Sky Village
As a child, there’s nothing quite like
witnessing your parents hang a picture
you painted on the fridge, even
if it was just a finger painting — talk
about a self-esteem boost. As it turns
out, there are many benefits to painting
as a child, such as hand-eye coordination,
communication, creativity
progression, education of shapes
and colors — plus, it is downright fun.
The Astoria business Sky Village
allows kids to throw paint-themed
birthday parties as well as take painting
classes. They provide decently
priced child care for parents while
keeping the kiddos’ creative juices
flowing. Sky Village owner Shasta
Molnar opened the paint play zone
in September 2018.
“What I love most about teaching
children is their lack of ego. They
don't need to prove anything to anyone
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and simply paint from a place of
purity and joy. Children truly love the
process and therefore make the most
beautiful art. The product is always
secondary,” Molnar said.
According to Molnar, Sky Village offers
classes to children under age 4
as a preschool and art education alternative.
The day camps offered are
also a good way to occupy the tots as
their parents head to their day jobs
or non-kid-friendly engagements.
Most classes range around $20 to
$30.
“My number one focus is to make
some art that is beautiful — something
that won't get tossed in the
trash. This usually takes some experimentation
with the kids. Sometimes
we are successful, sometimes we're
not, but usually through the process
we discover something really good. If
you take a look at the Sky Village NYC
Instagram page, you will see what I'm
talking about,” Molnar said.
The Sky Village Instagram makes
the space look like artsy, magical
fun. Pastel colors practically bleed
through the photos and the kids’ excitement
about crafts really shines
through. Molnar remembers a birthday
party they held where the partygoers
painted beautiful Easter eggs,
a day at camp where they took over
a Queens swing set and “made Jackson
Pollock style paintings that came
out so beautiful they would impress
Larry Gagosian.”
“I keep telling the kids I'm going to
sell their art in Soho — they are actually
that good,” Molnar said.
Sky Village
23-05 29TH ST., ASTORIA
917-608-1658
SKYVILLAGENYC.COM
EXPLORE YOUR BORO
EXPLORE YOUR BORO
Photos courtesy of Sky Village
/SKYVILLAGENYC.COM
