From the desk of Chloe Loos, Director of Arts and Culture
This may surprise you if you don’t identify as an artist, but if there’s one thing I know to be true, it’s that everyone is, innately, creative and artistic.
The human urge to create something, to express oneself, to leave an indelible mark somewhere lives within all of us. Before we built cities or wrote laws, we were painting on cave walls, telling stories around a fire, weaving, carving, singing, and dancing. Creativity is part of what makes us human.
Even the Torah begins with the ultimate act of creativity, with the very first line of Bereshit declaring: “In the beginning, God created…” The world itself was born from acting upon imagination and creating something real and tangible from it. And if we are all b’tselem Elohim, created in the image of G-d, then creativity is not only a human urge, but a divine right.
Nurturing our creative spark isn’t just fun (though it definitely is); it’s also essential for our well-being. Creativity boosts problem-solving, reduces stress, enhances mental well-being, fosters personal growth, and strengthens our connection to ourselves and to others.
That’s why I’m so passionate about the adult art classes we offer at the Tucson J. These classes aren’t about perfection or competition or making something “good enough” to hang in a gallery. They’re about giving yourself permission to play, to explore, to be curious, and to take time to rediscover yourself.
This fall, most classes meet in the evenings to accommodate working adults, and every offering is designed to be accessible, welcoming, and low-pressure. From a 2D/3D Mixed Media Drop-In workshop, to a charm making workshop with local shop Sigfus Designs, along with a variety of polymer clay, ceramics, and other art classes, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Whether you’ve always dreamed of making art or simply need a break from the noise of daily life, I invite you to join us. You don’t need to call yourself an artist to make art—but you just might discover you’ve been one all along.
