Sarah Marks
The Oakwood Country Club Arts and Crafts Center is a hub of creativity and home to more than 20 different arts and crafts clubs. This vibrant center recently held an Open House on April 12 showcasing the amazing work being done. The Sun Lakes Rock, Gem, Silver, Glass & Creative Crafts Club joined forces for the event with the Pottery Club, Sew-N-Sews, Desert Threads, Agave Quilters, Children’s Charities, Sun Lakes Junk Journal & Paper Crafts, the Gourd Group of Sun Lakes, Crazy Crochet, and more.
Together, they offered a fascinating look at the wide range of activities available in the open quad behind the Community Services office.
Sarah Marks explained the purpose of the Open House Studio Tour: “A lot of owners in Sun Lakes, IronOaks, and Cottonwood Palo Verde don’t know that these clubs, groups, and studio spaces exist. Our goal is to show everyone living in Sun Lakes that we have a truly special place here. It’s a space where you can be creative, learn new skills, or simply enjoy making art with new/old friends.”
Visitors to the Open House tour had the chance to explore the classes offered throughout the year. Many of the volunteer instructors have backgrounds in teaching or arts-related professions. Others share traditions they learned as children in the U.S. and other countries. Instructors and potential students discussed summer class schedules and open studio times for those wanting to escape the heat and try something new.
Marks shared her personal experience: “When I was looking at 55+ communities in Phoenix for retirement, Sun Lakes was the only one that offered the variety and depth of art and sewing studio space I wanted. Seeing the Arts and Crafts Center at Oakwood sealed the deal for me. Friends I’ve met through the clubs and groups feel the same way.”
The Sew-N-Sews offer project-based classes and regular gatherings where members collaborate on projects and problem-solving together. Many talented quilters and gourd artists in the center have won national recognition for their work.
Nancy Cohn of the Pottery Club enthusiastically showed off the powerful kilns, pottery wheels, and various glazes available. “The pottery studio is open seven days a week, including evenings,” she noted. “Working with clay can be messy, so having a dedicated workspace like this is fantastic.” Sign-up sheet for classes and club membership information was available in each room.
Meanwhile, the Sun Lakes Rock, Gem, Silver, Glass & Creative Crafts Club displayed an extensive array of jewelry, glass, and stone art created during classes and open shop experiences.
More than 30 members from the clubs and groups actively utilizing the studio spaces welcomed curious and enthusiastic attendees. The Open House clearly highlighted the vibrant and welcoming artistic community thriving at the IronOaks Oakwood Arts and Crafts Center. “This was the first visit for many of the new and long-term owners who stopped by, and the response was so positive that we will certainly do this again in the fall,” promises Marks.