Author: Alanna Paris

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Opinions

More Than A Burnout

I grew up in a small, rural, Western New York town. We had “drive your tractor to school” day, half of my high school had the last name Schmedier, and almost everyone had at least one memory with each person there. However, that did not mean it we were tragedy-proof or somehow hidden from the ills of our society. My senior year of high school, my community was mercilessly shaken when one of my classmates, who had history of mental health problems and intense substance abuse, committed suicide just before the last day of school. This was on Father’s Day: June 15 2014, to be exact.

a photo of the authorHis name was Jeff. He listened to metal, worked at a pizza shop, and was the youngest of three sons. He wasn’t just a nameless tragedy that made the list of obituaries in the local paper. He was a member of our community. In large part thanks to a lack of mental health education and a substance abuse epidemic, he ended his 17 years on Earth in a gut-wrenching manner and left behind a loving mother, two brothers, and a father, along with a community that loved him.

Jeff’s story is just one of many stories of substance abuse affecting small communities in painful ways. This tragedy is an example of the lack of mental health education in most small communities, which encourages people to self-treat with illegal substances. I could write a research paper on this subject, and maybe I will do that one day, but for now, I am going to talk about my suspicion.

Small-town America has many great qualities, but a stellar track record with mental health education is not one of them. I honestly do not remember even learning what depression was until I was 13 years old. At that point, I had already learned that it was okay if Mommy and Daddy drink a beer at the Bills game but if they drink five every night, we could talk to a counselor. At that point I had been given a poster explaining the difference between controlled narcotics and candies that looked like them. I had been taught what hard drugs were and how to identify them in case I came into contact with them. However, no one ever told me Mommy and Daddy might drink to deal with bigger issues in their lives. No one ever mentioned ways to deal with feelings that went beyond just “sad.” Instead, I learned a brief definition that was heavily biological at 13, when I was at risk of experiencing depression.

So, we have a lack of good mental health education but fantastic substance abuse education and, at least where I grew up, good resources for those experiencing addiction. However, people protest and fight it. We have dehumanized the addict as a bad person who decided that they wanted to have some fun and who now must learn. However, did we ever look at the humanity of the person? Did we ever ask ourselves about the root cause of the substance abuse? It is not because the kids are poorly educated or simply because of peer pressure. Depression, anxiety, and other common mental illnesses are a part of our humanity, our brokenness, and to ignore that is wrong. Jeff was not diagnosed with his mental illnesses until he was 17. At that point he was experimenting with multiple different drugs rather than taking his prescribed medication. The drugs had been there since he was 14. The mental health resources had not. If my peers had better education, we could have understood Jeff was more than a burnout. If we had a better grasp of the situation, communities would not have to suffer the loss of their children. I don’t know what we should do, but it’s clear there’s work to be done.

 

Alanna is a senior majoring in Spanish and intercultural studies.

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Arts Campus News

Seniors Steal The Show

Senior recital season is upon us, and there are several original and anticipated recitals happening in the next few weeks.  Already this week Autumn Stone gave her performance on the clarinet.  Coming up before the break are Marissa Perez on the oboe with Sarah Showers on the violin, as well as a vocal recital by Aniela Perez.

Many students outside of the music building are not entirely familiar with the reasoning behind or nature of the recital, aside from the fantastic student posters that accompany them.  For music majors, however, it is the single event they have been working toward during their four years at Houghton.

Ellenore Tarr, a senior music major at Houghton, explained the reasoning behind the showcase. “A senior recital exists to showcase the work we’ve completed over the last four years,” Tarr explains. “Music, like any discipline, involves gradual, consistent growth. This is a capstone project, graded by our music faculty, that aims to exhibit that growth.”

Tarr’s recital that will be a historical first for the Greatbatch School of Music. She will hold her recital alongside good friends and peers Hannah Jager and Brandon Mellerski, both music education majors with vocal concentrations. A group of three has never performed in one recital together, as the general rule is one or two students.

Tarr, Jager, and Mellerski have combined for a 90-minute recital that will consist of each of their 30-minute performances. This allows the group to collaborate on some pieces, work together choosing music, and just have fun with each other before graduation puts them on different paths in life. Among other aspects that make the recital so fun and unique, it will feature a piece composed by 2017 Houghton alumnus Hunter Gregory, along with some theatrical pieces and a Dean Jordan cameo.

Another original recital is that of resident harpist, Lillie Blakeslee. Blakeslee is a music education major known to everyone for her laughter, and to friends for her bright and energetic personality.  She started to play the harp in 7th grade. She had played the piano, but before long her parents kindly demanded that she play an instrument more intensively. Blakeslee’s history teacher played the Celtic harp, and she decided that she wanted to play the harp as well. Blakeslee took lessons with her history teacher, and later from a member of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, until she found her home at Houghton.

Blakeslee also has a decent amount of performance experience thanks to the rarity her skill.  She has performed at multiple Scottish festivals and weddings, especially those of her Houghton friends. Blakeslee is the first harpist in recent memory at Greatbatch, and her recital will feature both styles of harp, the Celtic or lever harp and the pedal harp. Blakeslee’s recital will also feature her immensely sought-after baking abilities, with such delicacies as peanut butter cookies with toffee bits, snickerdoodles, and cheesecake.

Both recitals featured will take place on April 11, with Blakeslee’s at 6:30 p.m. and the Tarr, Jager, Mellerski recital at 8 p.m. in the Center for the Arts Recital Hall.

There are many more recitals coming up, from a variety of instruments and voices.  Sole composition major, Jeffrey Hansen, will take the stage the Wednesday after break. April will also bring multiple graduate recitals, voice recitals from Angela Matson and Jenna Munro, and an instrumental recital from Cassie Harrison.  The talent of Houghton’s music program is too extensive to enumerate in a single article.  A more complete list is available on the school calendar.

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Campus Stories In Focus

A Look into the Lecture Series

The parents of former Houghton College president Daniel Chamberlain funded the Chamberlain Lecture Series. According to official language from the Office of Spiritual Life, the lectures are for the purpose of keeping the challenge of missions before the Houghton community.  For anyone interested in missions, this is a great opportunity to get practical advice from someone who is well acquainted with the missions field and has an academic background as well. The series is named in honor of the Chamberlain family.

a photo of the lecture hall filled with students
This year for the Chamberlain Lecture Series, Houghton welcomes Dr. Stanley John. He will speak in chapel on March 21 and will also be giving a lecture in Library 323 at 7:30 p.m.

Dr. Daniel Chamberlain, the fourth president of Houghton College and predecessor to current president Dr. Shirley Mullen, was president from 1976 to 2006 and is the namesake of our current Chamberlain Center. According to his biography on the Houghton Highlander athletics site, where he is a member of the Hall of Honor, he oversaw much of the updated infrastructure of Houghton College. His educational background was also extensive, including a Master’s Degree from California State University in Los Angeles and a Doctor of Education from the University of Southern California. Currently Chamberlain is on the Board of Directors for the Wesleyan Bible Conference Association, a preaching assistant at Brooksville Wesleyan Church in Florida, and a member of the board of World Hope International.

For this year’s Chamberlain Lectures, Houghton College welcomes Dr. Stanley John. Dr. John is the director and assistant professor of Missions and Intercultural Studies at Alliance Theological Seminary in Nyack, New York. Stanley received his master’s degree and doctorate at Asbury Theological Seminary. Stanley’s main focuses of study are migrant Christianity in the Arabian Gulf, global Pentecostalism, and World Christianity and transnational networks, according to his biography through Alliance. Stanley is a licensed minister in the Christian Missionary Alliance. He has traveled and spoken in multiple ministries including those in the Arabian Gulf, Canada, India, Kenya, Nepal, and the Ukraine and has spoken in multicultural churches domestically. He also is a member of the Board of Directors of India Gospel Ministries, a member of Lausanne Global Diaspora Network, and is a member of the United States Board of Directors of Langham Partnership. He is also the author of multiple books and journal articles you can find online. You can hear Dr. John speak in chapel  on March 21. He will also be giving a lecture in Library 323 at 7:30 p.m. of the same day.

Categories
International News

International // Italian Elections Hang In Balance

Italy’s recent election has caused a stir in the international community, mainly because it saw big winners among fringe groups such as the Five-Star Movement and the League. These populist parties surpassed their centre-left and center-right mainstream parties, according to the Washington Post.

The Five-Star movement is an anarchic party that encompasses a variety of Italians under the political spectrum, but seems to attract youths who are disillusioned with the overall system. The League is a far right group that is anti-E.U. and anti-immigration. Idealogical fuel for both Italian parties is found in fresh anger over the handling of political matters.

a photo of the authorThe BBC reports that, while the Five-Star Movement won a third of the vote, the League’s current alliance with Forza Italia, the mainstream centre-right party, could allow it to take control. The result could be a nightmarish mess for Italian politics.

With competing bids to run Italy and fierce coalition building, this election could have two possible results. One potential outcome is that coalitions will arise based on ideological similarities, meaning fringe groups would align with their mainstream counterparts.

The European Union fears that, if the fringe groups do align, it would be on the basis of frustration with the the mainstream parties.  The perception of ineffectiveness could then potentially extend to include the European Union as well, possibly leading Italy to follow the path of the U.K.’s Brexit. While no single party can rule alone, the fringe groups all brought forward concerns during the election that belonged to a standing trend in Western nations.  Other examples appear in the U.K. with Brexit, the U.S. with its most recent election, and France with the popularity and candidacy of Marine Le Pen.

The New York Times reports that the issues of migration, Italy’s struggling economy, and dissatisfaction with mainstream parties has led to unusual political choices and general  unrest.

With 600,000 migrants streaming into Italy, many are unhappy with current immigration policies.  An anti-migration mentality is starting to sweep Italy and has influenced the rise of fringe groups.

Additionally, an economic collapse in 2008 led to a slow rebound for Italy. Many are dissatisfied with the economy, especially the unemployment rate of 11 percent.

The seeming complacency of the mainstream parties complicates these issues for the public. Many Italian citizens point to institutional corruption and lack of change, inspiring them to follow extreme parties with extreme policies.

The situation leaves the nation, and the greater European community, with an uncertain future. Italy now has an unstable government with unhappy civilians. Meanwhile, the European Union is left with growing discontent in its southern regions. In addition to the issue of the hectic Italian election, The New York Times reports that there is already strife in the union, specifically in Germany and France, over disunity regarding the euro and immigration policies. 

There are no plans in progress for Italy to leave the European Union, but there still exists a very real threat of losing its goodwill towards the union.  Already there will be tension, no matter which combination of parties end up running Italy.

 

Alanna is a senior majoring in Spanish and intercultural studies.

Categories
Arts Campus Stories In Focus

Theater Review: A Mixed Bag

I walked into the recent production of Woyzeck not truly knowing what to expect. The play was experimental to begin with, and with an unfinished original script, a hodge-podge cast from all walks of life, and a clear emphasis on tech and atmosphere, this avant-garde project could go anywhere.

The audience was instructed to go on stage, and was told that the first performance was also the first complete run through. (I will admit that I was concerned, but also amused.) The arts are a moving, breathing thing, and this just spontaneity added a whole new layer to that element. The play started with a slow, disorienting, recording of typical ‘40s instrumental music that played on a vintage record player. The record player was carted off the stage and we began the real performance.

a photo of the cast
On February 16-18, Houghton students produced, designed and performed a new adaptation of Georg Büchner’s play, Woyzeck.

Its atmosphere started out dark, cold, and unsettling, and the performance never departed from that aesthetic. With fog machines between scenes, and disjointed dialogue filling the script, the audience never felt quite at ease with the characters’ actions. The play moved on to show how the main character, Woyzeck, was horribly dehumanized, dejected, and manipulated by different elements of society, whether it be by his doctor, the army, or his wife. The use of a kind of Orwellian doublespeak and lighting changes really hammered home the confusing orders and confounding, controlling world where Woyzeck lived.

With a wordy script, and a large emphasis on atmosphere, the audience was reeled into a surrealist nightmare. We were completely enraptured by each scene, which were independent vignettes of social commentary that added their own complexities to the plot. You never knew where the next scene would take you. One might hammer home the idea of toxic masculinity and how it affects people, another might show a character ignoring the nuances of the world, and another may place its emphasis on human beings’ tendency to force the world into impossible categories.

Very little of the performance was humanist. The theme of dehumanization through control and toxic social norms was rampant, leading to Woyzeck ultimately perverting control at the end because of the bad effects others’ control has caused him. In fact, in what is arguably the best scene in the play, the audience glimpsed true humanity in a Jewish shopkeeper, the first person to show true care to Woyzeck.

However, as much as I can regale you with my analysis of the performance, I should also tell you how it actually went. The script, while at times bewilderingly wordy and somewhat inefficient for the live stage, was solid. It certainly fit the avant-garde direction the performance was going for. As someone who has only encountered the surrealist art form in film, television, and music, I was unsure what to expect in a live performance. However, the atmosphere was delightfully bleak, and that each scene was framed to make the audience feel boxed in and trapped in the story, a manner of helping one empathize with Woyzeck.

The acting was frankly phenomenal, considering the lack of a formal runthrough and the dearth of acting practices. Although the production did not feel put together, the actors stepped up and did well. The leads were deeply convincing, and the smaller roles were executed with fantastic humor and pacing.

However, there was a downside to the experience. Sometimes scene changes were so long that they destroyed the performance’s momentum. When a scene had stretched on for a long time, the audience lost interest in this dialogue-heavy play. Frankly, this was the fault of no real runthrough and no opportunities for stagehands to practice the scene changes. A problem that could have been solved by such an easy fix was at points excruciating for the audience to watch, knowing full well that its consequences were avoidable.

The biggest downside, and most disappointing one, was the length. Most college students couldn’t stay through the entire performance because it was simply too long. With a run time of four hours, even the lightest schedule cannot handle that kind of commitment. This was sloppy organization at the highest level. Frankly, it detracted from the experience. Overall, the performance was enjoyable and thought-provoking, albeit unpolished. I would give Woyzeck 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Categories
Opinions

Blinded By Our Branding

As churchgoers, we are always encouraged to invite friends to church. We are urged to spread Christ in our workplaces, our schools, and our neighborhoods. It’s not a bad thing to pursue, and there is legitimate scriptural emphasis on making followers of Christ. However, I am deeply struggling with the exact nature of this command, and I am often disturbed by the way it plays out.

I think that in many cases, church promotion goes too far. I see a trend in today’s churches: we promote friendship Sundays, and have special youth group days where we bring school friends. At these events, we make pitches about why our church is great and welcoming. I don’t have an issue with bringing friends to church—I think it’s a perfectly acceptable thing to do—but to make it into a sort of promotion is sick. People are not number generators, nor are they tools to build a ministry.

a photo of the authorI am tired of big holiday productions, when churches know visitors will attend and use events as a hook to bring new people in. I am tired of over-the-top visitor centers that give out free T-shirts promoting the “brand” of the church. I am tired of testimonials about a church’s programs being pasted all over its websites in an effort to attract congregants. I know these examples seem, and in many ways are, extreme, but I have honestly witnessed way too many of them. I see the well-meaning nature behind these events, but I cringe at how fake and contrived they are. Frankly, non-Christians can easily see how cheesy and obvious these efforts are, which may end up having the opposite effect that these churches intend.

I see it happen in subtle ways everywhere. It’s the little pamphlet you make sure the visitor gets on their way out, or the free Bible, or the pen with the church’s name on it. It’s the little mental game we play, where we ask, “We’ll see you next week, right?” and the visitor sort of feels guilty if they don’t show up.  It’s our desperation not to ‘lose’ the person, which replaces genuinely love, care and friendship.

Think about it: it should not matter to us if this is the first and last time someone enters our church. We should treat them the same as if we knew that they would become a full-fledged member, even if they are just passing through. If we do “lose” that person, they may still become a Christian. Maybe they weren’t comfortable here, but will be at another church. We should meet people where they are at and work with them to grow their own faith, not to accept our denomination’s faith. We should stop trying to reel them in, and start treating them just like we treat everyone else. We should stop obsessing over people until we “got ‘em,” and we should stop losing interest in them if we gain their membership.

We need to actually invest in people. We should stop asking “Where have you been?” after a person’s long absence and start asking “How have you been?” We should start looking at humans as God’s work instead of as potential demographics that we use a formula to capture. Instead of using community events to benefit our numbers, we should use them to benefit the community. When we use daycares to get the desperate single mother into a seat on Sunday, we have stopped caring about the real work of Christ because we’ve clouded our mission with self-serving practices that we see as kingdom-building.

I hate to go on such a rant and not give a solution to my own disgruntlement. I suppose the biggest solution is to be relational in our everyday life. Be a person who anyone can approach. Be a person that thinks only “I bet this a really cool person I’d love to get to know” when a visitor does walk through the door. We need to stop thinking about getting people to join, and start just being hospitable without strings attached. God wants followers and disciples, not satellite sites and sales pitches.

 

Alanna is a senior majoring in Spanish and intercultural studies.

Categories
Campus News

Summer Showcase

On February 20, the VOCA center is offering an opportunity for students to interact with potential future employers and internship opportunities.

From 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., the Van Dyk lounge will host representatives from career fields in finance, mental health, engineering, ministry, equestrian activities, music industry, education, TV broadcasting, and many more. Students are invited to talk to these visitors and see where they may end up this summer or during the next few years. Along with the employers, a variety of summer camps will be represented for students who are interested in that type of ministry.

After the fair, there will be an informational session entitled “Are You Ready for Summer Camp?” These sessions, one at 3:15 p.m. and another at 4 p.m., will address issues that camp counselors often encounter, such as the  increasing prevalence of technology among children, dealing with students who are homesick, and ministering to childen with mental health struggles.

After the sessions, there will also be a panel discussion from 5:30 p.m. until 6:15 p.m. with camp directors, full time staff, and Houghton students who previously worked at summer camps. This event will end with networking and light refreshments from 8:00 p.m. until students clear out.

If students are interested they can contact Kim Pool at the VOCA center about the job and internship fair, and Laura Alexeichik about the “Are You Ready for Summer Camp?” events in the late afternoon and early evening.

Categories
Arts Campus News

Woyzeck: Playing With A Classic

Woyzcek, an interpretive play by Georg Büchner, will be coming to the Houghton Academy beginning February 8. The cast consists of about ten Houghton students and two students from Grove City College who have previously worked with the director. Audiences should expect an engaging play with modern themes that will frequently veer into the avant-garde.

Important to Woyzeck’s development, and to its reputation as a play that inspires experimentation, is that Büchner never lived to finish writing it. After dying tragically in the 1830s at the age of 23, the drafts to Woyzeck were left undisturbed until the late 19th century.  Productions didn’t start until the 20th century, and the unfinished play still remains open to interpretation. Since its discovery, it has been performed numerous times and is considered part of the modern canon.

Now it’s here at Houghton, interpreted by Ryan Stevenson, a Cleveland native who specializes in Shakespeare and film. Influenced by film heavyweights such as David Lynch and Stanley Kubrick, Stevenson finds Woyzeck, a fairly experimental and adaptable production, to be a pragmatic choice for Houghton’s fledgling theater program.

“I had a short time here, so I needed something realistic and naturalistic,” said Stevenson. He liked the small core cast and the episodic nature of the production, which makes it easy to rehearse with the cast and crew’s jam-packed schedules. Stevenson had a deeply inspired vision for the production and was incredibly excited to see what it could produce at Houghton.

The production provides opportunities for students to learn more about theater and to participate in an experimental performance. While preparation is exciting, and proceeding well so far, the production has not been without its difficulties. Shannan Johnson ‘21, an aspiring director herself, is assistant director for Woyzeck. “We have had setbacks, but today is productive,” she commented.  While they still need new members still, Johnson commented that this has been “an insightful journey and I’ve learned that great theater does not come from scratch.”

It was clear from watching him work that Stevenson is all in, and that everyone, whether a part of the cast or production team, was a crucial component of Stevenson’s vision. With photographer Eli French working on the production portfolio and a friend of Stevenson videotaping rehearsals as part of the final product, this play experimented with an entirely new style of theater that audiences rarely have an opportunity to experience.

The cast was excited about the play and grateful for the chance to work in an incredibly relaxed environment.  Stevenson was not the sort of director who barks orders from a theater seat but who worked from the  stage, nurturing a dedicated cast who shared his passionate vision of a “dramatic piece and immersive arts experience.” Cast members’ thoughts on their production mimicked his enthusiasm for its engaging qualities.  Claire Brower ‘18 described the play as “experimental, immersive, and surreal.” Emma Bruce ‘20 felt that the final product will be “cool and immersive.”

Performances of Woyzeck start this coming Thursday, January 8. and should run roughly 2-3 hours.  The cast and crew look forward to support from their peers in this year’s exciting theatrical experiment.

Categories
Campus News

Psych Programs Move Online

Houghton College online is proud to introduce three new online tracks for its Bachelor’s in psychology degree starting in January 2018, according to a press release distributed by the college. The three tracks offered will be clinical/counseling, social/developmental, and neuroscience.

According to head of the psychology department, Dr. Paul Young, the tracks have been in place since 2009, and the proposal to add them to the online course offering was an exciting proposition for his department. In fact, Young was quite pleased by his department’s commitment to finding ways to service more nontraditional students. At Houghton College Buffalo, the first cohort to receive a Bachelor’s degree in psychology is looking forward to graduation this semester.

While the tracks have long been a part of the on-campus program, they have now been retooled and given updated names that are more relevant to the modern professional world. In addition, the psycholinguistics track was dropped due to low enrollment numbers and dwindling interest. According to Young, “We’ve been changing curricular components since I’ve come, and students have been able to do more research rather than sit and listen to lectures.” The shift helps fulfill Houghton’s mission of hands-on learning and genuine experience for students at the undergraduate level.

The newest addition to the Houghton College psychology department, Dr. Anna Pettway, offered a fresh perspective as someone who has worked in many colleges affiliated with the CCCU (Council for Christian Colleges and Universities). Her unique position allowed her to view the department, and the college, with fresh eyes. She mentioned that Houghton offers a surprisingly large number of options for a school its size, which allows students to tailors their educational focus within the department. She was excited to work somewhere where students are only required to take a handful of core classes and are allowed a variety of electives and personalized options. According to Pettway, this is an advantage for both professors and students, since both are able to pursue academic material in which they have a vested interest.

Dr. Pettway said, “When you have more choice, you take more ownership of what you are learning.” She was pleased that students both on campus and online have that opportunity, and seemed confident that these new possibilities would broaden and refine education at Houghton. She was also impressed with the college’s desire for students to personalize their degree and education. As someone who has taught at multiple institutions, Pettway appreciated the opportunity to teach at a institution where students can create majors through interdisciplinary studies, or make their more generalized major more suitable for their needs through concentrations and diverse electives. Overall, she saw the proposed addition of these three tracks to be an advantage to the college, its professors, and its students.

Houghton College psychology department graduates have pursued careers such as drug rehabilitation counselor, chiropractic doctor, nurse, and school psychologist and have attended such graduate institutions as Colorado State University, Ohio State University, and Northeastern University. With the addition of new opportunities to the online program Houghton hopes to see even more successful results from the department.

 

Categories
Stories In Focus

Walking Down Main Street

Located on the idyllic Main Street of Wellsville, the Wellsville Community Arts Center is a fun little stop for anyone interested in local artisans, coffee, and free Wi-Fi over lunch. The center boasts an art gallery, a pottery studio, The Little Gem (a store selling products from local artisans), along with a full out café that serves a variety of lunch items from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

I happened to stumble upon it by accident while perusing Wellsville with a group of friends. My experience was fantastic, as I am a sucker for public funding of the arts and coffee. We walked into the Little Gem and browsed kinds of things artists from all over Allegany County were producing and selling.

As we stepped into the connecting doorway we became excited as we realized we were in a café. We ordered coffee before perusing the pottery for sale on the cabinet in the main dining area. The barista was incredibly friendly, and told us to check the downstairs. We all clambered down to find that there was a large pottery studio with moody, stone walls and at least a dozen wheels. We found out that lessons are available so community members could be exposed to the arts.

We went back upstairs to get a table and were told that, if we wanted, we could play the piano in the corner. I decided to poke around the spacious dining room and see everything there. There was a corner with old school chairs and a bookshelf with a collection of books and magazines to borrow while sipping on some coffee. As well, there were a variety of board games for anyone interested in hanging out for a little while at the center. I also found posters for events hosted at the center, including open mic nights, trivia, and karaoke, along with the occasional live music.

My friends and I sat down and realized that there was a full lunch menu as well, which included everything from breakfast burritos and salad, to sandwiches and quesadillas. We each ordered a meal, and were delighted to find that it even accommodated for a friend of ours who was gluten intolerant.

The atmosphere was great, the service was fantastic and the décor was a perfect showcase of local artwork. All of us were stunned we hadn’t heard about this place in all of our four years of college, and definitely wanted to come again after such a great experience.

The Center is open Mondays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hours change based on special events or when certain art classes are in session.

Every Wednesday night the Center hosts an Open Mic Night from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Check their website or Facebook page for any upcoming events or times for classes held at the center.