Are you Connected to Your Creative Community?

In case you haven't heard, the Emmaus Arts Commission (EAC) is holding the First Annual Community Art Project on Saturday, Feb. 4, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Clock Building. (322 Main Street.) The second (and last day) of SnowBlast Winter Festival truly celebrates the arts in our community. So, you might ask - what is a community art project? Loosely defined, it's a collaborative artistic effort between artists and non-artists in a community setting.

Thanks to Blick Art Materials and EAC Commissioner Richard Farmer, who is leading this creative "blast," anyone interested in taking paint to canvas will have the opportunity to be involved in this inaugural event. Multiple 24" x 24" canvas panels have been prepped with blue paint and 5" square grids. Participants will be free to paint their interpretation of a snowflake. No artistic ability or experience is necessary, just your willingness to have a little fun and be creative! Art supplies and guidance will be on hand. This project is suitable for school-age children to adults. Canvases will be on display post SnowBlast Winter Festival at Lee Gribben’s on Main Restaurant.

Just like the EMSP Ice Bar - what would SnowBlast be without time spent at the ? Enjoy fireside storytelling and craft-making at the Library (11 East Main Street, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and Story Time with Martha Vines: 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Also at the Library for our young creative community -- the Emmaus Arts Commission presents Draw Along with Bob McLeod -- 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. This activity is for school-age and young adults -- kids receive "follow-the-leader" style art instruction from artist and EAC Commissioner Bob McLeod. Bob is best known for co-creating and illustrating The New Mutants for Marvel Comics. He has illustrated all of the major characters for Marvel and DC, including Super-Man, the X-Men, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, GI Joe, Star Wars and many more! Bob also wrote and illustrated Superhero ABC. Blick Art Materials is donating a sketchbook and pencil for the first 25 participants (while supplies last.)

There are a variety of ways to connect to the Emmaus creative community. Look for upcoming EAC events and projects throughout 2012 at www.emmausarts.org.

Thanks to everyone who helps make Emmaus a creative place to live -- (yes, I'm looking at you) -- we're all creative in our own way, sometimes we just need a nudge to bring it out in public!