If you ask a child if they can sing, they'll rarely tell you no. Of course, they can sing — just about everyone has the ability to do so — and they don't care that they don't sound like Adele when they're doing it.
In the same way, kids love to put their hands to work during arts-and-crafts time. The outcome is of very little consequence — it's all about having fun doing it.
When Nick Fugedi and his wife Alex decided to design an art class for kids, this was exactly the concept they wanted to capitalize on. Nick, a high school art teacher, says he missed working with young children whose joy for art hasn't yet been hampered by thoughts of self-doubt.
"There is something about young kids and their enthusiasm for the arts," Nick says. "They just come with a great attitude that they can do it."
The couple were also looking for a way to sit down and connect with their own three kids, an exercise that can get pushed to the wayside during the hustle-and-bustle of everyday life.
So, they created Little Humans Art Co., a series of classes that allows kids to explore various mediums without the pressure of creating their pièce de résistance.
"We’re not a fine art studio," Alex says. "We're focused on the process of creating versus the outcome and not if that's right or wrong. We are hopeful we’re going to provide a space for kids to have a creative outlet and do things their own way. It might not be this perfect masterpiece, but it is something they can be super proud of."
This style of teaching art is known as "process-based," which means kids will focus on making a thing rather than what results.
"When developing the types of classes we would offer and type of art company we wanted to be, we were just drawn towards process-based projects and studios and found them to be magical," Alex says. "There’s many existing studios across the country that are getting into this now, and they definitely inspired us to want to bring that type of class and experience to metro Detroit. We are really excited to see where this goes and to get to share that experience with our community."
Classes begin in February and will be offered at the 9 Month Bump Activity Studio in downtown Wyandotte on Wednesday afternoons as well as at the Allen Park Community Center on Saturday mornings. Classes are divided by age groups: The tot and caregiver class is for kids 18 months old to 2.5 years old; Little Preschool Artists is for kids 3 to 5 years old; Lower Elementary Art Class is for kids in kindergarten through second grade.
Toddler and preschool classes will include a live music circle during which caregivers and kids can connect with each other as well as their classmates.
"We'll start with a music circle with instruments for kids to play with, then we'll have a sensory experience where they can come up to my guitar and pluck the strings," Nick says. "We'll ease into the project we’re going to do and explain to parents what we’re all about. The class might not be for everyone, but it’s beneficial for both parents and the child — there is a huge mindfulness aspect to it."
Class-goers will be exposed to a variety of mediums and materials throughout the series, much of which will be from recycled or natural material.
"It’s really fun and more than just finger painting, using different experiences and exploring. They're learning about making decisions and trusting those decisions," Nick says.
Little Humans Art Co. also hosts private events like birthday parties and company team building experiences. To learn more about classes, class times, and session pricing, check out the Little Humans Art Co. website.
