While After School Arts Programs are widely available, it’s come to our attention (upon having our own kids in these programs) that the size and scale of the projects available in some these art classes have become limited – emphasizing ease of transport, cost of materials, and a finished product that’s created alone at a table full of other kids who are also working on their own project under the instruction of a teacher.

But what comes next? What happens when we outgrow the small individual projects?
Where’s the space for experimentation, tools, and creation from scratch? When do we get to the big stuff?

What do you make when someone isn’t telling you what to make?

Well … as a kid, that can be a tricky question.

But … that’s an even more difficult question as an adult! A blank canvas is daunting! Literally and conceptually!

As adults, we learn fairly quickly (and mostly by getting thrown into sink-or-swim-style scenarios) that doing things “on your own” isn’t how things get done.

It takes a Team!

And being a part of a team is a skillset in its own right.

So where do we learn how to be a team-player?

Sports!

Sure. Sports … I guess. And don’t get us wrong … sports have their place.

Physical activity! Community Spirit! Entertainment! Camaraderie!

But I think if you’re still reading this, we can probably agree that the over-sport-ification of our society has, in-part, lead us to the very bizarre, dualistic, and fruitionlessly competitive space that we find ourselves in at this very moment. Winners and losers? If I win, you lose?! Cmon!

I mean … I like sports but not sports aren’t everything. Right? We don’t need to be competitive about everything! Not everyone’s wired that way. I’m certainly not.

What if there was a team that didn’t emphasize the Versus? What if there was a team that wasn’t constantly in competition? What if there was a team that wanted everyone to win?!

What if there was a team whose goal was to build something together? Something bigger than the sum of its parts…

What if there was an Art Team?

Well my friends … enter the

Krewe du Ewe
(“Crew-Do-You”)

(a cheeky play on Mardi Gras’ iconic Krewe Du Vieux)

KdE is an Art Team designed to foster collaborative, team-focused, large-scale process-art by setting a simple goal: Build the most outlandish, conceptual, comical parade sculptures you can imagine.

But how?

Well … that’s for EWE to decide!

And that, my friends, is the WHOLE POINT!

Krewe du Ewe is here to guide and facilitate the creation of LARGE ART through the cooperation and teamwork of people from all ages.

By encouraging and allowing people to create for the betterment of the whole krewe, a team builds itself!

We’re not here to tell folks how to make things. But we’re happy to show you how we’ve learned to do it. At the end of the day, we’re really here to learn how to build something TOGETHER!

The projects are BIG and they won’t fit in your backpack. But the process is BIGGER and you can take that wherever your imagination allows.

If this sounds like something you’d be into, we can’t wait to meet you!

We’ll see you at the PARADE!

Krewe Du Ewe utilizes recycled and approachable materials, real-world construction techniques, and fine-art materials. Classifying our projects as “mixed media” would be a wild understatement. We source materials based on the needs of our current projects and we’re constantly building out our library of whimsical gear. That being said, know that safety is our number one priority as it’s impossible to have a good time when people are getting hurt.

But our process is less focused on physical craft and more focused on experimentation and implementation of ideas.

What do you want to build?

Sounds good. Let’s figure it out.

Based on our years of practice, we’ve come to find that sometimes the biggest hurdle an artist needs to overcome is believing that they can make something they don’t YET know how to make and GOING FOR IT!

If it’s not working, switch it up.

If it’s cooking right along, don’t get lazy. Stay vigilant.

It’s all about the PROCESS!

Mic Fox is an artist an author based in Lakewood, OH. His love for making big whimsical art stems from his desire to see more big whimsical art in the world. If he’s not working on a book or a play or a big painting via Fort Famly Playhouse, you can find him helping others facilitate their artistic vision or cruising around on his bike.

Molly Fox is an artist, musician, and teacher based in Lakewood, OH. Through her years in Montessori education, she’s harnessed an intimate understanding of child development, seeing children take leaps and bounds when they’re allowed to process and develop at their own pace. She functions as an artistic and educational consultant for all of KdE’s educational programs.