After years of contributing to the Butte County art scene, six passionate and skilled artists have combined their talents to help others discover their own.
SkyCave Arts is a communal creativity hub in Chico that hopes to host various opportunities for creative expression.
"We're very excited to be sharing what each of us do as artists because we all have varied backgrounds, techniques, craft skills," said artist and enrichment instructor Cameron Kelly.
The collective is looking to offer creative opportunities beyond typical art classes. SkyCave is located on Orange Street and serves as a maker space, providing a welcoming environment where artists share their skills, techniques and diverse backgrounds with the public.
"We could call them art classes, but they're more open-ended, more of a maker space, where you're welcome to this environment that we are sharing as artists with the public," Kelly said.
With varied backgrounds, techniques and craft skills, the artists aim to impart their knowledge to artists of all ages. The team meets regularly to align on business and creative decisions, leveraging their diverse backgrounds in art, education and studio management.
Creative Arts Instructor Christina Seashore said the group came together organically after working together for the past year on a grant project and continues to grow.
"From the business aspect to what goes on the walls, we try to find who's feeling passionate and move to solve those problems and support that person," Seashore said. "It has been this wonderful, organic fit."
The business is assembling its upcoming schedule, which includes art enrichment courses for homeschoolers. The classes will showcase each member's diverse artistic talents.
“We've constructed the lineup to reach a lot of the homeschool community because we are invested in that area personally, and there's funding for that readily available, and that helps things go, start moving,” Seashore said.
Upcoming events include youth sewing, teen art nights and an art church. Artist and collaborative member David Sutherland said that the art church has no denomination.
“It's basically sharing with one another in a creative way, and holding space so that everyone that's there is a creator, but also a listener, and it's kind of a space where one gets seen in their process as a human being,” Sutherland said. “Which I think is at the core of what the power of art is.”
SkyCave will offer art classes, workshops and special events. The instructors say they look forward to welcoming community members into their space and helping them find their own artistic expression.
