CREATE! A Community Art Making Event will take place from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24, at Boardman Arts Park, 154 W. William St., Delaware.

This year’s theme is Elements! All activities this year are inspired by earth, wind, fire and water.

CREATE! is an immersive, hands-on experience where everyone can create something that will live on at the park.

All are invited, at no cost, to join Boardman Arts Park for this collaborative art making experience. Attendees can expect to participate in a large group art project with guidance from skilled instructors, enjoy demonstrations of a wide variety of art making techniques, and create take-home crafts.

Participants can come anytime during the event period to capture and enjoy all the fun activities and demonstrations planned. None of the creative activities require a participation fee; all are completely free!

This year, Boardman Arts Park has collaborated with artists to build one large interactive sluice, a sliding gate to control the flow of water, for the park! Columbus artist and environmentalist Brooke Ripley will lead a paint by number project for the sluice panels. Anja Muskopf, artist, scout, and senior at Worthington Christian Schools, will demonstrate her construction of the sluice panels. Delaware artist Kris Hyland Kalb will lead participants in adding a sea glass bottom to the sluice to highlight the water feature.

Check out BoardmanArtsPark.org for more details on the sluice project and the contributing artists!

Demonstrations at CREATE! will engage the four elements in various ways and include: fire juggling, charcoal caricatures, pottery throwing, mosaic work, woodcarving, square dancing, zumba and hip hop, hula dance, blacksmithing, sidewalk art, “wish birds,” and a visit from children’s book author Tracy Blom. Additionally, there will be hands-on arts and crafts, including windsocks by Mary Weiler Williams, beaded wind chimes by Patricia Quinn, bubble art by Kelli Wildman, planting and pottery decoration, and face painting by Lauren Clevenger.

Attendees are also invited to creatively paint a car belonging to Roxanne Amidon, director of Boardman Arts Park.

“CREATE! Is a wonderful free art-making day where families can make memories and take home some fun pieces of art, too!” said Amidon.

For those who plan on attending CREATE!, Boardman Arts Park asks that individuals RSVP to assist in their planning and preparation for the event. RSVP by visiting GiveButter.com/CREATEWithUs. Food and drink from a selection of food trucks will be available for purchase at the event. A selection of the featured artists will also be selling some of their work.

Interested in volunteering? A link can be found at BoardmanArtsPark.org.

Boardman Arts Park is a nonprofit, funded by the Ohio Arts Council, and through grants and community support, they are able to offer low cost and free events.

CREATE! is made possible, and free to the public, by funds from the Ohio Arts Council, as well as a generous donation from Richwood Bank. For details on projects and demonstrations to be featured at CREATE!, and other event news, visit BoardmanArtsPark.org.

Submitted by Boardman Arts Park.