The middle-schooler snuck inside, carefully, worried she would be kicked out. She sat by the back table, patiently teaching her friend how to sew. It had been three years since she had operated this sewing machine. She remembered everything. 

A teaching artist walked up to introduce herself, curious to discover why so much time had passed. One of a single mom’s six children, the girl responded that her family simply couldn’t afford the membership. 

OREGON CULTURAL HUBS: An occasional series

“Well, what if that didn’t matter?” asked the teacher. 

“I would be here all the time,” replied the young artist.

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Nestled along the bend of Main Street in rural Philomath, Maxtivity Arts & Crafts Creative Space is a place of wonder and welcome for all. Founded in 2018 by friends Lori Paul and Chelsea Kirkaldie, the nonprofit aims to serve historically disadvantaged groups affected by financial barriers, location, race, developmental disabilities, or other factors. It does so by offering a wide variety of creative opportunities for both children and adults, ranging from painting and pottery to cardboard sculptures and simple machines. 

Maxtivity’s hometown of Philomath translates to “lover of learning” in Greek, a statement that runs true to the town’s values and history. Its primary industries revolve around healthcare, forestry, and education, with its proximity to Oregon State University in Corvallis also attracting business and tourism. Founded in 1867, the town is home to around 5,800 residents. 

“Rural communities are often looked at as being in need of art … but actually, it’s here,” said Sarah Lench, Maxtivity’s new executive director. “So, how do we tie it together? How do we amplify it? That’s Maxtivity, it’s in the name. How do we maximize the creative capacity of our community?”

Lench noted the variety of artistic businesses along Main Street – some not immediately identified as such. She described a man who creates welded metal sculptures, a tattoo artist, a nature-themed bookstore, and her hairdresser — the area’s “curly girl specialist.” 

After becoming executive director in April, Lench immediately began seeking ways to maximize the artistic culture already in Philomath. She said she is discovering how best to invite youth, families, and the broader population to co-create together. 

“Where we are as a country right now, our young people and a lot of community members feel isolated or more divided,” said Lench. “And so I can have a stance of what I’m against, but it’s more like, what are we for?”

Reflecting on how Maxtivity affected her own life, Lench said it provided the first successful summer camp experience for her 10-year-old son, who has autism. All of the staff and volunteers understood how to support and include him, she said, not just tolerate him. It was a space where he could truly belong.

Lench’s son shares a similar experience with hundreds of other local kids and families. In 2024, the organization served more than 8,000 individuals across Linn and Benton counties. Maxtivity credits much of this to its faithful volunteers, who donated more than 900 hours last year.

Besides donating labor and time, volunteers help make connections and provide art supplies. Most of the studio’s resources are donated, sometimes in deeply personal ways. One man gave seven boxes of his sister’s prized art materials after she died — a kind of cultural inheritance.

“He just was in tears, because he wanted that stuff to mean something to someone,” said Sophie Grow, a longtime member and teaching artist. “And so he’s bringing in things that are very high quality, things that are really kind of hard for, I would say, the average householder to buy.”

As a result of such generosity, the organization is able to offer a wide variety of accessible programs. These include open studio times, afterschool clubs, classes and workshops, summer camps, community events, and artist-in-residence opportunities. 

For students with limited income, Maxtivity offers sliding-scale pricing to support a range of financial situations. To help reduce the stigma around seeking assistance, families complete a simple self-assessment to determine the level of support that best fits their needs. The organization also provides a cooperative option, where individuals can volunteer in exchange for free or discounted access to programs.

Open studio times allow artists to stop by and create any time with a paid pARTicipant Studio Membership. In exchange for a monthly or yearly fee, artists and families have full access to the colorful supplies and resources within the studio. It is a space for creatives to share in inspiring one another.

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“The bravest people who come in here are 8-year-old girls,” said Grow, “because they will try anything and everything. They will be the leading charge sometimes, and be like, ‘Come do this, try this,’ and it’s such a cool thing to see the intergenerational sharing.”

Two sisters, ages 9 and 10, shared their experiences as pARTicipants over the past year. One discovered how to make intricate paper dragons, boasting an impressive collection of designs. The other explained that her favorite thing was “being able to hang out and make basically everything.”

These open studio times extend beyond painting and paper crafts, providing opportunities for creation through music, sewing, writing, and more. The staff highlighted the importance of empowering ideas and providing the space to bring those ideas to life.

“I think it’s important as artists for us to take our art seriously,” said Emily Jessen, a jewelry teaching artist. “If you actually have something that’s unique and made from your soul, people feel that.”

The afterschool clubs also take place within the studio, offering a slightly more structured approach in the afternoons each weekday. These clubs have different themes depending on the day of the week, such as sewing club, studio club, or art adventures.

Similarly, classes and workshops are offered to teach specific media and artistic techniques. These can range from making beeswax candles to watercolor to finger painting, with different options for adults, teens, and children. 

Other workshops collaborate with specific groups, such as ethnic minorities. One workshop involved having young people gather and make art honoring their moms and their cultural heritage.

Summer camps are also offered, some geared toward specific needs. A camp for neurodivergent kids was designed to reduce overstimulation. Shannon Kaseman, the lead sewing instructor, recalled her experience leading a pet-themed sewing camp for middle-schoolers. “They were all very anxious. They didn’t want to talk,” said Kaseman. “And you could tell the energy was completely different by the end of it, they were all helping each other out. It gave them confidence.”

One upcoming summer camp is generating a lot of anticipation within the studio. In 2022, Maxtivity became the custodian of The Glory, one of the oldest and largest kinetic sculpture vehicles in the country. Originally designed by a family in Dallas, Oregon, it made its debut in 2002 at Corvallis da Vinci Days, participating in competitions for racing and pageants with the help of engineers, artists, and cycling enthusiasts.

When da Vinci Days changed focus in 2022, organizers sought out local youth-serving organizations to take on stewardship of its kinetic sculptures. Maxtivity was chosen to care for The Glory, a decision that opened new creative and educational opportunities for the studio.

This week, students will reimagine The Glory as the Magic School Bus during a hands-on camp that teaches the science of simple machines and basic engineering. According to Lench, the partnership has been an exciting way to deepen community ties and expand Maxtivity’s STEAM programming.

Most recently, The Glory competed in the Graand Kinetic Challenge adorned as a vintage Model T wagon — a “Flapper and Dapper” makeover that earned the coveted prize for best art. The transformation was completed over 12 weeks with the help of Maxtivity members and the broader community.

While safety rules mean that only adults are allowed to ride The Glory, children are actively involved in its decoration. According to Maxtivity staff, this intergenerational project creates a powerful opportunity for young people to witness adults creating for the mere joy of it. This collaborative, immersive project reflects Maxtivity’s commitment to engaging with local events and building lasting connections.

“In rural spaces, the disposable income for [art classes] can change rapidly with the economy,” said Grow. “So we try to attend community events. We’ll show up.”

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The organization participates in the annual Corvallis Knights Science, Engineering, & Art (SEA) Day, which features educational exhibits around OSU’s Goss Stadium in conjunction with a preseason baseball game. During the event, Maxtivity interacts with hundreds of local families. At this spring’s SEA Day, visitors decorated paper mosaic tiles with an assortment of colorful designs. These tiles were then plastered onto a board to form a vibrant, unified mosaic collage.

Maxtivity also can regularly be found hosting creative booths at the Philomath Farmers’ Market. By 2024, the nonprofit had 45 local partnerships with organizations across the region.

Another way Maxtivity reaches the community is its Artist in Residency programs, or AiR. These partnerships allow youth to work directly with local artists in collaborative projects, often involving hundreds of peers.

In a long-term AiR project with Philomath Elementary School, artists lead an activity for the entire student body, around 350 kids. One year, ceramic artists taught students how to create their own glazed bowls, culminating in an exhibit for their parents. Another year, students painted a giant mural in the school garden.

Lori Paul, co-founder of Maxtivity, talked about the time when cardboard artist David Lynch helped organize a large art installation made entirely of cardboard and hot glue. Students created a giant sewing machine, a table, and a cauldron with the help of volunteers, young and old alike.

“It was just pretty incredible how everybody came together,” said Paul. “We were able to put up this whole display in this window down at a local business, and it was all cardboard.” 

When asked about her inspiration behind creating Maxtivity in 2018, Paul recalled a conversation that took place one afternoon with her friend Chelsea Kirkaldie over tea. They discussed the lack of creative resources within their community and felt compelled to do something about it.

Reflecting on her own experience growing up with a supportive art teacher and mother, Paul emphasized the significance of accessible art resources in shaping healthy perspectives. She stated that everyone deserves a space to be encouraged and united in their creativity. A nonprofit seemed the perfect option to accomplish this.

“This organization has connected me to so many wonderful people, artists and business owners, kids, and parents,” said Paul. “And that’s the beauty of Maxtivity at its core — how it connects us to others.”