For the past 50 years, the Warwick Center for the Arts has been a hub for creativity for the city it inhabits and the surrounding areas. The organization, located within the old Kentish Artillery Armory on 3259 Post Road, is an incredible asset for anyone who wants to pursue the arts while embracing all the aspects of it ranging from painting to performance. There are numerous events, classes, workshops that people can partake in at the WCFA that happen throughout the year, and 2025 is going to be starting with one that’s centered on self-expression. It’s called “Artful Expressions: Creating from the Heart” and it’s going to be happening every Saturday from Jan. 11 to Feb. 1 with each installment happening from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. The sessions are geared towards children between the ages of 6-9, so it’s an ideal way for parents to tap into their kid’s creativity.

Locally based mixed media artist Deborah Siravo, whose specialty is working with textiles and paper, will be the instructor for the class. She has a Bachelor’s in Art History and a Master’s in Textile Science from the University of Rhode Island, and her work utilizes the subtleties of the natural world in abstract fashion through the use of shapes, colors and forms.

“The natural world is a strong influence on my work,” Siravo says. “Tangled vines, bark of a tree, seeds blowing in the wind, the evolving shapes and textures of changing seasons are the subtle forms that I draw upon while creating my stitched panels and mixed-media collages. The forever evolving natural processes; the modest and humble changes in nature go unnoticed unless we take the time to look very closely and observe nature in its pure original form, untouched by humans. My intention is to reflect the texture and tactile sensations of the natural world using fibers: textiles and reclaimed paper. Portraying nature in the abstract is an organic and intuitive process for me.”

“I am most comfortable with abstraction and non-representation as a visual language,” she adds. “My use of abstraction relies on perception, impression, memory, and notion. Familiar shapes, colors, and forms are used in my abstract images to create a sense of place. Even the most abstract works draw upon memory and recognition through a smell, sound or fragment from past experience.

The main ability that the students of Siravo’s class will be using is their imagination. This will be done through painting and drawing as a way to channel their thoughts, feelings and ideas onto a blank canvas. The aim is to establish a sense of self-confidence and self-awareness with the whole experience being catered to how the students want to create. There will also be projects that embrace making decisions and introspectiveness along with working together as a group and comprehending and articulating emotions through artistic creation. Students are encouraged to bring a snack and water bottle while all art supplies will be provided.

For more information about tickets for “Artful Expressions: Creating from the Heart,” the Warwick Center for the Arts as a whole, and events that the organization has going on in the future, log onto warwickcfa.org.