Family / Activities
The wonder of art
When both children and adults really concentrate on something creative, there is a common factor – quiet. It’s almost meditative as ideas, decisions, problem solving and imagination work in unison.
It was decidedly unexpected that the pre-school Let’s Make Art workshop at Southville’s Thali Cafe, and the adult leather pouch making workshop in the same location would be so similar in atmosphere. Pre-schoolers, as wonderfully vibrant as they are, are generally considered slightly chaotic. Brilliant fun yes, but also with high levels of volume and the ability to generate rather a mess.
However, Let’s Make Art have created art classes that capture both adult and children’s imagination and creativity, ending with a collection of high quality art bounty. Founders Alice Hendy and Karen Davies, both from Southville, are artists, teachers and mothers to young children who started Let’s Make Art in the summer of 2012.
is needed now More than ever
“We wanted to do something creative with our children in the school holidays, but there was a lack of provision in our area. We decided to hire a hall, combine all our art materials and borrow some equipment before inviting some friends to join us,” says Karen.
“After the summer, at the request of others, we continued to host pop-up events in our community and the word spread. Now, we take Let’s Make Art is to schools, museums, art galleries, libraries, homes, parks, restaurants, fairs, markets and summer festivals.”
Together, Alice and Karen have a large amount of experience in teaching and art. Alice, an award-winning photographer, has a degree in primary education and has taught in Finland and the UK, specialising in literacy and art. Karen’s degree is in textiles and fashion, she has 10 years’ experience working at reception and secondary level and she is currently artist-in-residence at Henbury School in the art and textiles department. The pair met at their children’s nursery and the friendship and business flourished from there.
As well as for adults and pre-schoolers, Let’s Make Art also have workshops for children aged from four to 11 to create works of art with their friends. Children are encouraged to fulfil their artistic potential, with ideas, discussion and a range of materials, while each of the workshops for pre-schoolers includes the reading of a children’s book and is structured around a theme.
Both work in the same way; the children work their way around up to five work stations holding all of the art supplies needed, as well as an example of a finished product for inspiration in the middle of the table. This may be cardboard houses, petals for flower faces, collage bugs, or sock puppets. These art experiences for children can benefit creativity, confidence, social and emotional development, personal expression and the development of imagination.
Lined up on the large windowsills of the Thali Cafe, each pre-school child’s design is utterly unique and impressive. The same goes with the adult class, with the items created by Let’s Make Art students top quality. Every attendee is clearly very proud of their achievement.
“Everyone that joins in enjoys working with a wide variety of art materials, proudly taking home plenty of masterpieces to show friends and family,” says Karen. Regardless of age, for each workshop, Karen and Alice keep everything relaxed and non-competitive, it’s about the enjoyment of arts, crafts – and quietly generating an artistic mess.
Photography by Alice Hendy