The New School
Art Matters has re-located, re-opened - and actually re-invented - our after school art program. Naturally, safety is our first concern. We don’t know what the pandemic will be like this winter, but we will continue to proceed with utmost caution. What we believe, after studying the eight page guidance issued by the state for re-opening, is that we could not keep doing things the same way in the same location.
We believe that COVID protocols, which require sanitizing bathrooms and materials, as well as the many other guidelines- such as face masks or shields- are quite necessary, so we enforce these protocols daily. In order to ensure that we are able to follow the state guidelines, we re-located, so that we no longer have to share bathrooms with other businesses. We are no longer a community gallery, with visitors walking in to view art. (We do hope to still be a part of the annual World's Greatest Studio Tour next year and we still hope to have our annual student art show, this Spring, as well as look for other venues for our students to exhibit their work.)
We have downsized to one art class per day, which means we have cut enrollment. One class per day is much more manageable in terms of COVID precautions.
This is not a decision we arrived at lightly. When we put together our annual end of year art show, (this past year it was virtual), we took delight in each and every photo of every child. There was not a single page in that slideshow (which you can view here on this website) that did not elicit the comment
“I love that kid,” from one or both of us.
Re-location: This daily class takes place at our own home. It has always been a school. We home-schooled our children there from Kindergarten through high school. It has always been Teresa’s studio, where she has produced the bulk of her art over the last two decades, as well as a showcase for her work and that of other local artists. In many ways, it has always been Art Matters, only without the sign.
We have made renovations to accommodate several rooms for the students. So far, they seem to love it. It is set on a beautiful acre of land on a cul-de-sac in a rural, wooded subdivision just ten minutes from downtown.
This Fall, classes have taken place on a large, screened-in porch and will as long as weather permits. It is large enough for social distancing and by virtue of being outdoors, much less likely to spread infectious disease. Indoors there is plenty of room to spread out and make art as well.
The New School features a swing set, a play house that we have turned into a Natural History Museum, flower gardens (including our traditional sunflowers), and there is a forest in our backyard.
Our daily class lasts 90 minutes at no additional cost to make up for the inconvenience of driving to our house, which is a ten minute drive from downtown Bowling Green.
Our enrollment is currently full. We hope to add classes, when the current health crisis comes to an end. We will place you on our waiting list, if you complete the form below and press submit. Enrollment will be first come, first serve.
As always, parents are welcome, as long as everyone wears masks and social distance is observed.
We really look forward to having Summer Art Camps here! That schedule will be revealed here on this website in March of 2021! If you have any questions, we would love to talk with you. If we do not answer, we are probably in the classroom, so please leave a message and expect a prompt reply from us: 270-781-0361.
Thank you,
Teresa and Michael
