Reflections

Art Break Day Reflection by Joy Neas

Joy Neas has been hosting an Art Break Day location every year somewhere in Stockton, California since 2013. This year we invited her to join us on our Take an Art Break Day Podcast to share her experience being a host. Unfortunately, we ran into technical difficulties. Joy kindly wrote her reflection. Feel free to read it below. You are welcome to check out the podcast episode to hear Lisa, Lauren, and Amy reflect on their 2024 Art Break Day events.

Art Break Day has taken place in Stockton for twelve years. We started in 2013 at Stockton’s most popular park outside of the Haggin Museum. That was our best attended event. There were lots of mothers with young children and artists of all skill levels. Our 2nd year was held at downtown’s Janet Leigh Plaza near the movie theater. That year Art Break Day participants made and displayed wish flags and environmental art. The third year we went to the Dorothy Jones Center in South Stockton. Children of all ages created. Our 4th year we set up outside the Children’s Museum. Students from the neighboring high school came and made art for most of the day. One mother taught her daughter many mediums including making a daisy flower crown with natural materials found outside the museum. Our 5th year we held 2 art break day sites, one at St. Mary’s Dining Room and the other at the Homeless Shelter. Other non-profits got involved. My husband cooked food, there was a live sketch artist, rock painting, chalk art on freeway pillars, an art contest, music and dance performances. On our 6th year we held Art Break Day at the Cesar Chavez library. Children painted in the library and chalked on the outside patio. The 7th year we took Art Break Day to Yosemite Street (a neighborhood that was being recreated by a group of neighbors). We set up outside a local market/coffee shop. A couple traveled to this venue from their home in San Leandro because they saw our site on the Art Break Day map. In 2020 I created bags of Art Break Day supplies that I gave to the Children’s Museum to distribute. In 2021 we held Art Break Day in my front yard. Only a couple people came but the quality of the experience is far more important than the quantity. In 2022 Art Break Day moved to the Goodwin Gallery on the Miracle Mile. Friends created chalk art and played music outside the gallery. An intimate group of adults made arts and crafts inside. Last year Art Break Day traveled north to the Troke Library. Numerous children participated at many art stations making items with beads and bottlecaps, bookmarks, scratch art, himmeli mobiles and paintings.

For all the years I have led Art Break Day my husband Frank has assisted me especially at the paint table. I prefer drawing and other crafts. This year my husband of 42 years died unexpectedly in June. This was the first Art Break Day I did not have his physical support. I set up Art Break Day in an entry hallway of the Courthouse Plaza in downtown Stockton. There were three tables with rainbow colored tablecloths – one for drawing, one for crafts and one for painting. One passerby said it looked like a birthday. The hallway had dozens of people going back and forth throughout the day. Some mentioned they didn’t have time because they were working. Many were students from nearby schools.

Sonia and Diana joined me sitting at the tables of supplies. Sonia attempted to make buttons with a button maker I brought. Neither of us could figure it out. I made a duct tape bracelet (after watching a video), a himmeli mobile and a coffee filter butterfly with markers sprayed with water and fastened with chenille stems.

Participants started creating at about 2 pm. A mother and father came with their two girls who wanted to paint. I laid out some paint and gave them canvases. Both girls painted and their father assisted. Then came a girl who loved art. She made bracelets with duct tape and chenille stems and showed Sonia at the craft table how to make bracelets she could use to adorn her purse. The girl’s brother drew.

Diana arrived and manned the paint table. A 6th grade girl sat down and spent a lot of time painting and talking about art with Diana. I loved the intergenerational interactions between children and adults. A number of teens came all wanting to paint. Some sat with their friends. In all there were about 17 participants. Several adults said they wanted to bring their children and asked if this would happen again. I sent an email suggesting I offer art activities on a regular basis. I am hoping to continue because I see the need to give the public art opportunities like I was given.