Inspire Arts

08/26/2026

Our monthly BIAC support group fosters connection and creativity. This month we gathered to create artist books. Artist books can be a great way to tell a story, communicate an emotion, or share about your interests. Beautiful art, ideas, and smiles were shared. 🎨🌟🎶🙌

To learn more about our support groups in both Avon and Bethany, Connecticut please email Rebecca Maloney at [email protected]

[ID: 1.)AM, LP, and LH smiling and sitting together at a table with their art supplies, 2.) colorful pages from an artist book with paint and collage, 3.) page from an artist book with drawings and a colorful sun, 4.) JM, GP, Melissa, and OK sitting at a large table focused on artmaking, the table has many art supplies to choose from, 5.) artists sitting together making artwork some are laughing and talking.]

08/24/2026

WS just finished building and installing a beautiful platform shelter for nesting birds. We look forward to seeing what birds this will attract. Great work!

[ID: WS standing outdoors at the edge of a tree line. He smiles proudly and points to the platform shelter made from wood which is attached to a stand in the ground.]

08/21/2026

Music can spark ideas and promote emotional well-being. Since we have been listening to vinyl for a full year now we made a new place for LP’s incredible Jimi Hendrix art and our record player. This up-styled nook in our art studio will surely keep us creatively inspired. 🎶

[ID: An alcove with a bright blue wall and a record player cabinet. A large painting of Jimi Hendrix silhouette with a yellow and red background is displayed on the wall. There are records and art books stored in the cabinet with a record and record player on top.]

08/18/2026

GMK, IA studio artist, enjoys adding beautifully intricate details to her newest piece. Every flower is unique and different! 🌼🌹🌺🌸🌻

[ID: GMK sitting at her studio desk looking up and smiling, as she works on her artwork, with colorful threads and beads in the shape of flowers and a profile of a face.]

08/13/2026

This week at Inspire Arts we watched, “The Creative Brain” a film hosted by neuroscientist Dr. David Eagleman, which explores the process of creativity in the human brain. We got to hear from a wide range of innovators from musicians, to chefs, to inventors, writers, and scientists.

We learned three factors in keeping the creative spark alive:

- Try something new
- Push boundaries
- Do not be afraid to fail

This was a great reminder that creativity is within all of us and we can harness our imagination to generate new ideas.

[ID: A colorful image of a brain against a white background, at the bottom are the words, The Creative Brain.]

08/11/2026

RB was inspired by our sunflower garden and created this beautiful drawing. 🌻

[ID: a vibrant abstract drawing of a green back ground and orange, yellow, and pink sunflowers.]

08/07/2026

Exciting!!

We're excited to announce something NEW for this year's Walk for Thought—a T-shirt Design Contest!

We're looking for a one-color line drawing that captures the spirit of Walk for Thought. Whether you're an experienced artist or just love to create, everyone is welcome to enter!

DESIGN REQUIREMENTS:
• One-color line drawing
• Original artwork
• Design should reflect the mission and spirit of Walk for Thought

Submission Deadline: August 31
Send your design to [email protected]

The winning design will be featured on this year's official Walk for Thought T-shirts!

Start sketching—we can't wait to see your creativity!

08/06/2026

A few visitors appreciating the garden created by Inspire Arts participants. ☺️

[ID: Four photos of creatures in the garden, a butterfly, a moth, a green caterpillar, and a turtle.]

08/05/2026

We often like to try shifting our materials to discover what is possible in art. This week we used bubbles and watercolor paints to learn a new method for texture making. Participants found it playful and relaxing at the same time.

07/29/2026

Artists from the Bethany art studio completed a collaborative fairy village using only recycled materials. Everything from the styrofoam to create cobblestone roads to an actual flashlight powering the lighthouse. This project encouraged imagination and creative problem solving to reach a shared goal. We love all the intentional details, wow!

[ID: Large sculpture of a fairy village with a tree, fairy homes that include furniture, cobblestone road, a lighthouse, and an ocean with several boats.]