The Davis Arts Center provides free community art resources

With the motto “art is for everyone,” the organization aims to make art accessible regardless of age, identity or financial situation

By HELENA BIRBROWER — arts@theaggie.org 

The Davis Arts Center, located at 1919 F Street in Davis, provides a vast array of programming from recurring classes and structured workshops to free open studio events.

Making art more accessible to the local community, the center hosts three free open studio events: Art Cafe, which occurs biweekly, and Family Open Studio and Teen Art Club, which are hosted weekly. Both Art Cafe and Family Open Studio are open to college-aged individuals.

With the support of executive director Sam King, Program Manager Roshelle Carlson originally introduced the idea for these free programs. 

“We want our programs to be accessible to anyone in Davis, or in Yolo County, or even outside Yolo County,” Carlson said. 

The studio where these programs are held is filled to the brim with different types of art materials. There is a “cardboard corner,” a “paper station” and boxes filled with supplies ranging from pom-pom makers to corks to origami paper. 

Carlson noted that art materials can be very expensive. However, with the assistance of supplies donations from community members, the Davis Arts Center is working towards eliminating that cost barrier. 

“People bring in all sorts of really cool things,” Carlson said. “It’s amazing what you can do with supplies that you never even thought of as art supplies.”

Davis Arts Center also prioritizes inclusive supplies for individuals with physical disabilities.

“Our scissors, [for example], are disability inclusive,” Carlson said. “Also, our studio isn’t just ADA compliant — all of the furniture can [also] be moved around.”

However, finances and physical disabilities aren’t the only things that might obstruct accessibility. Carlson explained that the Davis Arts Center also aims to promote cultural accessibility.

“Right now we have an art show up that was a collaboration with YoloSol and Native American culture-bearer and Wintun/Maidu woman named Diana Almendariz,” Carlson said. 

Almendariz’s artwork is displayed in Davis Arts Center’s atrium, which Carlson noted is part of an effort to collaborate with cultural organizations and local artists.

“We are really trying to emphasize that anyone and everyone in Davis [has a place here],” Carlson said. 

Almendariz’s exhibition is titled “Good Fire, Living Water: The Gifts of a Marsh Economy,” and will be showing at Davis Arts Center until Nov. 13.

Scout, a UC Davis linguistics alum and teaching artist and front desk staffer at the Davis Arts Center, also emphasized the importance of inclusivity and accessibility. 

“Art isn’t always the most accessible thing, especially if you didn’t grow up taking art classes,” they said. “I think it’s great that the Arts Center is a place where all ages can come and try something new, learn something and make connections.”

At one Art Cafe event in early October, participants engaged in all different types of artistic expression. One individual designed bookmarks and decorated a notebook. Others experimented with paint, while some even made pieces for their Halloween costumes.

Stephanie Zhou, a second-year environmental science and management major at UC Davis, made a 3D cardboard model of a dagger from a video game. 

“This is a great way for people to de-stress and find different creative ways to express themselves,” Zhou said. “There are a lot of mediums people might not know to use otherwise. Here you can experiment without drawbacks.”

The experimentation that happens there isn't limited to medium. Many participants also use the open studios to experiment and put themselves out there socially. Carlson shared that, one year, a student who struggled to connect socially with their peers attended the Teen Art Club open studio, which eventually became a positive community space for them.

“They showed up for one or two sessions, but they stopped coming because they have social anxiety,” Carlson said. “However, they came back a year later to try it again. The second time, I got to see them blossom and come out of their shell.”

According to Carlson, the student began to form strong friendships with their fellow teens, and eventually the group began to spend time together outside of Teen Art Club.

“That’s all I can ask for,” Carlson said. “These programs are here to connect people and be a social activity as well as a solitary, personal practice.”

Those interested in attending a program at the Davis Arts Center can find more information on their website, davisartscenter.org. From there, you can subscribe to their newsletter and find their social media pages. 

For those who do not consider themselves artistic, Carlson offered a final reassurance. 

“Even if this is your first time [at Davis Arts Center], even if this is your first time trying this form of art, you’re an artist,” Carlson said. “All you have to do is show up.” 

Written by: Helena Birbrower — arts@theaggie.org