Organization

Armory Arts Village resident creates and teaches art

Sunday, November 09, 2008
By Rene RosencrantzFor the Citizen Patriot

One day might find Armory Arts resident Mary Jean Westerlund, 62, working on a portrait, another creating music and on some days she might be sitting at the computer writing.
Westerlund acknowledges, when it comes to the humanities, she’s not satisfied with just one. She likes the personal growth that comes with exploring all her options.

``I’ve never been able to land on one creative art and be happy,’’ she said. ``There’s times I’m a songwriter and times I’m an artist. I just decided I’m going to do it all.’’

Though she grew up in Jackson and attended Vandercook Lake High School, Westerlund moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a musician when she was 19.

``I was fortunate to be in L.A. in a time when music was just wonderful, and I met musicians like Simon and Garfunkel, Mama Cass and others. I lived vicariously through them,’’ Westerlund said.

Like many creative types, Westerlund had to find a job to pay the bills and ended up putting her writing skills to good use in the corporate world through many avenues, including public relations.

Back in Jackson since 1996, Westerlund calls her involvement at the Armory Arts Village a ``happy accident.’’

Years in the making, the Armory Arts Village is a former prison and National Guard Armory that was renovated into apartments and studios. It opened a little less than a year ago and is home to a variety of creative types.

``Living here has been a dream,’’ Westerlund said. ``It gives you a chance to make `Art your day job,’ as they say here.’’

Making art her day job has meant teaching her skills to others, something Westerlund really enjoys.

``I hope to help people discover their creative side,’’ she said. ``I think that there are so many addictions out there that I think would be helped if people were about to use their creativity. Creativity isn’t just drawing and painting.’’

Westerlund, who has a master’s degree in Human Development, has taught classes at the Jackson School of the Arts, the Ella Sharp Museum and at the Armory.

``She has such a soft-spoken, gentle nature with the children,’’ said Kim Hastings, the executive director of Jackson School of the Arts, where Westerlund has taught drawing classes.

The school is located in the Art 634 building, located next door to the Armory Arts Village.

As a professional artist, Westerlund is best known for her Pointillism works, where she uses tiny dots of ink to create realistic portraits and drawings.

``Fundamental drawing is definitely not something kids are getting in school so she’s really able to start with the basics and build from there,’’ Hastings said. ``We look forward to having her teach more classes with us. It’s great to have her so close by.’’

Westerlund is also teaching classes for adults through her business, ``Yes I Can!’’ including a class called ``Creativity, A Personal Experience II’’, which is designed to help adults work past the roadblocks that are keeping them from experiencing their own creativity.

``I think her genuineness gives her a real ability to teach,’’ said Jane Robinson, the director of the Armory Arts Village. ``Everything she does, she does it with a real passion. She’s really the whole package. Some people are really talented, but can’t really teach, but she can do both. She’s walked the walk and wants to pass on what she’s learned to others.’’