For over 25 years we helped thousands of people create memories at Artbeat, our walk-in art studio in Arlington, MA. Jan opened Artbeat in 1996 with the mission to make it easy for everyone to have hands-on art experiences. Jan's son Drai and daughter-in-law Virginia helped build the business, and together we developed new and fun ways to use sand as an art material.
We observed how much people enjoy making things together when there’s no pressure to “get it right” or to have a particular outcome. We wanted to bring that same fun experience to a format that most adults can relate to, and can do at home.
We had the chance to do that when, during the 2020 pandemic, we closed Artbeat and moved our equipment to a private studio in Lowell, MA. There we developed a new kind of art experience that combines a modern focus on mindfulness with the soothing touch of sand and the power of an ancient symbol. Our first product, The Personal Mandala Kit was conceived and brought to life through Kickstarter and is now being offered to retail shops across the United states.
