HARPER WOODS, Mich. (WXYZ) — In today’s ‘We’re Open Detroit’ 7 Action News Reporter Syma Chowdhry puts the spotlight on an art studio that specializes in classes for children.
The owner of Mini-Picassos in Harper Woods is offering lessons that go beyond a classroom.
“Today is one of the first days I’ve been in the studio since the pandemic has started.”
Katy Wereley is not used to a quiet, empty studio.
Mini-Picassos sits on Lennon Street near the corner of Harper Avenue. Creativity between the walls has been canned since March. No art classes or after school programs for months could have forced Mini-Picassos to permanently close.
Katy fights back tears at the thought of that.
“I was really worried about losing the business at first because no one knew what was going on.”
That’s when Katy turned to virtual learning. She offers classes on Zoom, live streams on Facebook and now she’s doing outdoor sessions at a nearby church to help maintain social distance.
“Can see their faces light up. Even just hearing them say ‘Miss Katy I have a question’ makes my day.”
Mini-Picassos sells art kits that cost $10 to $18.
Katy says the community has rallied their support for the art school and because of that this five-year-old business can survive the pandemic.
Parents have told her that their children get a sense of normalcy when they participate in the lessons.
“Sit and draw and create, their anxiety goes away. And it helps them. Or it helps them actually say what’s going on in their mind and what they are feeling. It’s so important to be able to have that creative outlet for children.”
For more information on Mini-Picassos, go to: https://www.minipicassosstudio.com/
To check out their live stream classes, go to: https://m.facebook.com/minipicassosGP/
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