MouthPeace Arts Center, which has been formed by Newtown High School graduates Haley Keane and Zach Kapple, held a kick-off event at the Teen Center on Friday, October 18.

“It was really good. It was a lot of fun,” said Ms Keane, who graduated from Tufts University in Boston with a bachelor of fine arts degree in papermaking and bookmaking, following the event.

Despite a slow start, due to heavy traffic on I-84, Mr Kapple said the event attracted between 45 and 50 people. Mr Kapple attended Hunter College in New York before earning his associate’s degree in communications from Western Connecticut State University.

The idea for MouthPeace Arts Center morphed over time, according to Ms Keane. The current vision, as explained by Ms Keane to The Bee, is that MouthPeace Arts Center will offer workshops for high school aged teens at different locations around Newtown. Ms Keane also said events will be held to fundraise to provide the workshops for free in the future. Workshops in the works include papermaking, comic book writing, children’s book illustrating, playing guitar, and songwriting.

Friday’s event, called “Howl,” included an emcee, a DJ, and a video DJ (called a VJ), a poetry reading, performances by Americana Band The Proud Flesh, and other performances.

“We had some really cool poets come and perform,” said Ms Keane.

Mr Kapple said the night was “highly interactive” for those who attended, and a lot of people danced throughout the event.

“It seemed like everyone had a lot of fun,” Ms Keane said.

Both Mr Kapple and Ms Keane said they are already thinking about holding another event in the future;  a poetry slam night is one idea.

“We have a few different ideas in the works,” said Ms Keane.

Ms Keane said the Howl event was a good start for MouthPeace Arts Center, and “we have a lot to look forward to.”

Mr Kapple said the event was “very encouraging.”

Both said high school students can keep an eye out around Newtown High School for flyers to announce future events.

For further information about MouthPeace e-mail mouthpeacect@gmail.com.