Lake Ridge, Va. — Though art education has, in a sense, fallen to the wayside in recent years, a local artist wants to change that.
Ruth Johnsen, an English-born artist with a family legacy, has lived in Virginia for 25 years and has spent this time teaching students the important lessons and skills to become artists. In 2010 Johnsen took a big leap of faith and started the Edgemoor Art Studio in her home. With the support of parents and a great deal of hard work, Johnsen upgraded and moved the Edgemoor to its current location at 12616 Lake Ridge Drive in Lake Ridge in January.
And why did Johnsen decide to take a business risk and open her own art studio? Because the kids need art, and art has the capacity to help children learn and grow, said Johnsen. But this isn’t just an hour or two of arts and crafts lessons – this is a place where children can grow their artistic capabilities and their technical artistry skills, while having fun in a creative and family oriented atmosphere with other community children.
“There’s no limit to what you can impart to someone else. I particularly believe, in all areas of education, that kids will rise to the expectations of the teacher, and the biggest thing is nurturing their creative spirit,” Johnsen said. “Everyone can come here, and grow and learn from the point that they’re at.”
To reinforce the child-friendly nurturing atmosphere, Edgemoor Art Studio has recently added a new mascot, Picasso, an eight-month-old Sun Conure Parrot, that the children absolutely love.
Johnsen frequently holds fun themed workshops, like the popular chocolate artwork workshop, also offering fun workshops and activities for small groups and parties. She is currently registering students for a winter session which runs from January to April.
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To celebrate Air Quality Awareness Week (May 6-10, 2024), Clean Air Partners is working with A Few Cool Hardware Stores to exchange DC, Maryland and Virginia residents’ gas-powered lawnmowers, trimmers, and leaf blowers at select Ace Hardware locations in the region. DMV residents who turn in their gas-powered lawn tools will receive a FREE Ego Power+ replacement including batteries and chargers, while supplies last.
Compared to gas, electric lawn equipment can reduce emissions, noise pollution, health risks and maintenance costs and time. The program aims to remove about a hundred gas-powered polluting tools from yards in the greater Baltimore-Washington region.
The exchanges will take place the weekends of May 17-19, 2024, and May 31-June 2, 2024, at A Few Cool Hardware Stores network of employee-owned Ace Hardware stores in the DC and Baltimore metro areas. To participate and get your free Ego Power+ lawn tool, sign up at https://qrco.de/CAPExchange to reserve your tool and select your trade-in date and location.
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Free Irish Music Concert
Welcoming Spring with music from the Emerald Isle, the New Dominion Choraliers offer a FREE concert on Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the First United Presbyterian Church of Dale City.
Joined by Legacy Brass and members of Old
Spring Ceili: An Irish Music Festival
The New Dominion Choraliers of Prince William County and McGrath Morgan Academy of Irish Dance invite you to join them at our Ceili, a grand celebration of Irish music and dance.
A gathering of performance groups throughout Prince William County
