SMARTS
The SMARTS Program (Shiawassee Mobile ARTS for Seniors) provides hands-on experience in artistic creation to dozens of Shiawassee County seniors each month. This program allows them to express themselves, includes them in the community, and improves their quality of life. By way of professional artists/instructors, this program also extends opportunities for the kinds of creative experiences that can help seniors grow, further their well-being, and enrich their lives. This Program is possible due to the generous support of the Shiawassee Council on Aging and the Cook Family Foundation.
For more information about the SMARTS Program and schedule of classes call the Shiawassee Arts Center (989) 723-8354.
All classes are $4 for seniors and $6 for family or friends under age 60 who are accompanying a senior.
*Seniors can receive one free class during their birthday month!*
Multi-Media Classes
Shiawassee Arts Center: Two Mondays per Month, 10-11:30am & 1 pm – 2:30 pm | RSVP: (989) 723-8354
Owosso Senior Center: Two Tuesdays per Month, 10 am – 11:30 am | RSVP: (989) 723-8875
Morrice Senior Center: Two Wednesdays per Month, 12:30 – 2 pm | RSVP: (517) 625-4270
Durand Senior Center: Two Mondays per Month, 10 – 11:30 am | RSVP: (989) 288-4122
Schedule listed below:
Sign Up for a Class
July
- July 14 – Wire Wrapped Decorative Serving Utensil – Embellish a functional stainless serving piece for your next potluck! Cora Walby & Quinn Skarich, Artists, Instructors
- July 28 – Water Lilies – Celebrate the summer season and the outdoors with a pond of water lilies. Learn how to blend and layer erasable colored pencils while drawing these beautiful floating flowers and round, flat leaves. Water lilies are one of the birth flowers for July. Philip Ruehle, Artist/Instructor
- July 7 & 21 – Painted Garden Chair – A variety of wooden chairs are waiting for you to choose one to decorate with acrylic paints with your creative designs! Great for holding a potted plant in your garden or on your porch. This is a two part class and you must be able to attend both sessions. Dorothy Neaton, Artist/Instructor
- July 8 -Hummingbird Collage Art – Hummingbirds in art are symbols of vibrancy, resilience and positive energy. Also, the beauty and joy that they bring to our yards and feeders. We will be using various colorful scrapping paper and Magazine scraps. The word collage comes from the French word “coller” meaning to glue. Lilly Evans, Artist/Instructor
- July 22 – Wooden Garden Themed Decor – Enjoy painting with acrylic, a 12 inch balsa wood wall hanging with led lights inside. Choose a garden boot, butterfly, watering can or flowers in a pot. Dorothy Neaton, Artist/Instructor
- July 9 – Painting Simple Summer flowers – Step by step, painting with acrylic on handmade paper. Linda Van Cise, Artist/Instructor (subbing for Linda Justice)
- July 23 – Hummingbird Collage Art – Hummingbirds in art are symbols of vibrancy, resilience and positive energy. Also, the beauty and joy that they bring to our yards and feeders. We will be using various colorful scrapping paper and Magazine scraps. The word collage comes from the French word “coller” meaning to glue. Linda Van Cise, Artist/Instructor (subbing for Linda Justice)
August
- August 11 – Loon Watercolor Painting – Join us to paint a Loon family using watercolor. We will learn how to use masking fluid to keep those white feather details crisp, and a wet into wet technique to create a soft background. We will also create depth and color on the loons’ dark feathers by painting thin watercolor glazes. Lisabeth Curnow, Artist/Instructor
- August 25 – When in Rome – The month of August was named after the Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar. In honor of the legendary empire’s founder, we will work on a classical chalk drawing of his bust. Philip Ruehle, Artist/Instructor
RSVP 989-288-4122
- August 4 – Garden Stakes – These will be perfect for your potted plants! Participants can make two. One with a finale and large beads and the other, a wire wrapped butterfly on a metal skewer. Finished size is 12 inches. Dorothy Neaton, Artist/Instructor
- August 18 – Mosaic Bee & Hummingbird Watering Station – Using a 4 inch clay saucer plate on a mini glass candle holder, with pieces of broken China plates set in grout. Finished heights 3.5 “ tall. Set it on your porch and see what thirsty insects stop by for a sip! (Sorry, bee not included!) Dorothy Neaton, Artist/Instructor
- August 5 – Beach Birds with Sea Glass – Create a seascape of coastal friends on pilings, made from wine corks. If you have wine corks that you want to use in your art, awesome…bring them! Otherwise, they will be furnished. (Frame is not included) Linda Van Cise, Artist/Instructor
- August 19 – Custom Canvas Bag Painting – Unleash Your inner Tote Designer and help the environment by creating a reusable canvas tote for books or shopping. Dorothy Neaton, Artist/Instructor
Welcome back, Linda Justice!
- August 13 – Whimsical Chicken Acrylic Painting – Something to cluck and cackle about! To celebrate county fair time, paint a sassy chicken on an 8 x 10 wrap around canvas that doesn’t require a frame. Linda Justice, Artist/Instructor
- August 27 – Watercolor Poppies – Painting a Poppy often captures the flower’s delicate yet vibrant nature. Using techniques like wet-on-wet to blend colors and paint soft, luminous petals. Create a loose, playful, and spattered background to finish your wild and beloved flowers. Linda Justice, Artist/Instructor
SEPTEMBER SAVE THE DATES
Owosso Senior Center (Tues) September 9 & 23
Shiawassee Arts Center (Mon) September 15 & 29
Morrice Senior Center (Wed) September 10 & 24
Durand Senior Center (Mon) September 8 & 22
Seniors can receive one Free Class during their birthday month!
Pre-registration at the appropriate location is required
SMARTS Classes – $4 for Shiawassee County Seniors/$6 for those not age 60 or out of county.
Learn more about our programs
We are only a call or email away with answers.
206 Curwood Castle Drive
Owosso, MI 48867
989-723-8354
sac@shiawasseearts.org
HOURS
Mon-Fri | 10-5 pm
Sat/Sun | 12-3 pm
Non-Profit 501(c)3 organization
Celebrating 53rd Anniversary in 2025
Proudly Supported By:
