Janie Perry sifted through the fine-art prints stacked on a table in the tiny library of Watch-Care Academy, pondering how much change a phone call can bring.
The artwork was the creation of Nathaniel Bustion, a California sculptor and printmaker showcased at top galleries around the world.
The works were donated by Bustion for sale at a show today running from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Shops at Northfield Stapleton.
The kicker? All proceeds benefit Watch-Care, Perry’s financially strapped Park Hill school for at-risk kids.
On Friday morning, Perry gazed at a colorful abstract and thanked Bustion out loud.
“He’s our miracle,” she said.
Watch-Care is a private academy for children who have fallen behind in public school. It’s housed in a clapboard building at 3545 Fairfax St., and its mission is to bring kids up to academic and social speed so they can return and thrive in a traditional classroom.
The school was founded in 1985 and typically has 80 students, though only 52 were enrolled this year. There are four teachers, including Perry, who doubles as executive director.
“It was the toughest year we ever had,” said Perry, a strong-willed woman of considerable warmth. “These are low-income children. Their parents don’t have money.”
Some parents pay $200 to $250 a month to cover costs, but many children attend for free.
The school’s $360,000 annual budget is underwritten by foundations and private donations. With the economic downturn, competition for funds is tighter than ever.
“We made it through, but we had a shortfall of $40,000, which isn’t going away,” Perry said. “We’re fighters. We can’t just sit on our hands and hope something happens.”
But something has happened, and that something is a someone: Bustion, who learned about Watch-Care’s plight during a chat with Denver lawyer Stan Williams, his former schoolmate at Colorado State University.
Bustion and Perry had met 40 years earlier, and while reminiscing, Bustion asked Williams about her.
Times were hard at Perry’s school, Williams told him.
That bothered Bustion.
“Nathaniel got my phone number, called and said he’d heard the school needed help,” Perry said. “He asked, ‘What can I do?’ ”
Bustion, whose African roots art has a wide following, decided to donate works for a fundraiser. He also helped corral about 40 other artists for the show, including such names as Kenneth Gatewood and David Parvin.
About 350 works are on sale, and Bustion is flying in to meet and mingle. All proceeds go to Watch-Care. “If we could raise about $50,000 or $60,000, I’d be ecstatic,” Bustion said. “I’m really excited.”
As for Perry, she’s on air. “It’s like a dream,” she said.
Kids were filtering through the door for the school’s summer session, which offers a mix of tutoring and fun.
“Good morning, Ms. Perry,” the students chimed.
“Good morning, and how are you?” she replied.
Perry nodded at Dyrian Halsey, a young man who arrived two years ago as a fifth-grader, unable to read or even recite the alphabet. Now, he can.
“He’s a fabulous, wonderful kid,” she said. “He’s learned how to do long division. It nearly knocked his socks off, but he fought it and won.
“Now that’s a success.”
Today, Perry hopes for more of the same.
Reach William Porter at 303-954-1977 or wporter@denverpost.com.
