SPF-TIG hosts Paint Party bringing the community together

While some made the typical Friday night plans others made the decision to join in for a night of painting, fellowship and promoting substance abuse prevention.

Tiffany Bohrer, owner of the Tipsy Artist, instructs the paint party at the Concho Community Center.

On Sept. 30 tribal members were invited to partake in a ‘Paint Party' hosted by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Strategic Prevention Framework and Substance Abuse programs (SPIFTIG) at the Concho Community Center in Concho, Okla. Empty canvases, paints and brushes lined the tables that soon were filled with over 80 participants.

Special guest, Tiffany Bohrer, owner of the Tipsy Artist Paint Palace in Guthrie, Okla., led the paint party with live painting demonstrations, giving tips and tricks to the art of painting.

"Seeing the community come together and do things together, you see grandparents here with their grandkids you see parents here with their kids and that's what we're talking about, bringing community back together in doing these events, spending time together; that family connection is what keeps our people away from the drugs and alcohol and that's what we're going after," Clara Bushyhead, SPIF-TIG coordinator said.

Tribal members were encouraged to be creative, choosing from one of two paintings on display already completed to emulate. There was a colorful painting of a war-horse and an equally colorful painting of a buffalo to choose from.

"Tribal members wanting change, change for their communities, change within their lives, this is just one activity that's something fun and enjoyable that can be shared with families across generations. Here we have youth, working adults, retirees, its one of those activities that can be shared with family," Cheyenne & Arapaho Dept. of Health Executive Director Nicolas Barton said.

While engaging with one another in a fun filled environment and supporting prevention of substance abuse, painting is also a form of prevention and relaxation.

"Painting and listening to music is a really great healthy outlet that relaxes people and gives them something fun to do and people usually say that the time slips away and they just forget whatever they were stressed about. This has been really encouraging cause there's been lots of ages and it's been really good for the community. I've seen really little kids and not very elderly people, its neat to see lots of different ages, lots of men and women and lots of different people enjoying the whole process," Bohrer said.

The paint parties were also held in the Watonga and Clinton communities. Participants also received a t-shirt along with their paintings.

The Tipsy Artist Paint Palace is located in Guthrie, Okla. For bookings or more information call 405-757-8779.