The Community Arts Center provides an abundance of arts programming to its members within Boyle County and beyond. The Center provides excellent rotating visual exhibitions that feature local, regional and national artists. A themed blockbuster event is also developed annually that integrates the arts, sciences and humanities. There are many rooms where independent instructors provide individual and group instruction from dance to music to visual arts. The Center also has a very popular program, Starry Night Studio, where each month people register for a single class led by an artist to paint either a classic or new work (selected in advance). I brought my entire staff for a private class last year for the holidays and we had an amazing time together doing something fun. While the painting was the same, each of our interpretations reminded us as co-workers that we all have a common goal but see and do things differently. Staff instantly wanted to return as the holiday staff gathering the next year. What a great way to spend time together, be creative and everyone take home a piece of art.
I volunteered for the Community Arts Center during their spring exhibit in 2011 called All Aboard! which was an exhibit for children and families all about trains. I got to be part of their live storytelling exhibit, which featured various hoboes and their stories. I was given training by the program director, Brandon Long, about the basic facts that should be relayed in each presentation, but was given creative license with my costume, name, and particular brand of storytelling. Each week, I went into the basement of the Arts Center and sat around a fake fire in a dark room, telling hobo tall-tales and sharing secrets about the hobo code and culture with children and adults. It was an amazing experience to see children learning before my very eyes! I had a great time and learned about hobos in the process--the Arts Center does great work year-round, and their blockbuster exhibits each spring are no exception.