Fulfilling a creative need

In 2005, Wild at Art was located in Eastside Marketplace. Now, 14 years later, the business is still running — just in a different location.

When it first opened, owner Joan Hofmann had just moved to Moscow with her three kids.

Since Hofmann’s children weren’t involved in athletics, she said she was running out of things to entertain them during the winter months. In her former city, she said there were many pottery shops — something Moscow lacked. So, she decided to open one herself.

After seven years of business, Hofmann sold Wild at Art to Mark McLaughlin and Jeffrey Dodge, who ended up selling the business after a few years to spend time with their children.

Hoffman said she always viewed the business as “her baby,” deciding to buy it back in May 2017 at its new location on Third Street.

Her husband, Donald Stanziano, runs the shop most days as his full-time job.

“The business I had been working for was sold and moved to Tennessee, and I was looking for the next thing — and now, I’m here. This is Joan’s second go-around, and this is my first,” said Stanziano.

Wild at Art is a small studio space where people are able to paint whatever they like during business’s regular hours. However, many events are often held after these hours, as well.

“I think there’s a niche we fill. Routinely we hear people who come in and paint pottery and tell us how relaxing it is. We offer a creative environment to the community that fulfills a need,” said Stanziano.

Customers agree that this place fulfills their creative needs.

“I think it’s a great space for people to allow their creativity to take over and allow them to really have the freedom to create whatever they want,” said Holly Kozlowski, a University of Idaho student and Wild at Art customer.

The most popular project is pottery painting, Hoffman said. The studio offers kiln firing, where customers can get their projects fired and returned with them within a week.

Wild at Art also offers many specialized events that are ticket only. Tickets are sold online through the business’s Facebook page or website. People can rent out the space for private parties, such as employee team building, children’s birthdays and more.

A resident of the Palouse taps a ceramic piece at an event at Wild@Art, Saturday.

“We have about two or three events a month. On Valentines Day, we had 43 people who were mostly couple that painted split canvases,” said Stanziano.

The business not only offers events in store, but they collaborate with other businesses such as Grazing Hills Alpaca Ranch, Etsi Bravo, Merry Cellars Winery, Trailside Taproom, Moscow Brewing Company, among many others. Through these collaborations, they have created annual events.

“Grazing Hills Alpaca Ranch in Viola reached out to us last summer and asked to do a Wine and Canvas event at the ranch. We ended up having a blast and the owners agreed to do it on an annual basis. We like to ‘take the show on the road,’ if you will and get the name and brand out there so more people understand what we do better,” said Stanziano.

Although the business is mainly ran by Stanziano and Hoffman, when they have special events, their children or friends help out. Their hope is to expand the number of events offered while keeping the business limited to one location.

“We would like to expand in the sense that instead of hosting three birthday parties a month, we host seven. We want to expand in that respect but we’re not looking at opening another studio again,” said Stanziano.

Many customers support Wild at Art because of how unique it is, as well as the freedom it gives them within each project they make.

“I just think it’s super cool that everyone has different ideas in their head and that they’re able to create so many different aspects of the same project. I guess it’s cool to see the variability throughout the groups of friends I’ve gone with,” said Kozlowski.

Wild at Art is currently sold out for all events until Sunday’s Paint and Plant, where customers can paint pots for succulent plants provided by the University of Idaho Plant and Soil Science Club. The full list of events can be found on their Facebook page and official website.

Wild at Art is also hosting four events for UI Moms’ Weekend, starting April 5 with Wine and Canvas event.

Customers can come in and pick out a canvas while having wine or nonalcoholic beverages and snacks, painting whatever inspires them. The event starts at 8 p.m. with doors opening at 7:30 p.m.

Residents of the Palouse paint ceramics at an event at Wild@Art, Saturday.

The next day, April 6, there will be two events. One is in the morning, Mimosas and Masterpieces, where customers can start painting at 9:30 a.m. with the official events beginning at 10 a.m. Later, another Wine and Canvas at 8 p.m. with doors opening at 7:30 p.m.

Mimosas and Masterpieces will take place again 9:30 a.m. April 7, with the event starting at 10 a.m. It is the last of the Moms’ Weekend events.

No matter the event, Wild at Art offers something for all customers, Stanziano said.

“It’s a fun relaxing environment with a forgiving medium to the extent that they don’t need to have any artistic skill. It’s an easy place to find something easy to create for all skill levels,” said Stanziano.

Nicole Hindberg can be reached at [email protected]