New organization LET’s Center lets locals dabble in the arts

WASHINGTON, Iowa - Residents here have the chance to dabble in the arts thanks to a relatively new organization.

The LET's Center for the Healing and Creative Arts provides classes ranging from figure drawing or the healing power of crystals to yoga and water color painting. The lessons, which typically consist of 10 to 12 people and last from one night to six weeks, take place in a number of locations, including businesses, private homes and the Washington Public Library.

The idea for the LET's Center - which stands for 'Learn, Embrace, Transform” - sprang from a group of community members who wanted a place where people could have the chance to try new things, according to Debbie Farrow, vice president of the center's board of directors.

Farrow and board president Lorraine Williams, who owns Cafe Dodici, traveled across the state to visit art centers, and decided they wanted to bring something similar to Washington.

The group was incorporated in spring 2014 and received its non-profit designation six months later, Farrow said.

'We started having classes upstairs, above Lorraine's restaurant, we've used rooms at the Y, people have hosted private painting parties, we've used a conference room at the Federation Bank,” Farrow said. 'We jokingly right now say Washington is our home because we don't have a specific location yet.”

Efforts are underway to acquire a permanent home, Farrow said.

The center's painting classes cost, on average, $28. Some classes are free. Brandy Parsons started taking classes with the center to pursue her love of the arts and meet friends.

Parsons has taken figure drawing, a doodling interpretation class and decorated a water softener tube.

'It was kind of a way to introduce myself to new people,” Parsons said. 'I just wanted an outlet, almost what it stands for. I wanted to learn it, I wanted to embrace, I wanted to transform.”

Debbie Stanton, director of the Washington Public Library, never had taken a professional art class but was looking for an outlet to express creativity. She started with a six-week sketching class. During class, Stanton said students provided feedback to one another and admired each other's techniques.

'When I came into class, I was surprised how many advanced students there were,” Stanton said. 'It wasn't intimidating; we were kind of all pulling for each other. There were things that some people were just experts at.

'At this point, I've had such positive experiences with each class I would take any LET's class because I know I would get something from it.”