Inspired by Kandinsky’s Squares with Concentric Rings, on May 20, artists of all ages could be found at Central Park Library’s grand opening of its new Central Studio, a new art creation space located on the second floor near the graphic novels.
“The purpose of setting up Central Studio is to encourage creativity in 2D media, like drawing,” says Morgan Rose Pershing, a reference librarian who handled the grant proposals. “Central Studio was mainly funded by the Pacific Library Partnership, also known as PLP. In addition to the funding, the Santa Clara City Library Foundation & Friends provided money for the celebration tonight and also added art books and new graphic novels to the Central Studio collection.”
Jhoana Ingalla brought her son, Kyle, to the grand opening. As soon as they arrived, Kyle gravitated toward one of the art stations and began to draw with the paper and colored pencils provided by the library.
“Kyle decorates our house with his art, and he switches out the art every season,” says Ingalla. “We’ll be back here.”
“It’s fun and exciting to be here,” says Kyle, a third-grade student at Sutter Elementary School. “I’m drawing a girl right now.”
Also at the reception was an art show featuring work from students in Santa Clara Adult Education’s art program. Anjali Mahajan took an acrylic and oil class where she painted “The Cutest Smile,” a portrait of her son as a toddler.
“I used a photograph of my son while I painted,” Mahajan explains. “Now he’s seven years old. When my son saw this painting here, he was smiling.”
At the end of May and in early June, Central Studio will be producing “Art and Story,” three workshops taught by artist Andy Gouveia. In August, the studio is hosting Mobile Mill where Jillian Bruschera will teach about papermaking. A watercolor weekend is a potential program in the works.
“I find a lot of people are intimidated about trying art because there’s a myth that you must have some magical talent or gene in order to do it,” says Janine Sahm, an art teacher with Santa Clara Adult Education who helped set up Central Studio and the art show. “Instead, it’s really just like learning a new language or skill set. This space gives the environment and tools, offered here or at the adult school, to start learning that language. Anyone can do it.”
