Lighting that Creative Fire at The Arts at Center Street
Learning should be exciting. I’ve discovered that sometimes it is the introduction of something truly unique and different that lights a child’s creative fire. That’s often where art comes in! I love being a part of that process.
My name is Morgan Penny, and I am currently an intern at The Arts at Center Street while completing my final semester at Middle Tennessee State University. As I prepare to enter the working world, my goal is simple: to bring joy into the everyday rhythm of life and to be the kind of teacher I always wanted - someone who encourages exploration, embraces mistakes, and sees creativity as essential.
Where Mistakes Are Welcome!
In my workshops, mistakes are not something to fear but are learning opportunities. Art offers children a safe space to experiment, problem-solve, and grow. When a brushstroke doesn’t go as planned, or a design needs adjusting, students learn resilience and creative thinking. They discover that growth often comes from trial and error.
Art is more than just making something pretty. It is a physical representation of your child’s skills, effort, and thought process. In each project, they strengthen technical abilities like measuring proportions, identifying shapes within objects, and translating what they see onto paper or canvas. At the same time, they develop imagination, confidence, and the ability to think abstractly.
What Makes These Workshops Different?
These workshops are designed to be exciting and intellectually engaging. Each session offers something new, and carefully tailored to the age groups in attendance:
Painting projects that explore color, composition, and technique
Mosaic-style tiling where students plan and assemble cohesive designs
Creative painting that brings vibrant life to seemingly ordinary objects
Each finished piece will reflect new skills, creative risks, and thoughtful problem-solving.
Beyond technique, art can also be a healthy emotional outlet. For many students (myself included), creating art becomes a calm space in an otherwise overwhelming day. It’s a moment to explore curiosity, express emotions, and build something meaningful.
Creativity Beyond our workshops
Later in my internship, I will also be assisting with the production of Peter and the Starcatcher. From helping design sets and props to bringing imaginative ideas to life, I look forward to contributing to the magic that makes theater so powerful. Creative collaboration in productions like this shows students how art expands beyond the classroom and into storytelling, design, and performance.
Morgan Penny is a graduating Senior at Middle Tennessee University with a major in Fine Art. She is interning with The Arts at Center Street as a part of Metro Arts’ Community Arts Leaders of Nashville Program. We’re honored to have her! To learn more about Morgan and see examples of her work, visit her website: https://www.morgansgallery.store/about
