All parents want their children to experience the joy of unbridled artistic expression, but not every parent can deal with loose glitter and paint in their home. Meet West Seattle Art Nest — a space where kids can create to their heart’s content and parents can leave the mess behind.
Located in the Junction, this cozy, well-stocked studio contains a series of rooms where kids can dig into whatever inspires them. There’s a room dedicated to beads, yarn, and fabric crafts; plain T-shirts for kids to decorate are available for a small fee. A playroom with toys keeps toddlers entertained, and there’s a room full of recycled materials for creating robots, dioramas or whatever else a kid can dream up.
An open area lets kids work with traditional art supplies like paints, crayons, glitter, construction paper, canvases for purchase, and more. And no one can resist the paint splatter room, a space where you’re free to let loose on walls and ceiling — already thickly coated in a rainbow of paint smears and splatters. Art facilitators can assist as needed, and of course there are centrally located sinks to clean little hands.
West Seattle Art Nest owner Karen Crane loved taking her young kids to a similar art space that closed in 2014. Knowing how much her family and many other local families missed it, she wanted to find a way to bring an open studio space back to the neighborhood. Last March, they opened their doors to an eager community of young artists.
Community building is an important idea for Karen, who sees West Seattle Art Nest as a hub for artistic fun, togetherness and giving back. They have hosted fundraisers and Lunches with Love events, and enjoy participating in community events like parades and street fairs.
Good to Know
4138 California Ave. SW, Seattle.
(206) 466-6028, westseattleartnest.com
Cost:$10 per hour open studio time for ages 5 and younger (non-participating adults and kids are free); $15 per hour for ages 6 and older.
Hours: Mon, Tues, Weds 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Thurs, Fri 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat, Sun open for birthdays & events only.
Camps: One week and one-day art camps are available during school breaks.
Birthday parties available.