The Art Station at Big Shanty Home for Kennesaw’s Thriving Arts Community BY MACKENZIE SPARKS
The Art Station at Big Shanty Park was built as a summer home for the Rooker family in 1943, and it eventually became their permanent home. Mrs. Rooker, an artist and supporter of community arts, donated her home to Cobb County with the instruction that it become an arts facility. Originally located where Kennesaw Mountain High School now stands, the house was moved and, over a two-year period, transformed into the arts center we have today. With three multimedia classrooms, a pottery studio, meeting space and a gallery, this creative facility is a cozy, yet productive, part of Cobb County PARKS. Programming includes classes and workshops in visual arts during the fall, winter and spring quarters. Visual and theater camps for children of all ages are offered during the summer quarter, and exhibitions and a meeting space for arts-related activities are available year-round. The Fall 2 collection includes classes for beginners and experienced artists, such as Pottery on the Wheel, Charcoal Drawing for Beginners and a Painting Stretch class to stretch your skills. There are a plethora of kids and teen classes, such as Clay Hand Building, Manga Comics – Character Drawing and a class where art and science mix. If you have a busy schedule and can’t come to the classes, there are individual workshops that only take an hour or two to attend. 26
AROUND KENNESAW | October 2021
The Art Station was once a private home.
