Drawing Together was founded by Jamie Crooked Powell in Pasadena before becoming a fixture in the Wrightwood community. The idea was sparked from a social practice project focusing on a single question: Can art contribute to a culture of health for individuals and communities? In short, the answer is a resounding yes!
From there, Drawing Together was born! Their mission is creatively envisioning a healthier future through art, and their vision is to serve communities in need with the available resources to create healthier, better opportunities by using art as a way to get there. With community projects, workshops for adults and kids, outreach and advocacy, and arts education, they have something for everyone to take part in.
Some of the past community projects have included bringing artists from Pasadena and Wrightwood together to explore connections to each other and nature. Working together, the four artists created an installation that can be found in the Southern California Children’s Museum. Drawing Together has also created five workbooks that have been used in some of the community projects. The first book, titled A Mindfulness Drawing Workbook for Teens, was used in a community project in a virtual capacity during the pandemic. In a time when feeling isolated was at a peak, this book used drawing exercises through the lens of mindfulness to help with coping and regulating emotions. “Art can be a tool for positive coping and creating joy,” expressed Powell.
The most recent community project collaboration was between Drawing Together and the Wrightwood Arts Center, called the Community Art Center and Gallery. Powell served on the board of the Wrightwood Arts Center for three years. This particular project was born from a concept created by Powell to help save the local arts organization and address social isolation in a rural community. During the collaboration, many classes, events, and art exhibitions were held in the space. The project ended in June of this year when the space was turned over to the local arts organization. Drawing Together is currently looking for a new location to create a new collaboration within Wrightwood.
This past June, Drawing Together held its 3rd Summer Art & Nature Camp on the Wrightwood Elementary campus. The camp, which was capped at 60 students, ran for two weeks and included kids ages four to twelve. They spent their days rotating between three classes: music, gardening, and drama.
In music class, students learned about music from all over the world, expressed how songs made them feel through drawing, played games, and even made handheld drums! In gardening class, they learned how to care for and grow plants, which bugs are good and bad for the garden, and even got to bring home a new pet earthworm! “I learned that earthworms have five hearts,” exclaimed camper Sagan Audette. And last but not least, in drama class, students learned theater stage direction names, created masks, acted out scenes, and explored the art of drama. Camper Georgia McGuire enthusiastically shared, “I really loved drama class because it was fun to act and tell stories!”
This year, Drawing Together opened up the option for kids 14 and older to volunteer as classroom helpers. Parents also had the opportunity to volunteer. Each year, the camp brings in at least one new class and teacher. Kids aren’t the only ones excited about Summer Art & Nature Camp. Parent Carrie McGuire shared, “Georgia had so much fun at arts camp last year and couldn’t wait to go again. This year’s camp was no different; she loved all of the classes and already can’t wait until next year!” This camp is a wonderful place for all kids, from traditional or homeschool, to come together and connect. Another camp parent, Wendy Kurtz, expressed, “Drawing Together is such a special camp—its blend of art and nature creates a space for kids to explore, create, and connect. My daughter has gone the last two summers, and I’ve loved seeing how it evolves each year—from visual art to performance, there’s always something new. It’s a place where creativity, community, and play truly come together.”
This fall, Drawing Together will be offering a variety of classes for all ages. Kids’ class offerings will include visual arts, music, and drama. For adults, you can look forward to a paint night, and there will be a special series for seniors called Aging Together. For homeschool parents, charter funds are accepted. Drawing Together is currently a vendor through Granite Mountain and Sky Mountain, and they are working on expanding to add additional charters.
“Art isn’t just for artists, art is for everyone,” shared Powell.
More than just art classes, Drawing Together is connecting people in the Tri-Community and Pasadena, proving that a little creativity can foster powerful connections and envision a brighter, healthier future for the community.
To find information on upcoming classes, you can visit their website at https://www.drawingtogether.city/. You can also stay connected by following them on Instagram @drawingtogether.city and Facebook at Drawing Together.
