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Business & Tech

New Art Studio Is a "Stroke" of Genius

It's not just an art studio for kids. Owners Kristin Nelson and Erik Sabatelli say it's a "smART studio" designed to spark creativity and learning.

Westport has a long-standing reputation as an artsy community.  So it was no surprise that Westport residents responded enthusiastically to Kristen Nelson and Erik Sabatelli’s inquiries about opening an art space for kids in town.

“When we were deciding where to open the studio, we went around to all the different towns in Farifield County and asked people if they would be interested in this,” explained Nelson. “The people in Westport had the right type of attitude.  They immediately said, ‘Where do I sign up?’”

As of June 5, they can sign up at the Splatterbox smART Studio at 1252 Post Road.   The open-concept 1,800 square foot studio will provide a variety of art classes for toddlers, kids, teens, and yes, even adults.   

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“We will be offering everything from finger painting to accelerated art for teens and adults,” Kristin said. “During June we’ll have a sampling of classes to preview without having to commit to six weeks.  In July and August we’ll have camps, and we’ll start our programs in September.”

Sabatelli says that this is not just an art studio, he calls it a smart studio.  “We believe in thinking through art.  Children develop so many skills through art; social skills, cognitive, developmental.  Learning how to think through a process and learning to engage your brain and approach your world a little more creatively.”

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This approach to creative problem solving was instrumental for these young entrepreneurs, both 2008 graduates of Massachusetts College of Art and Design.  “When we graduated there were no jobs, it was brutal,” said Sabatelli.  “We both knew we wanted to be self-employed.  We knew the corporate world wasn’t for us,” he adds.

Both Sabatelli and Nelson worked as freelance consultants on a number of projects, most notably a mural at Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, California, and a larger than life image of basketball superstar LeBron James on a New York City basketball court, before deciding to open an art studio in Westport.

Both Nelson and Sabatelli have prior experience working with children, Nelson spent several years working as a mother’s helper and Sabatelli is one of five siblings.  “We both love kids and we’re so excited to begin.  Our goal is to foster creativity in a non-competitive environment,” Nelson explains.

Splatterbox’s workshops are not your run-of-the-mill art classes for kids.  They are imaginative and fun – an introduction to monoprinting, art inspired by music, and a mommy and me tutu making class are among the varied classes they offer.  The weeklong camps for five to nine year olds in July and August are focused around a particular age-appropriate theme.  In the evenings, the classes are geared towards adults, with craft projects inspired by the beaches of Nantucket.

Besides art classes, Nelson says they will be hosting a monthly “Kids Night Out” from 6-9 PM on  Saturday evenings for children ages five and up.  “Parents don’t have to hire a babysitter and worry that their kids are sitting in front of the TV.  They can bring them here!  We’ll have pizza, crafts, and games and the parents can go out and enjoy dinner together and know their children are in a safe place.”

A grand opening celebration is planned for Sunday, June 5, that will include activities for children, snacks and a raffle prize.

Splatterbox Smart Studio, 1252 Post Road East, www.splatterboxart.com

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