Art class for seniors set to begin Friday in Joplin
Apr. 30—The George A. Spiva Center for the Arts recently announced the launch of Studio 55, an art class for adults ages 55 and older. The class will begin Friday at the center in the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex, 212 W. Seventh St. in Joplin, and will continue from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays.
Studio 55 aims to foster creativity, provide a supportive community and ignite the artistic passions of older adults, according to a news release. This initiative is designed to be an enriching experience for participants, offering a blend of structured classes and open studio sessions.
Every other week, artist Jordan Murdock-Thompson will guide participants through a range of structured art classes covering various mediums and techniques. From painting to sculpture, participants will have the opportunity to create new projects and learn new skills. All supplies will be provided.
On alternating weeks, artist Jesse McCormick will lead Studio 55's open studio sessions. These sessions will offer a more flexible and exploratory approach, allowing participants to work on personal projects, experiment with different mediums or seek guidance as needed. For this studio experience, Spiva will provide a limited range of supplies to use and experiment with, or students may bring their materials.
"Through this new program we are focusing on older adults — giving them opportunities to feel the joy of immersing oneself in the process of making," said Heather Lesmeister, Spiva executive director, in the release. "We are striving to engage participants with the arts through opportunities to belong, to learn something new and to feel a sense of accomplishment. This is just the start. We will continue to develop and deliver quality programs of relevance to the fastest growing segment of our society. We are honored to do that at Spiva."
While Studio 55 is offered for free through the support of the Joy Spiva Cragin Charitable Trust, donations to sustain and enhance the program are welcome. A donation of $10 per class is suggested to ensure the continuation of the program and to help to cover the cost of materials and instruction.
Participants are encouraged to register in advance through Spiva's website.
No experience is necessary to participate. For more information and to register, go to www.spivaarts.org/classes.
Studio 55 is sponsored by the Joy Spiva Cragin Charitable Trust and American Media Investments.
