Have you discovered Manhattan’s newest and tiniest art studio? If you’re familiar with Little Free Libraries, then you’ll know what to expect – except with art! Bring your art, take some new art with you. Manhattan Moms had the opportunity to chat with Mini Nomadic Art Studio founder, Caren Loy.
How did the concept for the Nomadic Art Studio begin?
“The mini Nomadic Art Studio began because three main things fell into place: inspiration, artistic curiosity and relocation. My husband is in the military and our last “home” was in Mississippi. I contributed many little pieces of art to a free Little Art Gallery while we lived there and befriended the creator. Over that time, I also explored my artistic style, placed my work in art shows and completed my first outdoor mural. The “nomadic” portion of my little studio comes from our move around lifestyle. We left Mississippi, and I was full of hope that I’d find another free little art gallery to interact with once we were settled.
“I searched and instead of finding one, I found the ambition to create one. I wanted to share with others what I had found myself, the platform to accelerate local artists in a small but big way. I hope the free Little Art Gallery can be a wonderful tool for Artists of Manhattan, both big and small, until we become nomads once again.”
How did the studio develop and find its home?
“The Studio started as an old newspaper vending machine sitting in the back of the Newton Newspaper warehouse. I brought the machine home, cleaned it up, cut out parts and added lots of new parts. Next up was finding an interested small business that would make a good fit as the Studios physical location. The mini Nomadic Art Studio can now be found just inside Manhattan Brewing Company on Poyntz. The brewery accepted placement of the Studio in October and it has been welcomed warmly by the community since then.”
Who contributes the art, and how often does it change?
“The art in the Studio rotates as quickly or as slowly as it is placed and taken. Sometimes I’ll check on the Studio one day and the pieces there will all be gone a few days later. Currently, there are several regular contributing local artists. There are also other artists that have entered their pieces as well. I encourage all artists to include their social information so they can gain recognition and use this tool for exposure.”
How can Manhattan residents enjoy the studio with their kids?
“I’m a firm believer that art is for all and that art can inspire a person in a million creative directions. My most favorite quote is “Every artist was first an amateur” by Ralph Waldo Emerson. When my own children have seen some of my work they’ve asked me “how do you know how to do that?” and my answer is always “because I tried”. I believe it’s important to instill the core belief in children that their creativity is an important expression of themselves. Also, it is just as important for these children to know that this expression is valued. The Studio can be an outlet for children artists to use for their art just as it has been for adult artists. As an artist, I find happiness in creating my pieces and I take joy in the act of giving them to others, these are wonderful attributes for children to ascertain.”
Follow the Mini Nomadic Art Studio on Instagram.
