Express Yourself Studios Celebrates Black History Month with Several Scheduled Events and Workshops

MAPLEWOOD, NJ, January 14, 2013– Express Yourself Studios located at 1877 Springfield Avenue in Maplewood, NJ has several events slated for Black History Month. The community is invited to take part in one or more of the Studio’s events which kicks-off with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Events are kid and family-friendly and include the following:

Monday, January 21 – 5th Annual Celebrate Dr. King; Explore the Dream through Art Workshop
Time: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Learn about Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement through art. Children between the ages of 4-12 are welcome to participate in a drop-in art project exploring the themes of Peace, Equality and Friendship. The Workshop Fee is $15; all participants are encouraged to bring a canned or boxed non-perishable food item to be donated to the Wallace Chapel Food Pantry (a service of Wallace Chapel Church) in Summit, New Jersey.

Saturday, February 2, 16, 23 – African American Artists Series
Times: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Saturdays during the month of February enjoy a special Black History Month lesson in art exploring a different African-American Master Artists (Aaron Douglass, William H. Johnson, and Faith Ringgold). This program is offered as part of Express Yourself’s Studio Saturday offering and is open to children ages 5-12. The Workshop Fee for this event is $15.

Saturday, February 9 – “Express Your Emotions” with Children’s Book Author Tanji Dewberry
Time: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Emotions are something we all have but are seldom talked about, especially with children. New author, Tanji Dewberry, seeks to change this dynamic with her debut children's book, Oh Fiddlesticks! Inspired by the coping skills she learned to help her son, Oh Fiddlesticks! strives to begin a healthy dialogue between adults and children about how to combat negative emotions.

Express Yourself Studios and Ms. Dewberry will host a day of “Express Your Emotions” children will use art and Oh Fiddlesticks! as a guide to share their emotions.

Children will be given a complimentary, blank cover of Oh Fiddlesticks! to exercise their artistic skills. In addition, during this free event children will meet and hear from the author during a book reading to be held each hour.

To learn more about Tanji Dewberry and Oh Fiddlesticks!, visit www.ohfiddlesticksbook.com

For additional information or to RSVP for any event please contact Express Yourself Studios 973-763-5256 online, www.expressyourselfstudios.com or via email info@expressyourselfstudios.com.

Express Yourself Studios is an art studio and art gallery dedicated to being an outlet for children and adults to express themselves creatively via classes in the arts. As well as a space where artist are welcome to display their work and create utilizing the studio’s space, tools and tables. The Studio also offers a Summer Art Workshop, an Artist-in-Residency Program and hosts birthday parties and art events throughout the year. For more information about the studio visit www.expressyourselfstudios.com or read Express Yourself Studios’ Blog at http://expressyourselfstudios.blogspot.com to learn about the Studios’ events & happenings!