Panta Rhei gives back

Panta Rhei is a Fredericksburg-based project to artistically and socially connect young artists from all around the area. Their goal - to provide students with the necessary tools and education to pursue their creativity.

"I think what we've done successfully so far is built a community," said Ian Soper, one of the organization's creators. "A lot of people know about what we're doing… there's a community of students who are sort of rallying around it."

As a young organization, Panta Rhei has hosted numerous events.

Soper and co-creator Ryan Poe decided to start Panta Rhei with the hope of uniting people from all different backgrounds.

Many Fredericksburg-area students have been involved with the process of clearing the studio as well as cleaning and painting it. Panta Rhei is a project of the Fredericksburg Athenaeum. The Athenaeum is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to arts of all kind, sharing Ryan and Ian's dream of a united and peaceful place to express.

"The studio has the potential to breakdown barriers in our community by overcoming the financial limitations of deserving artists and allowing an equal opportunity to express an artistic voice in the community," according to the Panta Rhei Web site.

The very principal of Panta Rhei is unity and the expansion of knowledge in the community. April is dedicated to the earth in the Panta Rhei studio. The studio hosts monthly contests based on a given category. Soper and Roe teach their own classes, and the next class date is set for April 28. The classes, costing only $10, will provide students with excellent resources as well as four hours of creation time. There will be drawing. photography, and filmmaking workshops offered at the April 28 session.

"Growing up, we both learned that... these are expensive hobbies," said Poe "When we were in high school, and younger, we were given resources… we wanted to do the same thing, kind of give that back again to the students who might be interested and not have access to that."

Panta Rhei's very name - means "all things are in flux" in Greek -  carries the meaning of the constant change society faces.

Working with the Athenaeum, donors, students, and various supporters of their idea, The Panta Rhei project is a promising way towards unity and expression that anyone can be a part of.

Together with the Athenaeum, Panta Rhei hosts open studios, shows, potlucks and formals, with more to come, Soper and Poe promise.

For more information and class/event schedules, go to pantarheiproject.com.

Chelsea Evans can be reached at .