Art Heals program returns to Artsplace

By Christian Metzger Record-Journal staff

CHESHIRE The Art Heals program returned to the Cheshire Performing & Fine Arts Committee Artsplace, following a hiatus during the pandemic. The free classes are offered to Cheshire residents who are homebound due to medical, physical or emotional difficulties, where one of the trained art teachers from Artsplace comes directly to their homes for up to six, 1.5hour sessions in several mediums of their choice –acrylic paint, collage, watercolor, multimedia, and others.

Milling, Resurfacing Project

The following was posted to the municipal website, cheshirect.org, on April 26:

The CT DOT is announcing that a milling and resurfacing project will be performed on Route 10 in Cheshire and Southington from Stoney Hill Road to beginning of the overpass to Route 322. This project [was] scheduled to begin milling by Rafferty on Sunday, April 30 to Monday, May 8. The resurfacing segment of this project is anticipated to begin on Monday, May 15 to Sunday, May 28, by Tilcon Inc.

Motorists can expect lane closures on Route 10 in Cheshire and Southington from Stoney Gill Road to beginning of the overpass to Route 322. Traffic control personnel and signing patterns will be utilized to guide motorists through the work zone. The night work schedule for this project is 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. (Sunday through Thursday). Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving in this vicinity.

No prior skill in art is necessary. Lessons are scheduled at the client’s convenience, and at the end of the program the finished artwork is framed free of charge.

The program is also confidential, ensuring that the only point of contact following the scheduling of the sessions is between the artist and the client. Because of the in-house nature of the program, it be- came necessary during the pandemic to put Art Heals on hiatus, but organizers resumed classes in late March and are enthusiastic about being able to once again provide a service they feel is essential and enriching for homebound individuals.

“I think it’s tremendously rewarding and satisfying to see people who are having a tough time use a different part of their brain that in some way helps you heal emotionally it’s a big deal mentally when you have a bad diagnosis,” said Joan Pilarczyk, director of the Artsplace. “Every case is unique. The nicest thing is that often great friendships develop out of the relationship with the teacher and the client because they’re bringing joy each time they walk in that house.”

The idea for the program came to Pilarczyk after watching a home improvement show and seeing how the interior designers helped a client remodel a room around a piece of artwork a family member had made.

See Art, A13