AOS to host ice cream social

NORWALK — The Artists Open Studio will feature homemade ice cream and pottery glazing for the entire family Aug. 12, as it hosts its Ice Cream Social. "I'm making the ice cream," said the studio's Keelie Webb. Webb, from Norwalk, said she will make the ice cream just ahead of the event, to ensure its freshness and proper taste and texture. She would not commit to what flavors she will produce, but said two of her favorites are mint Oreo and sour lemon. Some, she said, may be more of a gelato texture or a sorbet. There's been a request for toppings," she added. The event is new to AOS this year, Webb detailed. For $35, attendees may create their own short-glazed pottery vessels. The staff will provide any needed assistance with creation and firing of the vessels. The studio's staff is excited for the event, Webb said, and she anticipates it to be well-attended. "I hope families come," Webb said, adding she hopes parents will bring their children to the ice cream social. Opening the facility to the public showcases the studio and its offerings to the community, she said. "I just love to see kids in this space," she said, "to see that there's an opportunity to be an artist." The Artists Open Studio began in 2004, as an extension of the art program at Christie Lane School, so that art instruction could continue after students' graduations. In 2019, the nonprofit became a free-standing organization and moved into its present location, 32 E. Main St., next to the Norwalk Reflector. The organization caters to adults in the community with developmental disabilities, primarily through painting and the creation of ceramic art pieces.