For All Ages and Stages
Explore what we offer
Our daytime homeschool, unschool and afterschool enrichment programs strive to engage kids in making real world connections. We offer an integrated philosophy focused on encouraging students to explore their creativity through movement, mixed-media expression and finding inspiration in the natural environment.
Children have the opportunity to spend time caring for, learning about and cuddling chickens, reading to a rabbit, maintaining the worm bin, hands on gardening, art experiences that incorporate theatricality, active play and tactile art as well as activities such as puzzles and games. Most importantly, children will be invited to express their interests and have support finding ways to follow them.
Art is for Everyone! We offer on-site workshops for all ages and stages:
T.I.M.E. (Tactile Interactive Meaningful Engagement) for Infants, Wobblers and Toddlers and their parent or caregiver, encouraging understanding and connection (previously named Baby Moves)
Preschooler Explorations and Parents' Tea
Hands on workshops for Homeschool, Unschool & Afterschool Groups
Teen Teaching Co-op (Teens teaching Teens their skills)
Creative Endeavors for Adults
Have supplies will travel. Growing arts has been bringing its movement events to schools, libraries and community spaces since 2001.
Our unique, developmentally appropriate movement programs:
T.I.M.E. (infants - toddlers)
Stretch, Dance, Play! (2-5)
Yoga Go! (5-12)
I Dance (5-12)
Art workshops are geared towards teens and adults:
Mixed Media Collage
3-Dimensional Paper Arts
Miniature Plants
Teacup Gardens
Star Book Ornaments
About the Space
At the end of a curving pathway, under the shade of a towering pin oak, sits Growing Arts Studio. Previously a garage, we are making upgrades as we are able to.
Opportunities also include:
Tours, Talks and Workshops in the cottage garden and food forest
Garden Spa Days
Birthday Parties
Visiting Artists and Educators
We are fundraising for upgrades such as replacing the garage door with glass doors to let in natural light
Visit our gofundme page: Help Growing Arts Set Down Roots to see photos of the space
Since 2001, Iris Nason, the founder and principal educator of Growing Arts, has been bringing creative movement and process oriented art to schools, community spaces and libraries as she moved from place to place in Massachusetts, Colorado and Oregon.
In 2019 Iris Nason and Isaac Fellows, a Youth Services Librarian at Happy Valley Library, bought their first home and the possibilities of setting down roots became an actuality. Having her community work be uprooted by the pandemic, Iris spent her sudden free time completely transforming her lawn and driveway into a lush and calming oasis. Her garden was featured in the 2024 Sellwood Garden Tour, a fundraising event for Sellwood Middle School.
How we came to be
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