Building a safe haven for artists and a community for all to enjoy, The Artisan’s Playhouse offers art for everyone

BY CHIARA ABAD-SANCHEZ, STAFF WRITER

NOT OFTEN IS THERE A PLACE for complete free expression outside of the art world, but The Artisan’s Playhouse’s integration of an artists’ dream studio and reality fits the image quite perfectly. They offer classes in an array of mediums for all artists of all levels to try.

During the day, the studio operates as the original store Miami Fabrics, selling fabrics of all colors and designs. At 3 p.m., the doors open to the community, transitioning from a grandmother’s dream to an artisan’s playhouse. The owners of Artisan’s Playhouse, Ruben Pazo and Iovanna Romero, were able to accomplish the dual use of the space since Pazo took over his family business of Miami Fabrics.

Pazo and Romero always trifled in art and took inspiration when witnessing others perform their art, specifically ceramics. They enjoyed creating pottery with friends and family, wanting to offer other people the same beautiful experiences they had. So, their goal became to create a safe haven for those wanting to share their artful passions with the community.

“Once we began to teach, I started to see people’s faces and the memories they were creating. That made me want to continue

Artists Community

At first, the Artisan’s Playhouse was known as Miami Pottery as they strictly kept to ceramics, Romero and Pazo’s main passion. However, they eventually expanded their hobbies to provide more to the customers, which is when it became more of a playhouse for artists to let creativity flow.

Artisan’s Playhouse offers its studio to other instructors and artisans who want to practice their craft, such as teaching shuffledancing, miniature painting, soap-making and candle-making. All of these crafts have been offered here for all to enjoy and explore. This is how Artisan’s Playhouse supports their community; they allow instructors to use their space and give them the resources necessary to practice and teach their craft.

The ambiance of Artisan’s Playhouse is like no other. They utilize every facet of the room to support local artists with home-made objects on every shelf and surface available; ranging from mirrors to masquerade masks to tiny frogs on the walls and installations hanging from the ceiling, some made of bicycles, paper dragons and carnival characters.

All of the paintings on the walls are made by local artists and can be purchased, another way they support their local artist community. Highlights displays some of these paintings within the frames on the page.

Oftentimes the unique classes are given with relatively short notice and are few and far between. However, on their website there is a calendar with their classes and bookings, walk-in are not welcome. With a schedule and times that change every week, they are open every day except Monday.

A customer’s art experience is not limited to the class they book karaoke, accompanied by a stage and band set-up filled with multiple guitars, drums and a microphone stand. Anyone is free to sing their hearts out and experience the vocal art as they practice the physical art form within their class.

Booking an event would be preferred if coming in with a large group of 10 or more. For whichever class, refreshments and snacks ranging from hot pockets to green tea to detox juices are available for purchase at the Artisan’s Cafe.

The classes may be a bit pricey, but it is all worth it considering what’s being taught, the experience and the anecdote that can be brought home at the end of it.

The Artisan’s Playhouse prides itself on creating a community that incorperates instructing and allow people to express themselves,” Pazo said. highlights delves more into the insight of the community at Artisan’s Playhouse and provides some enlightenment into the tufting and pottery classes offered. all aspects that remotely fulfill the definition of Art. The playhouse allows all to inquire in the Art verse.

Rather than creating an entirely new store, he merged this idea with the previous establishment to create the perfect partnership for an art studio, with the fabric store providing yarn, a location, and other materials and the studio providing community expression. The studio officially opened on Jan. 2021 and is located at 2456 W. 8th Court, Hialeah, FL 33010.

COMFORTING COMMUNITY: With a intiving atmosphere, The Artisans Playhouse matches the vibe with the tribe.

Rug tufting

If a room feels empty, a rug might be the perfect solution, as they bring a sense of comfort and warmth to any living space. However when it comes to making a rug, the process may seem intimidating. The Artisan’s Playhouse offers a unique rugtufting class for any level artist to take.

The process is relatively simple with the instructors nearby to teach the process smoothly. Rug-tufting is when loops of yarn are pulled through the rug’s backing material with a tufting gun, which shoots out the yarn into the backing. The process can be lengthy as it is composed of two classes, but with the right company, it can be fun.

The class starts with an introduction and safety precautions from the instructor, as students are working with a heavy tufting gun. From there, students get some practice on the test frame to understand how a tufting gun works. Then, a projector is used to trace out whatever image students desire to create. With a wide selection of yarn, courtesy of the Miami Fabrics store collaboration, customers can pick out colors for their rug. Once the image is traced, the students will fill it in with the tufting gun the following class.

“Taking the rug tufting class was such an amazing experience. Ruben was very patient and friendly with me when I asked for help

Pottery-making

The art of pottery is said to be therapeutic and is considered to be a form of meditation. The medium allows for a more physical art form rather than painting as one works directly with the clay.

The best part of throwing on the wheel is that at the end of the whole process, something is created. It probably won’t be perfect and probably will not turn out how it was desired to, but that just means there’s something to improve on. Pottery is a skill that can be mastered with enough determination, passion and time.

There is a two-hour introductory class that usually goes from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. for new students that teaches pottery basics. Artisan’s Playhouse may have classes for beginners, but they let advanced students experiment or help them perfect their craft.

“We go out of our way to allow students to continue practicing on more advanced things if they want to practice it,” Pazo said.

Whichever one of the instructors present will teach different techniques and will explain the step by step process of ceramics. This includes centering, pulling walls, surface decoration and glazing. The instructors are always willing to help and enjoy enhancing their customers’ experiences in hopes that they love and appreciate the craft which I really appreciated,” customer

Gabriella Rodriguez said.

The art studio provides yarn, fabric, a tufting frame and a tufting gun. All that is needed to be brought in is two to three design ideas. Customers are welcome to bring their own yarn of choice to the second class, when they will be filling in their design, but it must be a size four yarn.

After taking this class, a “rug wrap-up” session will be needed, however, it is included in the initial price of $75. The second class includes putting together finishing touches, such as applying a rug backing and trimming the visible surface of the rug. If younger than 13, a parent is required to supervise rug tufting.

Along with the unlimited amount of designs that could go on a rug, the amount of colors that can be used are limitless. Whether it be a pokemon or a self portait, a rug can be made into anything. However, the best part is the unique experience of rug tufting. as much as they do.

After taking this class, a glazing class will have to be taken, which is done with a bisque firing to ensure there is no more water in the clay. Upon glazing completion, customers are allowed to decorate their pieces. This is also the opportunity to pick up and take home one’s pottery creations.

The initial class is $40.64. However, the glazing class adds an additional $10. One must book both classes individually on the Artisan’s Playhouse’s website.

The Artisan’s Playhouse allows those to experience Art to the fullest extent.

LenoxBalzebre/highlights