Cameron Swallow takes a break with her daughter Sophie and enjoys the festivities at the opening of the Cornelius Arts Center. (Photo provided by Cornelius Parks and Recreation Department.)

As two non-profit arts groups settle into the new Cornelius Arts Center, the move has meant a migration of arts supporters from Davidson. The Creative Art Exchange celebrated its Grand Opening in the new Cornelius center on Friday, April 20. There to revel were Marilyn Charlat Dix, Rea Wright, DeWitt Crosby, Karen Fesperman, Jennifer Ahlers and Pat Scruggs — all of Davidson and all board members for the exchange.

Also on tap for the opening celebration was Davidson resident Cameron Swallow performing with her band Davidson Express, which includes David Connor and John Wertheimer of Davidson. Cameron’s daughters, Ruth and Sophie, enjoyed the portion of the arts center devoted to children — the colorful new studio of The Children’s Arts Project.

“When the music stops, that means it’s time to go home,” Ruth told instructor Betsy Flagler of Davidson. But when her mother Cameron stopped singing, Ruth wasn’t eager to leave the new studio.

In addition to Ms. Flagler, three other arts instructors for The Children’s Arts Project live in Davidson — lead teacher Susan Montague, Taisia Mills and Sharon Connor. All four teachers say they couldn’t be happier with their old-turned-new, inspiring studio.

“This is the culmination of a very big dream,” founder Melissa Ohlman-Roberge of Huntersville said of the new studio during a ceremony honoring her decade of work to build The Children’s Arts Project. Ms. Ohlman-Roberge recently resigned as the head of the organization to join Davidson Community Players as its first resident director. She also serves as artistic director of The Connie Company, the Davidson Community Players children’s theater, and directs the after-school enrichment program at Children’s Community School, a charter school on Griffith Street.

Among visitors enjoying the celebration of the center opening was Cindy Rice, executive director of Davidson Community Players, whose baby granddaughter created her first piece of artwork in The Children’s Arts Project studio, her tiny footprints in blue.

WHY CORNELIUS?

A bit of history: When the Creative Art Exchange faced the need to move last fall, the town of Cornelius presented an opportunity for the group to move just 1.5 miles from its Davidson location at the Ice House to a much more affordable, larger space.

At the same time, The Children’s Arts Project was looking for new studio space to hold its classes for kids as young as 18 months old up to age 12.

Within a few months, the town established the Cornelius Arts Center in the 90-year-old Oak Street Mill building, just behind the Cornelius Police Department and the new Eckerd’s drug store.

“The center has eclectic charm — original floors, plank walls and windows that were boarded up for decades are now open to shower in natural light,” Ms. Fesperman says. “The Creative Art Exchange wants to make art within reach for everyone in the Lake Norman region. We want to offer opportunities for you to explore art in your own backyard, rather than driving far and wide.”

Fesperman describes the Creative Art Exchange as an emerging community arts organization that offers classes, art exhibits, lectures and other opportunities for teenagers and adults to explore their creativity. And its roommate in the building, The Children’s Arts Project, is a group founded nearly 10 years ago that gives kids a chance to explore the process of art with minimal parent or teacher direction.

Time your classes right, and mom and dad can peruse the art gallery while their kids take a painting class. Or dad can practice throwing pottery while his daughter takes a pottery class in the children’s studio. There’s art within reach for everyone — just down the road.

DIRECTOR DEPARTS

One bit of news: The Creative Art Exchange is looking for a new director. Former Director Diane Ruggiero, interviewed by Davidson News & Notes in March, has resigned after ushering the center into its new home in the Oak Mill Village in Cornelius. She will pursue consulting work. Nancy Kreidler is interim director.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information on classes, summer camps and events, including some new ventures, contact the Children’s Arts Project at www.childrensartsproject.org, or 704-896-8823, or Creative Art Exchange at www.creativeartexchange.org or 704-892-7323.

– By BETSY FLAGLER

Betsy Flagler of Davidson is a writer and instructor at the Children’s Arts Project.

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