Village Arts Center Grows Community, Minds
February 07, 2018
“You can’t spell ‘heart’ without ‘art.’”
When Dawn Murray talks about her passion for art and people, it’s easy to see that she’s the personification of her own phrase. That’s why it’s no surprise Murray took that passion and ran with it.
She opened the Village Arts Center in Broadway in July 2016 as a way to bring children and adults together through art, movie and game nights and other social gatherings that, above all else, she hopes bring people joy.
“People who know me will tell you, they all believe this is what I was called to do,” Murray said. “I am a family-first person. Part of the reason this is called the Village Arts Center is because it really does take a village to do anything. This is my village. When I come here, I want to treat everyone with kindness, respect, gratitude and joy.”
The art center offers various art classes throughout the week, many of which focus on children and getting them started learning about the process of art and learning how to use different supplies.
“I feel like there is a real need for opportunities for children to be children and explore art materials,” Murray said. “Often, parents are really intimidated about the mess factor; they don’t want paint, glue, glitter, paper scraps and Sharpie markers in their house with little ones, and I totally get that. They can come here and make a mess, then they can go home and take their artwork.”
There is a little artist open studio every Tuesday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. that’s geared toward toddlers and preschoolers. Murray calls this a “process” art class, which means the focus is the process of working with the materials rather than focusing on the end result.
“They use their large motor skills, their small motor skills, they’re exploring cause and effect, which is, ‘Hey, when I put this paint on this paper, it leaves a mark,’” Murray explained. “The goal is that they’re having a good time. They’re learning how to use their body, their mind and how to be creative.”
For older kids, the art center offers an after school art club every Thursday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. In this program, students ages 6 to 11 come to the art center and explore a different art medium each month. But, in the scope of helping the students not only have a good time, but to also grow as people, Murray offers more than just art time during those two hours.
“When they come in, there’s a table set with whatever the healthy snack is that day, and then we just talk about the day,” she said. “Some come from homeschool, some come from Plains [Elementary School], some come from John C. [Myers Elementary School], so this is their own new community. You’re not with the same group of kids you’re with all day. We just sit down like a family and talk about the day and they know it’s a safe place where they can do that.”
After talking, the students work in their art journals to get their creative juices flowing for the day before working on their big projects that goes along with the monthly art theme.
The art center also offers a family art studio for adults and children to work together, big and little paint dates, which are similar to paint nights for adults, family movie and game nights and other activities. Many of these are also free or at very little cost to the parents because Murray wants people to know that it doesn’t matter what your socioeconomic status is, you always have a place at the Village Arts Center.
Another point of pride Murray has in the art center is that there is no Wi-Fi available inside.
“I feel like people have really lost the ability to sit down and have a conversation, make eye contact and share little trivial things about their day,” she said. “So, here, on the surface, it looks like we’re teaching you how to paint, or quilt or knit, but really, my goal is to help people develop a sense of community, communication and shared space.”
Murray’s immediate family consists of her husband, two sons, a daughter and a cat, Morrie, who has become the mascot and loving pet of the art center. But if you widen the scope, you’ll be able to see that her family consists of each and every person who has walked through the doors of the Village Arts Center.
“Once you come here, you’re part of my family,” she said. “I’m going to remember your name, your kid’s name, what you were here for and I’m going to be happy to see you at the grocery store and people really respond to that. Art doesn’t know any boundaries. No matter where you’re from or really, where you’re going, there’s something here you can do that brings you joy.”
For more information about the Village Arts Center or to see a list of programs, visit the website or call 540-560-2974.
When Dawn Murray talks about her passion for art and people, it’s easy to see that she’s the personification of her own phrase. That’s why it’s no surprise Murray took that passion and ran with it.
She opened the Village Arts Center in Broadway in July 2016 as a way to bring children and adults together through art, movie and game nights and other social gatherings that, above all else, she hopes bring people joy.
“People who know me will tell you, they all believe this is what I was called to do,” Murray said. “I am a family-first person. Part of the reason this is called the Village Arts Center is because it really does take a village to do anything. This is my village. When I come here, I want to treat everyone with kindness, respect, gratitude and joy.”
The art center offers various art classes throughout the week, many of which focus on children and getting them started learning about the process of art and learning how to use different supplies.
“I feel like there is a real need for opportunities for children to be children and explore art materials,” Murray said. “Often, parents are really intimidated about the mess factor; they don’t want paint, glue, glitter, paper scraps and Sharpie markers in their house with little ones, and I totally get that. They can come here and make a mess, then they can go home and take their artwork.”
There is a little artist open studio every Tuesday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. that’s geared toward toddlers and preschoolers. Murray calls this a “process” art class, which means the focus is the process of working with the materials rather than focusing on the end result.
“They use their large motor skills, their small motor skills, they’re exploring cause and effect, which is, ‘Hey, when I put this paint on this paper, it leaves a mark,’” Murray explained. “The goal is that they’re having a good time. They’re learning how to use their body, their mind and how to be creative.”
For older kids, the art center offers an after school art club every Thursday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. In this program, students ages 6 to 11 come to the art center and explore a different art medium each month. But, in the scope of helping the students not only have a good time, but to also grow as people, Murray offers more than just art time during those two hours.
“When they come in, there’s a table set with whatever the healthy snack is that day, and then we just talk about the day,” she said. “Some come from homeschool, some come from Plains [Elementary School], some come from John C. [Myers Elementary School], so this is their own new community. You’re not with the same group of kids you’re with all day. We just sit down like a family and talk about the day and they know it’s a safe place where they can do that.”
After talking, the students work in their art journals to get their creative juices flowing for the day before working on their big projects that goes along with the monthly art theme.
The art center also offers a family art studio for adults and children to work together, big and little paint dates, which are similar to paint nights for adults, family movie and game nights and other activities. Many of these are also free or at very little cost to the parents because Murray wants people to know that it doesn’t matter what your socioeconomic status is, you always have a place at the Village Arts Center.
Another point of pride Murray has in the art center is that there is no Wi-Fi available inside.
“I feel like people have really lost the ability to sit down and have a conversation, make eye contact and share little trivial things about their day,” she said. “So, here, on the surface, it looks like we’re teaching you how to paint, or quilt or knit, but really, my goal is to help people develop a sense of community, communication and shared space.”
Murray’s immediate family consists of her husband, two sons, a daughter and a cat, Morrie, who has become the mascot and loving pet of the art center. But if you widen the scope, you’ll be able to see that her family consists of each and every person who has walked through the doors of the Village Arts Center.
“Once you come here, you’re part of my family,” she said. “I’m going to remember your name, your kid’s name, what you were here for and I’m going to be happy to see you at the grocery store and people really respond to that. Art doesn’t know any boundaries. No matter where you’re from or really, where you’re going, there’s something here you can do that brings you joy.”
For more information about the Village Arts Center or to see a list of programs, visit the website or call 540-560-2974.
