Here’s one way to get the creative juices flowing: Rose’s Inspiration Station. The mobile arts and crafts studio comes right to you, infusing imagination into kids’ birthday parties, weddings, and even work events.
Book online by selecting a predetermined theme—fantasy world, for example—or reach out with a one-of-a-kind idea of your own. On the day of the event, the whimsical wagon rolls up, brimming with creative materials to appeal to the traditional artist, paint, felt, and glue—or to the experimental one, battery-powered fairy lights, tiny plastic dinosaurs, and peacock feathers. Guests receive a project base and the freedom to choose from the materials on hand. When it’s all said and done, they walk away with finished crafts and an unforgettable experience of playfulness and positivity.
Inspiration Station is the creation of Rose Guterbock, award-winning figurative oil painter, self-taught silversmith, and neurodivergent mother of two. While her other endeavors felt worthwhile, creating art in her studio at the Shenandoah Valley Art Center and teaching traditional art techniques as a private instructor, Guterbock wanted to do more within the community. “I’ve seen my private students feel better about who they are as people over time,” she says. “I realized I could encourage this same positive growth in a more intentional, and far-reaching capacity.”
In addition to bringing the mobile studio to parties and events, Guterbock also partners with local businesses. She recently teamed up with Bluebird & Co. in Crozet, hosting wine and design events for adults and a regular art club for adolescents. She hopes to reach people where they are, fostering an inclusive atmosphere for imaginative thinking wherever she sets up shop.
Guterbock outfits the Inspiration Station with thoughtfully selected supplies, repurposing and upcycling as much as she can. The Scrappy Elephant is a go-to for like-new tools and other items. “Bringing unique and reclaimed creative materials helps our planet and keeps my prices affordable,” says Guterbock. “Every time you work with me, the materials on hand will be a little different. Embracing the unexpected can lead to some awe-inspiring creativity.”
With no doubt that art has positively impacted her life, Guterbock says her mission is to share that with as many people as she can. “Making art is healing. Making art connects us to one another. I hope that the individuals I work with will inspire others, passing the positive effects of creative expression on.”