Rachel Petrie, Margot Olsen, Jessica Gunzburger, and Irrigate Present The Creation Station, 9/22

On Saturday, September 22nd from 12pm-4pm, Iris Park will host The Creation Station, a community gathering in which anyone and everyone is encouraged to create all kinds of art in a positive, nurturing, and educational setting. Experienced artists will be on hand at fully stocked art stations to help guide attendees through a multitude of art forms such as: mosaics, music, knitting, painting, drawing, performance, storytelling, beading, poetry, and puppetry, just to name several possibilities. Those who play musical instruments are encouraged to bring them to The Creation Station to take part in jam sessions with other patrons. Even if they’re not interested in making art, visitors are welcome to come with friends and family and to pack a lunch to enjoy the park with others. The purpose of The Creation Station is to foster community through the creation of art, to remind us that we are all creative beings, and that art is for everyone, not just the “professionals.”

“I feel that as children we are all encouraged to try our hand at many different artistic experiences and we do so without giving much thought to the possibility that we might fail at our attempt,” says Rachel Petrie, creator of The Creation Station, “But then, somewhere along the way, we have that spark of creativity and belief in ourselves beaten out of us as we become adults. And it is at this time that we decide it would be a much better idea to just leave any creativity and artistic endeavors to the ‘professional artists’. This event will be a great chance for people to rediscover the creative artist within themselves and either reconnect with an artistic love from their past, or try something new for the very first time.”

At the end of the event participants will also be given a choice of whether they would like to take their newly created art home with them immediately, or if they would like it displayed along the Central Corridor for a short period of time to commemorate The Creation Station event.

The Creation Station will be presented by Rachel Petrie, Margot Olsen, and Jessica Gunzburger and is supported by Irrigate, an artist-led, creative placemaking initiative spanning the six miles of the Central Corridor Light Rail line in Saint Paul during the years of its construction. Artists collaborate with businesses, organizations and community groups to change the landscape of the corridor with color, art, surprise, creativity and fun. Irrigate is a partnership between the City of Saint Paul, Twin Cities Local Initiatives Support Corporation and Springboard for the Arts. More information at http://www.irrigtearts.org/.