Dear Community, 

Years ago, after discovering the remarkable schools for young children in Reggio Emilia, Italy, and later working as a studio teacher with children, I learned something that deeply changed me. I witnessed-from the children I worked alongside every day- something that I can never unsee. They taught me that we all come into this world as creative beings. That we start out with a profound ability to express the stories of who we are in languages beyond words. And that the vehicle for this creative expression is play. At the same time, I noticed how often as adults we become disconnected our innate capacities for play & creative expression.

Yet, somehow, many or most artists have maintained these abilities. I wondered: “why?” And: “what if there could be a bridge between these worlds, of children, artists, art, and adults?”

ArtPlay began with a question: would it be possible to create a space where people of all ages could gather & connect through play, joy & creativity? Where the stories of who we are and what we love could be given creative expression within a community setting? And where “art-making” could be given a new lens- one that sees creative expression as a capacity we all share as our birthright. And that honors our need to say & discover things in languages beyond words.

Fast forward to now. What began as a leap into the unknown on November 19, 2021~ with a belief in the creative capacities of all people ~ has now become a beautiful full gallery space with 11 women artists, each contributing their own unique works of art and creative gifts to who we are. We’ve evolved into a regular place for community members to gather, share creative experiences through our classes and dive into their own learning, creative expressions and risk-taking. A space where people take leaps of faith to put their own art in our Community Exhibitions for the first time, and emerging young artists do the same.

We have really become a “we”, and therefore the vision is now one that is collective. I hope you will join us on this journey as we step boldly into the next chapter, with the roots of community, creativity, courage, play and beauty holding us up together!

with much gratitude,

Kristen Edge

Owner, Founder of ArtPlay