Friends House Art Studio offers a place to celebrate the art of community

by Judith Hruz

Editor

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on a January afternoon in the middle of winter – one of those great ironies for an event celebrating a warm and welcoming place to be.

Friends House Retirement Community in Sandy Spring celebrated the grand opening of its new Art Studio, which is designed to inspire and showcase the artistic talents of the community.

The bright, cheery room was packed with well-wishers.

And despite snow on the ground — visible outside the windows — the event was cozy and comforting.

Some residents of Friends House have gained a reputation for their artwork. They looked forward to having a dedicated space to work on projects.

But since the studio opened, artists – those known and unknown to each other – have been coming out of the woodwork, said Anne Derby Friends House director of Development.

The studio seems to have become the “if you built it they will come” corner of the retirement community.

Artists of all types and skills are welcome, and there is plenty of space for all.

But in the short time the studio has been open it seems to have become far more than a place for those with artistic talent to practice their skills.

It has become a place for resident who aspire to unleash their creativity – even those who never really thought they had any.

It has become a place for residents to gather, to enjoy each other’s company.

Yes, there are beautiful easels and lots of space for all sorts of artistic pursuits. There are art books and a screen for showing YouTube art classes. The residents even made paper one day.

And in the future, should the residents choose, there might be a woodworking shop.

We applaud Friends House for dedicating space for the creative arts.

But the most creative part of opening an Art Studio for the residents is the magic it seems to have inspired. There is nothing more charming than sharing time together.

We applaud Friends House for understanding the art of community.