From the Press

Immaculate daydreams often consist of lives we wish he had, from superhero powers to a permanent lavish vacation with not a care in the world.  But for local artist Rebecca Pashia creating an interactive, community art space for south Johnson County is a dream come true.  ARTichokes, a three-dimensional art space located in the new Mission Farms development, gives people of all ages a place where they can create art, see art and experience art in all forms.

"In this area, there are so many people that do want to try an art class, but there wasn't any place you could actively create and learn," Pashia says.

Pashia and her friend Megan Sutherland shared the dream of creating a unique art venue for south Johnson County.  After adding another local artist, Jackie Warren, to the mix, the three women created ARTichokes, a functional art space including unique artistic classes and an original fine art gallery with varied mediums and styles.

ARTichokes offers 16 different creative classes throughout rotating five-week schedules.  Session 6 is set to open Sept. 10 with classes continuing until Oct. 12.  Each session is unique, providing a learning experience for people of all ages and of all artistic levels.  From scrapbooking to interior design, pastel painting to abstract art and song writing to casual choir, classes at ARTichokes truly offer something for everyone.  Each class fee ranges from $55 to $145, which includes all art supplies, space and instruction.

The gallery at ARTichokes features 12 artists' work including two resident artists – Pashia and Warren themselves.  Warren said the space is so versatile because each display is on wheels, providing that the gallery could be used in many different ways.  ARTichokes opened its newest gallery on Aug. 30, bringing in hundreds of people to marvel at the new art displays.  This gallery will be available for viewing and purchasing through October.

ARTichokes is also unique in technology.  Every art piece in the gallery in inventoried online, and each artist is kept up-to-date with purchases through the Web site.  Pashia said this is one of the first studios in the area to include this feature for every artist's work.  Another feature unique to ARTichokes is their "open studio" time for artists.  Usually held on Saturday afternoons, this time is for artists who need extra space or company to come in and work on their creations for a $5 supply fee.

"It's a working art studio," Pashia says.  "Every week, we paint openly with each other.  That, to me, is when it really feels like ARTichokes."

The space is also open for private parties, events and for a team-building exercise entitled Group Painting.  Groups of any size, whether it be for a baby shower, a company gathering or a family-bonding activity, are welcome to create a large painting as a group, allowing each person to add his or her creative flare to the art piece.  With the individual efforts, one large beautiful painting leaves the studio, ready to hang in the office or at home.

With so many events, classes and unique fine art, ARTichokes offers residents of south Johnson County a place for learning and creativity at the tips of their own fingers.

DANAE DESHAZER - 435 South Magazine