Open Hamilton expressive art studio opens
“Expressive arts are about the process, not the product,” says Barb Lucas, founder of the Open-ended Expressive Arts Studio in Hamilton.
The studio, which opened its doors last fall, is located at 201 Daly Avenue, across from Daly School. The space will be known to many as the former home of the Montessori school, which operated there for 25 years.
Lucas said she was cycling one day and spotted the empty building and it looked like it would be the perfect place for an art studio. Lucas figured that if her maze matched the space, she “was going to do it.” She says the owner has been very pleasant working with him, especially during the COVID-19 outbreak when so much activity could not take place and income was scarce.
Here people can “engage their creativity” through painting (which they call “depicting”), mosaic, clay work and collage, as well as creative movement, yoga, drama, painting. song and poetry. According to the studio’s Facebook page, Open-ended is “a sanctuary for the expressive arts – the expressive arts are low proficiency and high intensity, which means anyone can participate and the experience will bring a change: change of mind. ‘mood, change of perspective, change of energy levels. “
According to Rebecca Lellek, host at the studio, “I want to create in any way people don’t think of… singing, ringing, poetry, writing. Each of us is a poet and an artist.
Lucas and Lellek are both therapists who share an office in the Creamery Building in downtown Hamilton. Lucas is a psychotherapist and Lellek is a hypnotherapist.
“We’re interested in supporting people in the community,” Lellek says. “Newcomers say it is difficult to connect with others in the valley. The hope is that people will come together here and create.
A large space at the south end of the building, bathed in natural light through numerous windows, houses a labyrinth. Maze walks are a regular open-ended activity. A labyrinthine walk took place there after the Capitol riot. “It was just very disturbing,” said Lucas. “The walk helped people get grounded. “
On April 21, Lucas leads an outdoor maze walk for SAFE (Supporters of Abuse Free Environments) from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. near Hamilton High School. This replaces the traditional “Take Back the Night” event for Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
For Poetry Month, Open-ended hosted a “Playing with Poetry” night where people shared their poetry. “Singing Field” takes place every two months as a way for people to be “vulnerable with their own whole,” says Lallek. Open Studio takes place every Friday with reception hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Barb Lucas arrived in the valley in 1993. She said she had always been interested in the community. As a young mother, she created a group for home schooled mothers. She returned to school to earn a master’s degree in systems counseling. She worked at the Riverfront Mental Health Clinic before entering private practice in 2009 in Hamilton. she made her post graduate studies in expressive arts, which, she says, “is so about the community. Be a witness in the community and rely on each other’s process. She has introduced people to the arts for many years and is a co-founder of the Center for Spiritual Living.
Lellek met Lucas in 1996 when she had just started home schooling her own children. She attended a school board meeting where parents stood up for the right of house students to attend public school classes and Lucas was there to support him. “We have a deep connection,” Lellek said. She was then introduced to the field of hypnotherapy and has studied it ever since.
“I love hypnotherapy,” Lellek says, “and I love all the ways we can be creative. Singing, painting, writing, poetry. I love to see people come to life as things pour out of them and the accomplishments that come with it… it’s so touching.
Other animators include Kris Bayer, Laura Garber, Pam Watts and Kiersten Owings, who runs the preschool program called “Free Range Art”.
Open-ended Expressive Arts Studio will be hosting a grand opening celebration on May 1st. There will be a May 1 pop-up market, with sellers of handmade arts by professional artisans and manufacturers, music, food and beer. There is no admission and everyone is welcome.
“I want to create a community here and foster resilience and well-being,” says Lucas. “I want to help people discover the vitality that lies behind the conditioned mind.”
“And at the same time, it’s connecting with others,” says Lellek. “Another conversation occurs. “
“It’s contagious,” says Barb.
More information can be found on the website: openendedexa.com or by calling 406-531-2553.
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