By Ed Karvoski Jr., Contributing Writer
Hudson/Shrewsbury – Garrett Prince of Shrewsbury brings a lifetime of experience as an artist to his most recent venture. In August 2016, he and his girlfriend Maureen Conlon of Hudson opened I Sculpt U. He now teaches sculpting in their studio overlooking Wood Square at 14 Main St., Suite 1, in downtown Hudson.
Prince developed an interest in sculpting at age 3 when his parents bought him clay.
“I started sculpting on my action figures,” he recalled. “I took a liking to creating with my hands, feeling the material and constructing something from essentially nothing.”
In grades six to eight, Prince studied at the now-closed Garden Vision, a private school with an art-based curriculum that was affiliated with the Fitchburg Art Museum. Next, he chose to attend Hudson High School (HHS) because he felt its art program was compatible with his middle school curriculum.
“HHS took art seriously and allowed me to continue my creative process,” he said. “They were also great at helping me with my portfolio to get into college.”
After graduating from HHS in 2004, his studies continued through 2010 at Digital Media Arts College in Boca Raton, Fla. Upon returning to Shrewsbury, he began as a sculpting instructor from his home.
Prince still teaches his first student, 39-year-old Alex Jordan of Northborough. Their artistic working relationship has taught each of them valuable lessons.
“Alex is on the spectrum for autism and has a clear vision of what he wants to create,” Prince noted. “He progresses significantly each time we work together. It’s a genuine feeling of accomplishment helping anyone find their artistic groove, but with Alex it’s rewarding to watch him flourish and gain confidence in himself. That has helped me become a well-rounded instructor.”
While operating from his home for five years, Prince concurrently searched for a studio space and ultimately met his girlfriend. A Hudson resident, Conlon helped Prince scout for locations in town.
“Being reacquainted with the area really opened my perspective to what’s happening downtown,” he said. “We fell in love with this location in a building with a lot of history. It has sort of become an arts building.”
They invited guests of the 14th annual Hudson Downtown Holiday Stroll to visit their studio located on the second floor of the Odd Fellows Building, constructed in 1894. For many years, the building’s corner store – now Hudson Art & Framing – was Wheeler Pharmacy furnished with a soda fountain. Above that store at the time was a dentist office in the space now occupied by I Sculpt U. The building now also houses Ed Mascari Piano Studios and MetroWest Ballet.
“The dentist wrote ‘prescriptions’ for kids to go downstairs for a soda pop after getting their teeth cleaned,” Prince noted with a laugh. “Every day, I still look out the window and pinch myself because I can’t believe we’ve got a space this nice in the heart of a thriving community.”
Soon after opening the studio, they began conducting sculpting events. First, they offered a two-week workshop at Seven Hills Pediatric Center in Groton with eight brain-injured children and young adults.
“The residents’ quality of life might be diminished physically, but mentally their creative stimulation is through the roof,” Prince said.
Over the next several months, they presented sculpting events at downtown Hudson businesses including Amaia Martini Bar, Medusa Brewing Company and New City Microcreamery. At the studio, Prince teaches private and group sculpting classes for all ages and skill levels. I Sculpt U also hosts birthday parties.
Prince appreciates the benefits he gained from teaching a diverse range of students.
“I’ve learned it’s better to let people work at their own pace and guide them at their comfort level,” he said. “Teaching was something I started on a whim. Now, I feel that I’ve found my calling.”
For more information, contact Prince at 978-763-3201 or [email protected], and visit facebook.com/ISculptU.