Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Art Fun Studio has always been mine and my wife’s dream come true. We love that every day is an opportunity to share arts and crafts with kids of all ages from surrounding towns. Every day carries a purpose of something to be learned and something to be taught.
One day, that started off like any other day, a local school arranged a trip to our studio. The only unusual aspect was that the kids had developmental problems. While we hadn’t had anything specially prepared, we hoped the typical itinerary would be just as successful and fun for everyone involved.
As the bus pulled in, 25 kids were greeted by my wife, Alla, who was running the studio that day. She guided everyone inside and introduced the kids to the figurines that they would be painting that day; butterflies, ballerinas, robots from Star Wars, you name it, we had it modeled!
If there was one stand out characteristic about that group that was unlike any other group of children we’ve had, it was their creativity and artistic vision. As the kids decorated and painted their figurines, they smiled, thoroughly enjoying the creative process. They even had lunch in our studio, which was exciting for everyone since it’s always wonderful to spend more than just a few hours with a group of kids.
As the day came to a close, they didn’t want to leave! With all the fun that was had and the possibilities of fun that still existed, it was tough to say goodbye. Each kid seemed grateful for the opportunity Art Fun Studio presented; one boy even kissed Alla’s hand before leaving!
It was heartbreaking for my wife, the host, to see them go, but this meant Art Fun Studio achieved its mission that day; to give back to the community, to the kids, and to leave a lasting impression on every potential artist that walked through our door.
We are always welcome families, schoolchildren, and every aspiring artist in the making, everyday. To be able to give back, to see the smile on a child’s face that is because of us, is really what makes life worth living.
Eugene
