Do-it-yourself studio puts fun back into art

Expression seems to be an innate part of the human psyche. Give kids crayons, and even at an early age they'll find unique ways to use them.

It's that whole two-sides-of-the-brain thing, according to art instructor Jared Wiberg, but sometimes we train the creativity out of ourselves. "You don't have to tell a kid to have fun with art. But as we get older, we sometimes think we have to be incredible craftsmen."

For people who are craftsmen, there are venues and opportunities, but for those who just want to have fun, express themselves in various ways and dabble around in art, the options are more limited.

That's the premise behind Da Vinci's, a new do-it-yourself art studio in West Valley City. People can come to the studio and find all the tools and equipment they need for almost any project, whether it's throwing pottery, painting, print-making, sculpture, doing woodwork or more, said Andre Templeman, the man behind Da Vinci's. Art instructors are on hand to teach those who are just starting out or to provide suggestions or other help to those who are more experienced.

"The idea is for this to be a studio away from home," said Templeman, "where people can work on art projects less expensively than they could at home — and without all the cleanup." Patrons pay an admission charge of $6 before 5 p.m. and $8 after, and then pay for any project materials they use.

"It's a great way to bring art back to the masses," said Kim Baack, another art instructor at Da Vinci's. "Art is getting taken out of schools more and more. This puts it back in the community. This is a place where they can learn, where they can experience art."

Since coming to Da Vinci's, Baack has worked with people who are quite advanced, as well as those with very little experience. The interesting thing, she said, "is that they teach me things. I learn from everyone."

And the people seem to have a good time, said Wiberg. "They come in and say they can only stay for an hour and end up staying all night."

Wiberg knows what art can do both for you — and to you. He graduated in art from Utah State University but ended up going into the Peace Corps, teaching English in Poland and then started a courier and shipping business. But "art kept chasing me down. I decided life is short, I should do it." By then he was married and had children, so it was a sacrifice for him to go back to school, he said. But he got his MFA from USU, and then spent some time in China teaching art. He's excited to be working now at Da Vinci's — so much so that he drives from Logan every day.