CHARLOTTE, N.C. — While there are many things that seem to get easier as we age, making new friends as adults doesn’t often fall into that category. It can be quite daunting. Some experts even liken it to dating.
Expanding our social circles and putting effort into meeting new people has big benefits, and Arts+ has a plethora of adult learning opportunities starting next week that are perfectly suited to ignite a creative spark, and a friendship or two as well.
A recent Arts+ study backs that up: More than 60 percent of those surveyed said they hope to gain a sense of community from engaging with art and music. In a city that sees more than 100 newcomers moving in each day, the potential unifying power of the arts is unmatched.
There is a direct relationship between adult friendships and wellbeing. Adult bonding is vital to our physical and mental health and our longevity, according to the report published in Frontiers in Psychology. Socializing lowers depression, anxiety and stress, while boosting contentment and overall life satisfaction.
Six-week class sessions start next week – Oct. 16 – covering photography, comic creation and jewelry making. It’s $250 per class, and the series runs weekly for two hours each session. Full course descriptions can be found on the website, artsplus.org.
Arts+ is also launching the Gestalt! Open Studio on Oct. 26: The word gestalt is defined as something that is made of many parts and yet is somehow more than or different from the combination of its parts. In this two-hour session, participants will work together to create individual pieces that will assemble into a large artwork revealing a final surprise image. Works will be created with paint, oil pastel, or collage. The final artwork will be dispersed to be enjoyed as separate abstract works for each participant. The Oct. 26 session will have a theme of Spooky Surprise; the Feb. 9 session will be themed around a Love Note. $40 per participant, and those (21+) are permitted to bring in their own wine or beer with proper identification.
All classes will be held at the Arts+ Uptown studio (inside the Ascend Nonprofit Solutions building), 601 E 5th St., Charlotte. More information and registration is available for all group activities via the Arts+ website, artsplus.org/programs/adult-group-classes-and-workshops.
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