KCAC Promotes Artistic Enrichment With Creative Corner

HANFORD - The Kings County Arts Council (KCAC) held its Creative Corner event for November at the temporary library in Hanford, located at 110 S. 11th Ave. Amanda Lee, coordinator of the event, partnered with local writer Soyo Marta to host a free junk journaling class on Saturday, Nov. 7. These monthly events are open to the public as a way to encourage the local community to exercise their artistic abilities.

Marta kicked off the class by having all attendees jot down a gratitude list in their journals. These journals were provided for free, although some people brought their own books from home. Afterwards, Marta encouraged the group to single out an item from the list and write about it in greater detail. This was an excellent lesson in appreciating everything in our lives, no matter how big or small. More importantly, Marta emphasized the significance of recognizing the bad that comes with the good and the humanity of creating imperfect works, as life itself is not perfect.

A key takeaway from this insightful introduction to the class is that “journaling is forgiving.” You can step away from it for days, weeks, or years, and come back to it when you’re ready. It’ll always come naturally no matter how long it’s been since your last entry, simply because it’s you speaking from the heart. One participant shared their vulnerability with recent feelings of grief, and another shared their venture into gardening and its connection to their personal growth, as well as failures.

The “junk” part came after the group had set the mood with innate feelings about life and what it means to us as individuals. A caddy of craft supplies was made available with scissors, stick glue, and colored markers to share. Some of the supplies were borrowed or donated from the library, and Marta brought in her own stack of newspapers and magazines from her ever-growing collection. One person brought some sticker sheets from home while another person was elbow-deep in their watercolor palette.

Everyone was encouraged to share their newly crafted pages and the reasoning behind their work. It was heartwarming to see so many people of all ages share their unique interests and experiences through this shared activity. There were just over 20 people in attendance, including kids, teens, adults, and seniors, all with their own motivations for participating. This class inspired so many creatives in the group that one person even volunteered to host an upcoming class for painted rocks.

As a local writer, Marta takes her experience in journalism, playwriting, and short stories to fuel her love for junk journaling. Her favorite part is the mental health aspect. Letting out her feelings on paper rather than holding it all inside helps lower her stress levels and keeps her focused on what’s important.

Marta said, “There are times when I don’t journal for a minute, or for a few weeks, and I will come back to it, and it’s just an amazing feeling to be able to stay in the moment, stay present, and actually focus on the things that matter to me.”

This isn’t the first time that Marta’s been involved with KCAC events. In fact, she’s open to teaching another class at the library. She’s split between teaching another junk journaling class or something entirely different. We’ll find out the answer in time, but the chances of her knocking it out of the park once again aren’t even up for debate.

In the meantime, Marta is exploring the wonders of poetry. She continually places herself as the center of her written works in an endless journey of “Learning to love myself as I am, even though I am working on myself as I should…I also have trouble with accepting some of these, what I think are less desirable parts of myself. And so through writing, I’m learning to accept and love these parts of me as well.” It’s only a matter of time before she’s officially published, especially with a sponsor already vouching for her creative talent.

Follow KCAC on Instagram to keep up with all upcoming events, the next one being the Downtown Hanford Art Walk on Nov. 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5-8 p.m. There will be local artists, performers, small businesses, and fun prizes. Support Soyo Marta on her newfound poetic journey. Stay tuned for updates on the new library set to open sometime in 2027.