When A Community Does a Good Thing!

Tampa Recreation Department is doing a Unique and Good thing: A Studio Arts Program!

This program gets a 5 Rabbit's Moon Award of community outreach in the arts from Rabbit's Moon Studio!

Art is a democratic process it should not be for the elite only, it should be for all!

In Tampa, Florida the city recreation department that deserves some recognition for an idea that is a good thing.   It has started a little diamond in the rough that the city needs to recognize and mine.  The funny thing is they don't know how unique a program they have.  They are sitting on a diamond mine they created and that needs polishing and upgraded to be its full potential. It could be throughout the city in a flash, and if well funded all the arts would blossom into a full fledge city outreach program. My vision includes a printmaking studio, photography, drawing classes, painting, sculpture, computer arts, digital photography and more! With a little fanning of the flames, with more funding and a heightened vision this program could be a model for other cities! 

I have been traveling a good bit lately and I have noticed many cities I thought would have this type of program, don't!  Asheville, North Carolina, the city of fine crafts, doesn't.  Charleston, South Carolina, city of history and culture, doesn't! New Orleans, a large wonderful city of music, food and art, doesn't!  Now I am on a quest to find out what cities do not have a program like ours.  The studio program is wonderful.  Several recreation buildings through out the county are art studios. Of course many cities have private companies that offer art programs, clay classes, jewelry making, photography...but all at a cost that is too high for the average person and most are private and not through an affordable city program.  The studio's offering art classes with experienced teachers for a very reasonable $10 a class.  This program makes art available to all citizens of Tampa-that is its strength.  It offers every community, rich or poor the opportunity for children and adults alike to be involved in something that is good for the soul, that offers a haven from tv land, and video games...it offers community bonding and a way out for youth who have no other alternatives:bound by poverty or neglect. 

Our new slab roller

Betsy is a retired English and Esol teacher who enjoys  being creative

Monica has blossomed into an excellent potter under this program

 WHAT TAMPA IS DOING FOR ITS CITIZENS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM:

*ART BUILDS SELF-ESTEEM

* ART BUILDS COMMUNITY

* ART BONDS PEOPLE

* ART OFFERS A POSITIVE OUTLET FOR THOSE WHO NEED AN ALTERNATIVE TO TV, VIDEO GAMES, CRIME RIDDEN NEIGHBORHOODS, POSITIVE SELF-EXPRESSION

*ART HEALS

Monica's Octopus Garden Series

Monica throws a wonderful pot and does unique slip trailing designs

Betsy W. models the importance of comfortable shoes when doing clay
She is so fashion forward!  Actually she is the reason I found out about
this wonderful program!

Glaze stored under tables on rolling carts

Our teacher Kathy and a class of wonderful people who are love being creative and are also supportive friends

Carol finds time to be creative even with a high busy administrative job at the local university