Why Puppets?

When we use puppetry we are able to do many things. The creation process allows us to shift into our artist self, our intuitive side, to use our senses and have an open experience to find the character we are developing in our puppet or mask. We practice problem solving in a different way. Sometimes we collaborate to make something bigger than ourselves. When we act our puppet we are using our imagination to play. We create a character, movement, voice, rhythm, and a story. As an Art Therapist and Play Therapist I love how this whole process allows us to find parts of ourselves and express them in so many ways.

Our Origins.

The Art Experience was started by Hank and Jo Ann Kaminsky, as a community art school in 1993. At times the little house held as many as 5 classes at one time, including drawing, painting, pottery, welding and sand casting as well as many more media. The Art Experience employed several artist/teachers and the art classes had room for exploration and expression as well as learning basic skills.  Jo Ann was a Licensed Counselor training to be a Registered Art Therapist and Play Therapist. She led groups in creativity and therapeutic art for teens and adults as well.  

In 1999 First Night Fayettevile began with a call for artists to make giant puppets for the procession and the Art Experience artists and students jumped on board making 13 puppets that year. The New Years Eve event continued for many years and a high point was always the Giant Puppet Procession, which often included a new puppet or two. Upon the dissolution of First Night Fayetteville the puppets were inherited by the Art Experience Inc.

In 2005 the Art Experience launched the first Puppets in the Park in Wilson Park and continues to this day, although changes have been made. In 2019 the festival was held in Gulley park and in 2020 it will be held virtually.

In 2007 Art Therapists Budhi Kling (now Dreama Phoenix) and Jo Ann Kaminsky went to Bolivia where they brought art therapy to women in prison, battered women and challenged youth. They had worked for years with local women’s shelters with both the women and their children and written a work book for Art Therapists working in women’s shelters. This book was translated into Spanish in Bolivia and shared with the community.  On their way back to Arkansas, the idea to bring the Art Experience to the next level as a non-profit was born. They knew there were people who could use their help here. They want to move to nonprofit status so that they could offer art therapy to those who couldn’t afford it but need it the most.

In 2010 the Art Experience Inc was officially a 501©3, a nonprofit center for healing and growth through the expressive arts and play. Since then there has been an ongoing group for teen girls called Pathfinders, A group led by Art Therapist Elise Lunsford for children with chronic illness called Art Works, creativity and personal growth groups for adults, puppet camps and classes, puppet-making with elders in the LGBTQ+ community for the Pride Parade, giant puppet appearances around the community including the NWA Botanical Garden, Fenix Gallery, Crystal Bridges, Tricycle Farms, and the Fayetteville Square.

Jo Ann Kaminsky

What does your donation do?

$25-Art Supplies for a single session. 
$50-One session of individual therapy. 
$100- Two sessions of individual therapy. 
$250-One full group session. 
$500-Two full group session. 
$1000- 1/2 of an entire program. 
$2500- One total 6 week program.