SHESHEGWANING—John Roe and Stefanie Thomson own and operate Who’s Crafty?, made popular for their adult paint nights. However, the couple has been working with First Nations on the Island, as well as the North Shore, and is launching a new four-week workshop named ‘Developing Minds’ for youth in Sheshegwaning First Nation in November.
The four-week program will feature instruction that guides the participants from concept to execution and will culminate in a group art show at the band office.
John Roe, who will be facilitating the workshop, developed it with the help of Stefanie, who has a background in Early Childhood Education.
Research shows that art activities develop brain capacity in early childhood and support the development of cognitive, social, emotional and multi-sensory skills. Researchers with the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD Study) have explored the connection between art and teen brain development using aptitude tests and brain scans to see how art influences brain development and general health. The findings are that art-making has a positive effect on mental health and provides an outlet during times of stress.
“Getting your mind thinking that way is important. In my personal experience, I have a hard time looking at a landscape without figuring out how to paint it,” Mr. Roe said.
Mr. Roe says that while many communities include art programming, few are organized in a way that understands and nurtures art making, which at its core is about process and self-expression more than the finished product.
“I think that art making is an important part of developing critical thinking,” said Mr. Roe.
The guiding principle behind the company is to make art more accessible to everyone.
“I’m not a fan of the ‘Fine Art Machine’ because that’s what it is. It’s a machine created to exclude people.”
Mr. Roe also believes that art provides people with a means to connect with the natural world.
“To me, art is less of a learnable thing and more of a discoverable thing,” he said.
The spaces for the workshop are filled, but the couple hopes that other organizations will incorporate this type of programming, particularly since education budget cuts have affected the arts in public schools.
“Making art is important for youth to develop confidence and a sense of accomplishment,” they say.
