The Worry Stone Project is a seven-part class series for children ages 7-16, but this is more than just a ceramics workshop; a central goal of The Worry Stone Project is to inspire compassion for others through artistic practice. Students will learn the fundamentals of working with clay to design, create, and decorate worry stones that will be sent to children in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers, demonstrating that people in the United States care about them and want to welcome them to the country. Beyond the opportunity to work with clay, this workshop allows students to discover service learning, community outreach, and experience personal growth through art.
Instruction will include a mixture of hands-on clay experiences, educational lectures (presented in an age-appropriate way), and time for discussion and reflection. Students will create their own worry stone designs and work together to duplicate them using plaster press molds. Our mission is to deliver 1000 stones to children detained by ICE. Participants will get to create stones for themselves to keep as well.
The Worry Stones Project was conceptualized and developed by artist Patsy Pitts. After a long career in nursing, Patsy returned to school to earn a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from Otis College. Her travels during college opened up a new perspective on the world, which she brings to life in her artwork. Learn more about Patsy here.
