Concord's 'aRt Cottage' Gets By With a Little Help From Its Friends

Frogard Butler's neighbors keep leaving things on her doorstep. Unwanted plants, weather stained fence panels, used furniture — it all ends up at the little cottage on Mount Diablo Street instead of the curb. And Butler could not be more grateful.

"Leave it on my porch with a love letter — I'll take it," said Butler.

Piece by donated piece, Butler is building "a magical place" for children and adults to create and appreciate art, she says, and to find peace and inspiration.

Her enthusiasm is spreading, and locals are offering their goods and services to help create a community art space. One neighbor installed an outdoor tap, free of charge, complete with a place to hang a ceramics bucket. Another donated an entire kiln — giving away a piece of artistic equipment worth thousands of dollars. They help out with the gardening, the DIY and the decor, and then congregate on the cottage porch and patio to enjoy the labor of love.

The aRt Cottage opened in February of 2012 and just through word of mouth and a few tidbits in local newspapers, as well as a story on Patch, Butler says she is happy to announce that she is already "in the black."

Donations have helped stock the cottage with art materials, furniture and more, and the customer base for Butler's classes is growing. She charges just $10 an hour — at least for now, she says, while she can — for one-on-one or group activities creating art pieces and sculptures. 

Butler says she is more of a "mentor" than a teacher. Someone comes to her with an idea but doesn't know how to turn that idea into art, and Butler offers ideas, encouragement, space and some supplies. The results include an oil painting done by a woman with autism, a cork sculpture of a farm — complete with a cork cow — created by a 5 year old, a mixed media dedication to "sewing" and many more.

Of course, the aRt Cottage is also a gallery, displaying local art on a "no-jury" basis. Butler says she wants all artists to feel the satisfaction and motivation of having a piece displayed on a wall for all to see.

"You've got to have a 'can-do' attitude," said Butler, "because everyone has a right to enjoy art."

The theme of the exhibits changes monthly, with July's exhibit all about water. Paintings of waterfalls, working models of boats, photographs of waterfront scenes and more line the walls and sit on donated pedestals around the little cottage. The experience seems more like visiting an old friend's house than touring a traditional gallery exhibit, especially with the lace-trimmed bathroom and softly lit bedroom. A living area includes a wide, comfortable-looking couch, ruffled and ready with pillows and blankets for the next guest.

Butler, a resident of Pleasant Hill, says the cottage has a special "magic" about it that she wants to share with others. 

"It's everybody's place," said Butler, standing in the dappled sunshine of the cottage garden. "Let's make art and have fun."

The aRt Cottage at 2238 Mt. Diablo Street is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Visit artcottage.info for more information.

Have you been to aRt Cottage? What did you think? Share your thoughts, experiences and creative endeavors in the comments.