“My entire career was built around serving my community and helping people during difficult times,” said Tanya Parrott Moder, a former emergency dispatcher.
Moder, 63, of Barnhart recently retired after more than 30 years as a dispatcher for Jefferson County 911 and is now focusing on creating a space where art and connection meet through a free art gallery in her front yard.
“Creating the Free Little Art Gallery is simply another way for me to continue serving my community, just in a much more colorful and creative way,” she said.
The Free Little Art Gallery, located at the intersection of Dandridge Lane and Burwell in the Village of Jefferson subdivision in Barnhart, is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. A new free craft project is introduced every week, and new kits are placed in the gallery at 9 a.m. each Sunday. The gallery is refilled several times throughout the week, and the kits remain available until all have been claimed.
The outdoor gallery is made up of three separate stations, each designed to encourage creativity differently.
Moder said the first station is the art gallery itself, where visitors will find the main component of the week’s featured project, along with a selection of premade goodies for those who may not be quite ready to start exploring their own creativity yet.
The second is the Imagination Station, where children may build their own craft kits by choosing from a variety of supplies and creating something unique to them.
The third is the Kindness Rocks Garden, which is filled with hand-decorated rocks created by children and adults. Visitors are encouraged to take a rock that speaks to them or leave one they have created to inspire someone else.
“The Free Little Art Gallery is designed for everyone, whether you’re a young child or simply young at heart,” Moder said. “It’s there for anyone who wants to explore their creativity, regardless of age or financial circumstances.”
Moder has always been drawn to art, even though she jokingly said she has “no artistic talent of her own.”
“What I do have is creativity, which has led to countless crafting sessions with my children and grandchildren over the years,” she said. “It wasn’t until I became too ill to continue working (due to the diagnosis of Relapsing Polychondritis and later testing positive for Sjögren’s Syndrome) that I truly discovered my passion for crafting.
“During that season of my life, creativity became both a comfort and a purpose. I especially love taking things that most people would throw away and giving them new life, turning ordinary or discarded items into something beautiful and meaningful,” she said.
The Free Little Art Gallery opened July 29, 2023. For the first two years, it was primarily filled with crafts that Moder had made for neighborhood children to enjoy and take home.
“Earlier this year, it dawned on me that while it was wonderful to expose children to different types of art, it would be even more beneficial to provide them with the materials and opportunity to create their own masterpieces,” Moder said. “I’ve yet to find another Free Little Art Gallery like ours.”
The gallery provides materials to make a completed project. Moder said the confidence people gain through creating something carries into other areas of their lives.
“There are so many physical and emotional benefits that come from seeing a project through from inception to completion,” she said. “Creating art helps improve cognitive thinking, problem-solving skills, creativity and manual dexterity. When children complete a project, they feel a tremendous sense of pride and accomplishment.”
Well used
Between 60 and 80 children and their parents visit the gallery each week to pick up craft kits and supplies. Some of the most popular projects have included painted kindness rocks, art journals, windsocks, wood painting projects and the gallery’s Mother’s Day and Father’s Day craft kits. During July, visitors can look forward to creating wizard and fairy wands, ceramic banks, wind chimes and time capsules.
Jessica Baldwin of Barnhart said her family recently discovered the Free Little Art Gallery after talking with neighbors a Scout leader. Her children, Holly, 7, and Judah, 9, enjoy working on the crafts and value Tanya’s kindness.
“(Tanya) switches (the crafts) up every week, and my daughter, Holly, especially cannot wait to go to the art gallery and pick out the little items,” Baldwin said. “She also loves talking with Tanya as she’s so good with the kids.”
“We always hope that she’s available to come outside and talk when we visit. It is amazing what she does for the community.”
Baldwin also said she appreciates that the gallery’s craft kits offer quality time with her children.
“I think it helps get kids away from the TV and phone screens,” she said. “Plus, it brings families together. I help them do their craft. It is an experience that we look forward to.”
Tiffany Wren of Barnhart said she also enjoys the gallery.
“Arts and crafts, it’s a peaceful and relaxing activity,” Wren said. “The kids love it, adults do, too. This gallery also lets me get to know my other neighbors, and Tanya brings so much positivity to the neighborhood.”
Funding
The Free Little Art Gallery is funded through a combination of community donations and Moder’s personal contributions.
“We have been incredibly blessed by the generosity of our community,” Moder said. “People have donated art supplies, craft materials and monetary gifts, and every single donation has helped us continue growing.”
After paying her bills each month, Moder said that nearly every extra dollar is used to purchase supplies.
“Depending on the projects we are offering, I typically spend between $500 and $900 a month out of my own pocket,” she said. “I don’t share that because I’m looking for sympathy. I share it because I believe so deeply in the mission of this little gallery and because I want people to understand how much community support matters.”
Moder said some people are initially skeptical that the craft kits are free. However, once they visit the gallery, meet her and see how everything works, they quickly become believers.
“Parents often tell me how much they appreciate having an opportunity to spend quality time creating with their children without having to worry about the financial aspect of buying supplies,” Moder said. “Many families have shared that the projects encourage conversations, build memories and give them something meaningful to do together.”
Future
Moder said she wants to establish a homebound outreach program for children who are living with chronic illnesses, disabilities or other circumstances that make it difficult for them to visit the gallery in person.
“Children with chronic illnesses and special needs deserve the opportunity to experience the joy of creativity just as much as anyone else. They deserve the excitement of receiving a craft kit, the pride that comes from creating something with their own hands, and the chance to simply be kids,” she said.
Another project Moder is undertaking is tied to the Kindness Counts community event, which will be held from 9:30 a.m. until noon Saturday, July 25, at the Windsor branch of the Jefferson County Library, 7479 Metropolitan Blvd., in Barnhart.
At the event, there will be four crafting stations where children can create gifts for others. Registration is required and can be done by visiting the events page on The Free Little Art Gallery – Barnhart’s Facebook. If registration is full, Moder will add those interested to a waitlist.