Art on the Rocks is coming back to Gardner with studio in Timpany Plaza

GARDNER – Art on the Rocks is returning to the Chair City.

The popular Leominster-based art studio, which offers painting and pottery classes for children and adults, left its location in downtown Gardner a few years ago due to space issues. But owner Stacey Sparrow said she was currently in the process of renovating space in Timpany Plaza with an opening date scheduled for mid-to-late March.

“We always wanted to stay in Gardner, we love Gardner, and our studio was very successful in Gardner, but we could never find an appropriate space,” Sparrow said. “So, it’s always been on the back burner to return to Gardner.”

New location to allow for more parking, access to nearby shops

Sparrow said the new location at 360 Timpany Blvd., which is next door to Papa Gino’s, was an ideal spot for her studio for several reasons, especially when it comes to parking and access to other businesses in the area.

“If parents want to go see a movie while their kids come here and paint pottery, they can do that, or vice versa,” she explained. “People can grab a pizza or a coffee across the street and bring those things here. Or you can grab a bottle of wine to share with your friends.” (The Art on the Rocks Gardner location will be a BYOB studio, Sparrow added.) “I think it’s going to be a happening spot for people.”

Another benefit of the new location would be the easy access to Route 2, Sparrow said.

“We actually have a very large customer base from Athol and Orange and some of the Gardner surrounding towns that are now coming to our Leominster studio, so this will give them an opportunity to visit us and start taking classes and workshops closer to home,” she explained.

Studio left downtown Gardner location due to space issue

Sparrow said she had enjoyed her time in downtown Gardner, and that parking had never really been much of an issue since most of her studio’s classes were offered after traditional business hours.

“I did not grow up in New England, so the traditional downtown that you see in places like Gardner or Keene is something that I love. I think it’s very endearing when you have access to shops like John’s Sport Shop and Priscilla’s and the Velvet Goose,” Sparrow explained. “But I think in this fast-paced world, access to a plaza where it’s kind of one-stop is awesome.”

The classes offered by Art on the Rocks were considered luxury items, Sparrow admitted.

“But people have to go to Tractor Supply and sometimes you just need a pizza on a Friday night, so I’m hoping that access to those places will be good for us too,” she said.

Sparrow said she was currently in the process of hiring between four and six employees to work at the Timpany Plaza location.

Studio created to allow everyone to be creative

Sparrow, a former schoolteacher, opened the first Art on the Rocks studio in 2011 after majoring in art education in college but finding it difficult to find a teaching job in the field.

“When I graduated from college, (schools) were cutting all the art programs, so I told my husband I wanted to open my own studio and teach art,” she explained. “We started with kids' fine arts classes and paint-and-sip classes for adults, and then it all just grew from there.”

Most of the classes offered by the studio these days – including vintage pottery, clay sculpturing, and acrylic painting – are attended by up to 50 participants and often sell out, Sparrow said. The classes have become popular with birthday parties, couples’ nights, corporate team-building groups, and local civic groups.

“There has always been this thought that only certain people should be doing art, and it’s always been my goal to make sure that everyone feels like they can get creative,” Sparrow said.

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Art on the Rocks painting and pottery studio to open in Timpany Plaza