Black Cat Teahouse

= Black Cat Teahouse (Sub-Free Prescott 90) =

Also:Green Tea, Green Talk; Black Cat @ Christmas; Black Cat's Heart On Your Sleeve (see below)



House Specialties: ''Sugar, Advice, Insanity. Tea, Lemon, Other Items as available. Also Art Supplies &amp;      Conversation.''

Tea: Lotus, Morrocan Mint, Ginger Machi Green.

Coffee: Hazelnut, Wicked Wolf Dark Roast.

Mission       The Black Cat Teahouse is created in recognition of the fact that community space is crucial to individual accomplishment, and that such a space is not simply created through artwork, tea, academic editing, or general “counseling” atmosphere. Community is formed through multiple peoples' commitment to an environment where each individual’s experiences have value and are worth the support of others. The Black Cat Teahouse attempts to form a catalyst for this committment, and further believes that trust, open-mindedness, respect and dynamic listening-skills are the products of this environment, and will radiate outward into many aspects of campus life.

Events        Green Tea, Green Talk - One Saturday night a month, 6-8 p.m. open house @ Mod 90. Join me to share, discuss and explore green ideas for Hampshire College and inform my actions as part of the Hampshire College Environmental Committee. Black Cat @ Christmas - Communal Advent Calendar! Communal gift wrapping! Come over during December to sign up for a day to open a chocolate-filled advent calendar door! And/or, spend an afternoon (TBD) wrapping gifts with hot chocolate. Black Cat's Heart on Your Sleeve - Create valentines for those you love (or want to) to the sound of whatever is on iTunes shuffle...and lots of conversation. Brownies may be included.

Teahouse History          Throughout my childhood, one of the most important resources my parents gave me was availability of art supplies and encouragement to create. Although material goods were lacking, I was taught to be extremely resourceful with whatever I could find. My mother’s Russian and Finnish magazines; sewing scraps, paints and chalks from my father’s studio; our backyard’s contents; and found glass, bottlecaps, nails and screws I scoured the alley for; all of these became building-blocks in the world I learned I could create. When I came to college, I suddenly found myself in a room stripped to essentials. I soon realized that the one resource I could not do without was the creative outlet of making art. Hampshire’s rigorous academic environment required much personal investment, and I needed a form of mental and emotional relaxation. I began looking around for art materials, and soon discovered the mailroom recycling bin’s treasure trove. Fliers, posters, envelopes and handouts – all printed on colored or patterned paper – were there for the taking. With glue and found items such as pressed flowers and package-labels, I was ready. Soon brightly-colored paper cuttings and collages appeared throughout the dorm. My dorm-mates’ excited reactions quickly revealed the potential to be far more than relieving my own stress through art. In the dorms’ shared-living environment, the stress of each individual combined with everyday experiences to produce an emotional sum greater than the parts. Hampshire lacked a campus communal art space, yet many students needed a constructive, relaxing activity and a sense of community. I decided to create such a space. Seeing how positive interactions arose from discussion of my artwork, my hall &amp; I decided to use my room as a space to open the availability of art supplies to those in the dorm. After myself and my friends raided the scrap-paper bin from the mailroom, we had our colored paper supply. I encouraged hall-mates to come by for art activities anytime, I supplying the paper and glue, they creating the positive exchanges that started to form a sense of hall-wide community. During this, my junior, year, I am once again exploring the community-building potential of a campus art space. I have been able to open up the availability of tea, art supplies and support. During Christmas time I provided gift-wrapping and decorating materials, as well as a communal advent calendar. For Valentine’s Day, I organize a valentine-making party. There is always free tea, and I make it known I will always listen and offer support no matter what the situation, whether requiring cover-letter editing, Ramen, or advice on ear piercing (“Don’t use that sewing needle. Go to a licensed piercing shop.”).