Adult Programs

We serve emotionally, mentally, and physically disabled adults using a variety of art techniques.

The adult programming is held at our Kettering location on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

At the Fairborn location the focus is primarily decorative painting. The class is offered on Wednesdays and is held in the church community room. One of the We Care Arts staff artists, along with a few volunteers, teaches the class at this location.

At our Tipp City location, we have after school and adult programs once a week. The artists at this location work on both fine arts projects and craft projects with the help of our volunteers.

At the Berkeley Center location in Kettering we offer:

Decorative painting
The large area of the studio is dedicated to decorative painting on primarily wood pieces. The teachers instruct the artists on the techniques of painting and using the proper tools to get the desired effects. The use of the decorative painting is a great teaching tool for showing the brush strokes and learning the basics of painting. The repetitive process and following step by step directions is beneficial to those who are recovering from strokes or suffering from other issues that affect memory. It is also a good way to get started for beginning students. Our painted wood products are a big seller in the gift shop. When clients sell the items that they made, they are very proud. This helps build self-esteem and motivates an artist to continue their creative process.

Clay / Ceramics
In the clay room we provide the artists with the materials and instruction they need to create a ceramic piece from start to finish. For instance, they can roll a chunk of clay into a flat piece on the slab roller, form it into a vase, smooth it or add texture with the provided hand tools, fire it in the kiln, glaze it and do the final step of firing. The vase is then ready to hold flowers. Working with clay is, for many, a soothing and calming process. It takes lots of patience and requires working with one’s hands. Therefore, it is beneficial in many ways for a person with physical challenges. Using their hands promotes muscle development. Since it requires some pounding and throwing, clay can also be a good tool for working out frustration. Most of all, having a beautiful finished piece after going through all the steps is something that gives the artist a sense of accomplishment .

Computer Art
There are several different types of projects done in our computer area. Some artists use the scanner to scan their painted or drawn art into the computer system, and then they use the program to manipulate the image. They can change the picture without having to change the original. The image can be printed to make greeting cards, put on a transfer to make tee-shirts, or printed and to become framed piece of art. We have artists that write poetry on the computer and incorporate it into a larger piece by imposing it into a painting or drawing. Many of our physically challenged artists that have difficulty using standard art materials can create something beautiful by using a computer mouse and a paint program. The computer programming area is easily accessible to our artists who use equipment for mobility. The computer allows them to be able to do something rather then limiting them in a world in which they are unable to do so many other things.

Sewing
The sewing area is one of the most active areas in our studio. We have several ladies working on individual projects and group projects at the same time. They gather each week to sew, similar to the old time quilting bees. They are actively making hand bags, table runners with matching place mats and napkins, aprons, baby gear and blankets, doggie jackets, and tote bags. The most wonderful part of the sewing program is the socialization and support the participants get from each other every week. They swap ideas and techniques while they create lovely things. Many members of our sewing group would be isolated at home if they didn’t have a place like this to get together and share their craft. The newest addition to our sewing program is the Husqvarna Designer 1. This machine is for custom embroidery. We can now put designs and logos on to fabric. We are in the process of training the staff and clients how to use the new machine.

Jewelry making
Making jewelry is one fastest growing classes this year. The class was held once a week until recently when it was increased to twice a week. Several women come in to create some of the most beautiful necklaces, bracelets and earrings. We collect beads from closeout sales, estate sales and catalogs for the classes. They take old necklaces apart and reuse the beads in a new and beautiful piece. They gather and share ideas and materials while they talk and create. The compliments we receive on the We Care Arts jewelry are amazing. We sell quite a bit in our gift shop as well as at our special events. It is such a thrill for the artists to see someone wearing something they have made. We have a list of people waiting to get started in the Jewelry class. Materials, tools and space seem to be the challenge in expanding the class at this time.

Fine Arts
The fine arts program consists of a variety of media and styles. The artists are encouraged to use the materials they are most comfortable with as well as try new things. In this collection of artists we have water color painters, oil painters, chalk pastel artists, sketch artists and cartoonists. We have students that like to use colored pencils, watercolor pencils, markers, and even crayons. Occasionally, they use the materials at the same time, on the same piece. They are encouraged to try all the different things and experiment with the materials. This class is often about self-expression and exploration. It is also about healing and connecting. The group of people that participate in the fine arts department are sometimes the ones who are a little quiet, but have lots to say. They are often shy, but crave the attention of others. They work in the quiet studio in the back. They play music of all kinds and share their lives and stories. The art is what brings them together each week.

Visiting Artist program
sponsored by:         

The visiting artist program is held once or twice a month in the main studio. Each class hosts a local artist teaching us something new. We try to schedule a variety of styles and mediums. This year, for instance, we have hosted a watercolor artist, a ceramic artist, a chalk pastel artist, and a fiber artist. The classes are open to any of our active participants. The next calendar year a piece from each class will be chosen to go in to a traveling exhibit. This has been a very successful program. The participants are exposed to something they may have not otherwise had a chance to try. We also get to benefit from the talents of local artists with an interest in our program. We Care Arts has forged some wonderful relationships with the visiting artist program, not to mention some beautiful art.

Youth Programs

Transition to work
This program was developed with the teachers from participating high schools. The students come to our facility once a week to learn soft job skills. The process of coming to us and creating something to sell teaches the students a wide variety of things. They learn about transportation by riding the bus to our location. They learn about following directions and staying on task when they are expected to finish a project. They learn about marketing and sales when they take the products into the community to sell. They learn social skills by working with each other and following directions from the teachers and volunteers. The best thing they learn is that they can do it. They are always so proud of their accomplishments and love to share their excitement with others.

The transition student classes grew from fourteen to twenty-eight in one year. They meet once a week but next school year, because of the growing numbers, they will be coming on two different days. We are currently serving Centerville, Fairmont, Stivers and Belmont High Schools. We have had several requests to expand the transition classes to other schools because Art programs have been cut from many schools curriculum.

This is a program geared around the young adults and teens with special needs. Each week they gather in our main studio for a drop in class and do an art project. They also eat snacks, listen to music and have fun. The projects vary from painting to plaster casting. They have made flags, murals, jewelry, ceramic bowls, and all sorts of other things. We also have guests that come to do something new with the kids. This year we have Music Therapy students from University of Dayton coming to play music, a Wright State English student to help the group write poetry and songs, a local graphic artist working on a cooperative painting, two Irish dancers teaching some dance moves. The kids want to learn about all art including literature, dance and music as well as the visual art. The best thing about Art Café is that they make new friends and have fun.

This class was started at the request of parents and teachers. The families have difficulty finding things for their special needs adult children to do for socialization. Keeping and maintaining friendships is a challenge for some teens and young adults that don’t have the ability to make plans, drive, or sometimes, communicate. This class has provided a safe and happy place for this population to gather each week, do something fun and have lots of laughs. This is also a wonderful volunteer opportunity for local high school students. We rely on students to assist the teacher with the fun. We have a great group of regular volunteers from West Carrollton, Kettering, Oakwood and Beavercreek High schools.

Community Outreach- grant/donation funded

A State Agency that supports public programs in the arts.

Traveling Artist
The traveling artist program was started to serve those who could not get to our facility because of the severity of their disabilities or because of the challenge of transporting them. We are currently serving two locations; the Montgomery County Educational Services students which are teen with sever disabilities and behavioral issues, and The Shiloh House which is a day habilitation unit for those dealing with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Our teachers take their ideas and supplies to each facility, each week, and give the participants the opportunity to experience art. We developed a curriculum to teach the fundamentals using variety of mediums that include drawing, painting, fiber arts, ceramics and music. The response to this program has been overwhelmingly wonderful. We are currently expanding this program to serve Stebbins High School, Meadowdale High School and United Rehabilitative Services. We also have a waiting list of other locations that have requested our services.

Outreach - funded

All Kids
The All Kid’s classes are taught at the MRDD facility on Thursday mornings. The participants are toddlers and pre- school children. There are two classes of fun and a little bit of chaos. The teacher has done lots of wonderful things with the class each week. For example, they love painting, paper mache’ (6ft polar bear), drawing and they painted a large wall mural. The teacher often ties the art activity in with class curricula. For instance, the Polar bear went along with the lessons about Alaska. This reinforces the things they learn in the class room by incorporating it into the art class too.

Once a month classes

Developmental Disabilities Fine Arts
This is a program to provide fine art experiences for Developmental Disabilities (DD) clients. They come to our facility once a month and explore various art mediums. Each year the artists select the mediums they want to use. Clay, watercolor and fiber arts are just some of the tools we use. And we all have a great time.

Music Therapy
In the fall of 2005, a cooperative effort between We Care Arts and the Music Therapy Department of University Of Dayton produced Music at We Care Arts. It has been the long time dream of Executive Director Terry Schalnat to incorporate music into the program. With the help of Dr. Susan Gardstrom and Professor James Hiller from UD, we began a monthly music program.

The only word for the experience is wonderful. Smiles were everywhere, drums were drumming, and voices were singing. Long after they left, the artists here were still humming!