This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Art & Kindness Open House

Art & Kindness Studio Opens in downtown Fairfield

Caters to Budding Artists, Grades 6-12



FAIRFIELD, Conn.
(Dec. 3, 2013) --
Art & Kindness, a workshop-style art making space for
students in grades 6-12, has opened for business at 1597 Post Road, on the
second floor. There will be Open Houses on Tuesday and Thursday, December 3, 5,
10, and 12, from 4-6 p.m. and on Saturday, December 14, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.  Students can sign up for sessions that
meet once a week for five weeks and will be supported individually by Art &
Kindness owner and professional artist, Stephanie Jones, while working on a
variety of art projects. The maximum class size is 8.





Stephanie Jones, a certified art teacher who has worked for
the Fairfield Public Schools, is a Fairfield-based graphic artist and
children’s book illustrator.  She
was inspired to open Art & Kindness after Superstorm Sandy destroyed her
fence.  With her husband, Paul, a
professional photographer, Jones decided to make lemonade from lemons and turn
the broken picket fence into works of art. Her husband did the woodwork, and
she did the painting, and together they made folk art flags and colorful fish
using the repurposed fencing. They called their project Art & Kindness, and
donated a large portion of their proceeds to Operation Hope, who helped them
and so many other residents following the storm.





Mrs. Jones, as she is known among the Fairfield school
children she has taught, says she is happy to be working with students again
and feels that it is more important than ever for students to spend time being creative.
“In a world where everything comes at you at record speed, it is essential to engage
in focused and creative activities that give you the ability to unplug,” says
Jones, who added that the physical health benefits of creativity are proven and
include a reduction of stress and anxiety, an increase in positive emotions,
and a decrease of depression.

Find out what's happening in Fairfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.





Jones’ goal is to help young people experience the personal
happiness that comes from expressing kindness through art making. “Creating art
for the greater good is a transformative experience that actually makes the
artist happier. As my Art & Kindness space evolves, I will be looking to
partner with local organizations that give students opportunities to get involved
in projects such as repurposing materials to make art, collaborating on making public
art, or making art to give or for altruistic purposes,” Jones added.





Paul Jones will also be teaching basic photography on
Wednesdays at the space, one-on-one Photoshop, as well as teaching students who
are preparing portfolios for college applications how to photograph their
artwork.

Find out what's happening in Fairfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.





Jones and her husband will also be available for adult art
making projects during the day and on some evenings, as well as for private
parties and individual tutoring. For more information, please visit www.artandkindness.com.








We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?