BEACON FALLS — There is a new place in town for people to express themselves artistically.
Artist Robert Dancik has opened The Studio E.Y.E., which stands for Express Yourself Endlessly, in the Beacon Falls Business Park at 141 South Main St.
Dancik, an Oxford resident, is a practicing artist and taught art for more than 20 years on many levels. After retiring Dancik said he was looking for a studio where he can practice and teach.
“I wanted to combine the two,” Dancik said. “I was looking around a bit and this place just kind of presented itself. I love the light. I love the space.”
Aside from practicing his own craft, Dancik wants to help other artists — particularly novices — find their creative side.
“I’m running classes for the person who has never touched art before in their life and the person who says, ‘I can’t paint.’ My rejoinder to that is, how often do you try,” Dancik said.
Dancik is familiar with teaching people to embrace their artistic side. He worked as an art teacher in the public school system in White Plains, N.Y. and has traveled to other artists’ studios to lead classes.
“I have just been a practicing artist my entire life. Same goes with the teaching. They go hand in hand. I’ve been wildly fortunate that I’ve been able to combine the two. Now, instead of doing it with little kids I’m doing it with big kids,” Dancik said.
Economic Development Commission Chairman Jeremy Rodorigo said The Studio E.Y.E. brings a unique aspect to the businesses in town.
“It brings a new layer into Beacon Falls. We’ve never had anything like this before that I know of. It’s going to bring a new audience to maybe look at Beacon Falls in a different light,” Rodorigo said.
First Selectman Christopher Bielik said the studio has the potential to draw a different type of crowd to town.
“To have something so artistic in nature, something that is so totally different than most of the businesses that we’ve had here in town, this is an opportunity for Beacon Falls to really establish itself. If this draws the patronage we suspect that it might and Beacon Falls becomes a destination for things in the artistic world here in southern New England that would just be phenomenal. I can’t wait to see what the potential is for that,” Bielik said.
While he enjoys making his own art, Dancik said one reason he opened the studio is because he has a passion to help people get in touch with their own artistic side.
“It’s people’s self expression that drives me. I really believe in everyone’s individual voice through art,” Dancik said. “I really love the idea of helping other people to find their voice to enable them to express themselves and get their narrative out there.”
