BERLIN — A new West Ocean City studio is looking to “open doors” while encouraging creativity through an eclectic mix of acting camps, poetry nights, art workshops and more.
Owner Jami Hudson-Vlachos hopes to make the Open Door Studio an outlet for likeminded artists.
“I’m a life, business and performance coach, and I wanted a place to do what I do,” she said. “Workshop space and meeting space, just a place to relax and create. At the same time, I started to hear about others who wanted to do the same thing.”
Hudson-Vlachos currently shares the studio with two other artists — photographer Kimberly Tucker and vintage designer Kristy Clarke. There will also be a workstation at the studio for drop-in artists who are looking for some temporary space. It can be a perfect set-up, said Hudson-Vlachos, for an artist who is used to working at home but wants to spread his or her wings while working on a project.
Besides having artists in residence, Hudson-Vlachos will be using Open Door to host a number of camps and workshops.
“We have everything from classes and workshops to an art bar, which is kind of ‘come and make some art and have some goodies’ to poetry night, house concerts, and girl’s night out once a month,” she said. “It’s going to be an eclectic, full calendar each month.”
That calendar will be posted on the studio’s website, www.opendoorsoc.com, every month. Some of the highlights that Hudson-Vlachos mentioned include two musical theatre camps, one for children and another for teens and adults.
“I am offering something called, ‘Summer’s Not a Bummer,’ camp. It is a musical theatre camp. Two weeks in June, July and August for grades 4 through 8,” she said. “At the end, there will be a performance showcase that will be an original production that they write.”
For adults, there will be a “Share the Spotlight” camp in the near future.
With a history in performance, Hudson-Vlachos said that she will make music and theatre the areas of focus for Open Door. Children especially benefit from an early introduction to the arts, she added.
“This gives them an opportunity to really increase their confidence, build teamwork and hone lots of individual skills,” said Hudson-Vlachos.
Performance coaching will be just one of the avenues that Hudson-Vlachos will specialize in. She will offer life, business, finance and family coaching as well at Open Door. “I help people find the ‘yes,’” she said.
Hudson-Vlachos compared life coaching to construction and explained that it is her job to make sure that all of the pieces fit together.
“It’s very much similar to building a home,” she said.
A certified family counselor, Hudson-Vlachos also will be offering financial coaching, which she said will be different than what people typically expect when they meet with an accountant or banker.
“It’s really about your relationship with money,” she said.
Besides the variety of coaching options and artistic workshops, Open Door can also be used for conferences. The room has an unusual and retro design highlighted by refurbished vintage furniture. Instead of cubicles or walls, the space is divided by curtains strung between the disassembled posts of an old and large bed.
“The whole thing can be opened. Part of the evolution is that it’s a great place to have meetings,” said Hudson-Vlachos. “The creativity just soars … productivity goes through the roof in this kind of environment, in a shared space environment.”
The Open Door Studio will have its grand opening on June 5 with a ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. and an open house and wine tasting until 8 p.m. For more information visit the studio’s website or email [email protected]