I’ve been hanging around Art House, Inc., for a good many years now and have never failed to find something of interest or some crazy project to capture my attention. It may be the self-proclaimed place where art lives, but it is also where art lives inside each and every one of us.
Art is fun—from watching families on Family Clay Days connect through the experience of creating something special together, to seeing the creative efforts of children and, yes, even special needs children, and watching in fascination as their ideas begin to gel into wonderful tangible things.
To actually sign up for one of the classes might seem a little intimidating at first, but apprehension soon turns to satisfaction at the first turn of the potter’s wheel, the first brush stroke, and the first glimpse of your finished piece.
The feel of the clay or other medium under our hands as we mold it and give it form is reminiscent of our mud pies and sand forts on the beaches of yesteryear, but the friendliness and comradery of the other students and teachers ease us into our task and make the dirty hands all worthwhile.
Art is also fundraising, and because Art House is non-profit, it is necessary for us to work at it throughout the year. We were off to see the Wizard last year when Art House held its first art auction, with Board members and staff pitching in to make An Evening in Oz a memorable event.
Our annual ABC Chili Cook-off (Art+Bowls+Chili) is always a rousing success—good people, good food and good fun! We have restaurant fundraisers where a percentage of the meal price is donated to Art House, and coming up is our Annual Artist Inventory Challenge. We’re also planning more Community Culture Nights with some very interesting guest speakers.
Art is truly alive at Art House; creativity is tangible here, and once through the door, you know you’ve ARRIVED! So sit down, relax, bask in its warmth and let the smell of clay or paint or whatever it is we’re working on at the moment stir your creative juices. Let your imagination soar and start making art!
Marge Pauls
Artist, Board Member and Teacher