KINGSTON — This spring the Old Kingston Hotel will become home to new artists and ideas.
The Appletree Cove landmark, if all goes according to plan, will be transformed into a place where creativity, community and service combine.
Community Art Works, the brainchild of David and Judith Weinstock, is still in its infancy. It seeks to cast its net across North Kitsap gathering artists and students to participate. Classes are expected to begin in May.
“There are endless possibilities for cool events,” David Weinstock said. A committee has been working for the last several months to put in motion what has been in the idea stage for years.
“We’ve always wanted to teach,” said Weinstock said.
“About five years ago it dawned on us we wanted to create a learning center,” he said.
Weinstock, who owns The Goldsmith jewelers, is getting his teaching certificate from Evergreen State College. Judith, well-known in the area’s culinary circles, was owner of the Old Kingston Hotel Cafe and previously owned Bainbridge’s Streamliner Diner. The couple owns the Kingston Hotel building.
David Weinstock calls the three principles—creativity, service and community—pillars for the entire program.
“The three principles, if paid attention to, can aid in personal growth,” he said.
Community Art Works will offer courses in photography, clay work, jewelry making, culinary arts and other disciplines taught by local artists.
“We hope to augment what the school system offers, fill in some of the gaps that are necessary to fill,” Weinstock said.
“We have to do more than learn facts and figures and memorize things,” he said.
Creativity teaches people to be spontaneous, to adjust and adapt with changes, he said.
That covers the creative part, but what about community and service?
Weinstock said it’s going to take all facets of the community to keep classes going.
“If it’s just us doing this, it won’t work,” Weinstock said.
Community Art Works has a lot of work ahead of them. It has applied for non-profit status and is looking at grant and donations to pay the teachers.
At their last meeting, board members emptied their pockets to get the endeavor started.
“Donations are welcomed and very needed right now,” Weinstock said.
The money would go to the basics — signs and telephone lines.
If someone can’t afford a class, that’s where the service part comes in.
An artist will donate his or her time to a person if that person in turn donates their time to a charity. Weinstock has enlisted Susan Hancock, who worked with Poulsbo’s Fishline, to coordinate the service portion.
She is getting together a network of agencies who need volunteers.
By the same token, the Community Art Works will also mix volunteer work with private business.
For instance, students in the culinary classes would volunteer to prepare and serve the meal for an event. Judith would also offer catering with a professional staff as well.
Community Art Works, once it gets rolling, will also host concerts, and special programs. A grand opening is planned for later this summer.
