Local business owner, Joan Hofmann started her artistic shop, Wild at Art to bring Moscow a creative outlet. Starting the business in 2005, it has been a part of the community for almost 16 years.
Starting out in the Eastside Market, she was the sole proprietor at the time. Later, she moved the shop to a little spot behind One World Cafe, downsizing the business to try to start a mobile shop with a staging area. In 2012, Hofmann sold her business to Mark McLaughlin and Jeffery Dodge but ended up buying it back in 2017.
Now, Wild at Art is located on Third Street, where she runs her business alongside her husband, Donald Stanziano.
The shop used to be filled with 50 participants for events in the studio twice a month, but Hofmann and Stanziano decided to go virtual. Their last in-person event was on Sept. 1 in partnership with Vandal Entertainment outside the common’s lawn. The event was socially distanced with masks and ended up gathering 75 participants. However, with health in mind, they decided to hold events virtually and not have anyone come into the studio.
This week, the shop will host two events based on Valentine’s Day.
In collaboration with the University of Idaho Alumni Association, Wild at Art will host an event specifically for University of Idaho graduates. The event will be this Friday, at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12, held through Zoom. Based on “Love is the Brightest Color!” another event they will be hosting, alumni will be painting pieces inspired by artwork presented. Tickets and information about the event can be found on their website.
“Love is the Brightest Color!” will be this Sunday, at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 14, inspired by Valentine’s Day. Couples, friends and singles are welcome to attend the event and spend their evening painting with Hoffmann and Stanziano. Though they want to keep the piece a secret, the portrait they will be painting is full of vibrant colors and stripes. Tickets and more information can be found on their website.
An idea that has been in the making for a while, Wild at Art will start a weekly event called Wild Wednesdays, at 5:30 p.m. every Wednesday. The event will have live shows, including live sales and demonstrations. For information about this event and more that will be held in the future, visit their here.
When people are done with their work or want to pick up their finished work, they can drop off their things outside of the shop, in labeled bins on the sidewalk.
Although Hofmann and Stanziano would like to get back to holding events in their studio, instructing virtually gives them opportunities to learn to be better supporters. Stanziano says it’s an invitation and opportunity to become better instructors and how to be clear with instructions and guidance.
“We sort of pride ourselves on providing inspiration and encouragement to our participants that come to our events,” Hofmann said. “It really requires us to be more attentive and aware of each different person in the virtual reality.”
At the same time, there are challenges when instructing virtually and they depend on people being open to ask questions and have their cameras on.
Although they are not able to replicate the same atmosphere of being in the studio online, Stanziano recommends people put on music, dress up and do anything to brighten the mood.
“(We) encourage people to think back to when they were all young and just play,” Stanziano said. “I think those are things that we’ve learned just in terms of the importance of encouraging that and reminding people when you’re by yourself you’re in your place nobody’s going to see… have some fun with it.”
Wild at Art also provides kits for people to make art on their own at home. They sell things from birthday party kits to things that adults would enjoy. Their work can be viewed at moscowwildatart.com and encourage people to get out of their routine, try something new and create.
Emily Pearce can be reached at arg-life@uidaho.edu or on Twitter @Emily_A_Pearce.