to help others. She’s a trailblazer and gold standard for the volunteers to come, and we are truly lucky to have her on our team.”
In addition to providing consistent inventory and organizational support, Allyalso provides some design services to Piece by Piece. She recently created the 2D digital design for a 3D heart sculpture unveiled in the City of Paramount. This majestic mosaic sculpture, standing 5 feet tall, 4 feet wide, and 2 feet deep, is now on permanent display in front of the city's community center. The project was a collaborative effort involving 17 Piece by Piece artists and 17 participants from the City of Paramount, with Ally's base 2D design playing a crucial role.
Reflecting on the project, Ally noted the creative challenges of translating 2D designs into 3D sculptures, emphasizing how minor changes in line shape and thickness can significantly impact the final result. The success of the Mosaic Heart sculpture is a testament to Ally's creative talent and experience as a freelance artist. Her continuous creativity and technical knowledge have greatly benefited Piece by Piece, and we are incredibly proud of her contributions.
If you would like to volunteer at Piece by Piece, there are many one-time and recurring volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups. You can learn about them on the Get Involved page or by reaching out to Amir. We hope you will consider joining us as volunteer too!
