Upstairs in a small, cozy studio above Rexburg City Hall a cluster of people gather around a long table eating muffins and chatting. Crisp watercolor paper and paints are set neatly in front of each person. Lively jazz music plays in the background.
Every Tuesday and Thursday, Twyla Mahelona, Rexburg's Art Specialist, hosts art classes for children and adults of all skill levels.
"They're wildly fun classes," Mahelona says, "we are just chatting and eating muffins, and food, and cookies, and painting, and exploring, and it's not so much about sparking art skill as it is sparking creative moment."
Sixteen years ago, a city art class inspired Mahelona to make the dramatic shift from a medical assisting major to art major. After she made a “pros and cons” list, the tiebreaker for Mahelona was that contemplating a career in art sparked joy.
Mahelona's experience in that art class has now come full circle as it has provided a safe space for people of all skill levels and walks of life to spark the joy she felt 16 years ago in that city art class.
"That's the first thing," Mahelona says, "it's just helping people recognize they have a safe place to explore something, that I believe everybody needs, a moment of creative self-expression."
Mahelona explains that a safe space means you have room to take risks.
"When we have a brave moment, our painting might not turn out quite as good,” she says. “Cause we tried something new, and it was the first time. So instead of being afraid they are going to mess up their art they are bravely exploring a new technique."
To join one of Mahelona's art classes visit rexburgarts.org/art-classes.