When Covid-19 shut down the province of Ontario and the country Agape Design Studio’s in downtown North Bay was just gearing up for an exciting March Break Day Camp.
Several local children were registered to take part in the full week camp which would have culminated with an art show and sale to showcase their creations but, it had to be cancelled almost before getting started.
Fast forward 12 weeks and things have changed. While the studio had to close and children had to remain home, the art continued in an online format.
“We chose to close just prior to the official shutdown in order to be safe," said Karrie Emms, studio owner and facilitator.
"When you work with children you are acutely aware they may come into contact with older relatives who may be at risk. Art, especially at Agape Designs tends to be very hands-on which means carries a greater risk for us as well as the children.”
Emms says she didn’t want the kids to miss out and she knew parents would be looking for activities for their children, the solution for both seemed obvious. Emms began offering online art and science classes three times a week via an online platform.
The children who participate are between the ages of 5 and 11 and all have a love of art.
“The children and often their parents and other family members sign on at least once per week to complete various projects from making Oobleck slime and experimenting with colour as well as growing stalagmites and stalactites, painting and exploring various artists and their styles,” said Emms.
According to Emms, the children have just taken on their biggest challenge and in a huge and creative way.
With the steady push towards wearing non-medical masks in public, Emms says they are painting reusable, handmade masks in various sizes and styles which will be auctioned online in two weeks with the proceeds being split between All Heart Pet Rescue and The Gathering Place.
Each mask is hand-painted and designed by an artist and sewn by Pauline Brown of Brown’s moving after the design is done. Each mask will come with an artists biography and care instructions.
“Brown’s is such a huge supporter of all local events and have come to the rescue in many situations including the flooding in Jocko Point where they spent weeks volunteering with myself and an army of people to save houses roads and shorelines," said Emms.
Agape Designs has roughly 40 masks to paint between the children, their families and Emms herself.
“The children decided where the proceeds will go and they were very adamant it go to one ‘people’ and one ‘pet’ organization since one of the children has been rearing a litter of kittens through the pandemic. The kittens make frequent visits to the online classroom,” said Emms who originally was thinking of painting a few for her nurses at Care Partners but the idea took on a life of its own.
Emms says they will have various themes and will be available in an online auction that will be posted to the studio’s Facebook page, website and Instagram when it goes live. People will be able to bid on their favourite masks which can be delivered while following social distancing or mailed if the bidder lives out of town.
Agape Designs can be found online at www.agapedesigns.ca or on Facebook at @agapedesignsnorthbay for more details. Interested parties can also email [email protected]
