Craft Classes Pave Way for Arts Center

Kathy Davis has a studio where her mass-marketed American Greetings cards are sketched, embellished and finalized. She's also got adjacent gallery space where artists in her employ–and in the local community–display their works of art.

Now, Davis, a national artist whose roots remain local, has created a space for beginning, intermediate and advanced artists to craft their own concoctions.

The weekly Thursday evening classes are taught by Ellen Jarvis, a local crafts enthusiast who's been making her own cards for four or five years. While shopping for products for another class she was teaching, Jarvis said she stumbled upon Davis' card-making papers, bought them and wrote about them on her blog. 

"Kathy saw it there and commented on my blog," Jarvis said. 

From there, the classes–which are held at Davis' newly opened retail store–were born.  

Covering card-making, mini scrapbooking and more, Jarvis said she tailors the instruction to individual's needs. 

"I truly believe everyone is creative," Jarvis said. 

Enrollment in the classes is kept small, in the 10 student range, she said. 

Bill Lessa, Kathy Davis Studios' vice president of administration, said the classes are one of the first steps in getting an art center "up and running." Following the classes this month, Lessa said he's planning to expand offerings in the fall and "cluster money to open our arts center."

For now, the art center is in place in Davis' gallery and retail shop.

Eventually, Lessa, Hatboro-Horsham School District's former superintendent and a long-time artist, said the hope is to obtain nonprofit status for the "Scatter Joy Center for the Arts."

"We're not there yet," Lessa said. "We're taking small steps in every direction."

If you go
For more information or to register for Thursday evening classes offered at the Kathy Davis Gallery, 303 Horsham Road, Suite F, click here to see the seminar planned for Thursday; here for the Aug. 22 event; or here for the event on Aug. 29. The cost of each seminar is $25 plus a $10 lab fee and materials cost.