Since 2014, revitalizing the Long Reach Village Center (LRVC) has been a complex venture. A variety of ideas had been proposed for the direction and function of vacant storefronts, and ultimately, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, along with other local officials, planned a community-guided leasing policy primarily focused on nonprofit and retail tenants who bring art, culture, education, and economic empowerment to the village center. One of the earliest and most visible tenants in this effort is DoodleHATCH, a large interactive art fantasy play environment for all ages. 

“We needed a home for all the exhibits from our (Fantasy Woods) festival. At the same time, Dr. Ball was looking to revitalize the Long Reach Village Center. In this case, the two problems solved each other,” says Lee Andersen, founder of DoodleHATCH. If the name Lee Andersen rings a bell, you may know her from Lee Andersen Art Clothing, originally located at The Historic Savage Mill complex; the LRVC is her second location in Howard County, featuring thousands of locally made garments. “I design everything here at the Long Reach Village Center. Sometimes, we give tours of the workshop and design studio to lucky DoodleHATCH visitors.”

This current iteration of Andersen’s artistic outreach came from other creative ventures, namely, ManneqART (founded in 2013), and the Fantasy Woods Festival founded in 2019. “ManneqART is a national arts and education 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that inspires creativity, teaches problem-solving skills, and rewards excellence in the creation of “Sculpture on the Human Form.” They host an annual competition that includes skill-building workshops, public artwork displays, and an awards event.

The Fantasy Woods Festival is a 3-day experience with over forty specialty vendors. The original exhibits from the festival are placed throughout DoodleHATCH, featuring different themes, entertainers, and kid-friendly activities. DoodleHATCH brings the whimsy of a walk filled with surprises around each corner; meeting mermaids, fairies, watching dueling knights, and a live unicorn. Visitors experience the wonder that is a department store that caters to “Magical Creatures, Time Travelers, and Galactic Tourists.” There is a grooming salon for unicorns where children braid manes and paint hooves, and twenty humans can jump on the giant-sized bed at one time before traveling through a space station with its very own escape hatch. 

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the benefits of screen-free play range from physical improvements in fitness, dexterity, and strength, to mental benefits such as a healthy imagination and emotional coping skills. “We always stress that play doesn’t just come on a screen,” Andersen emphasized, a sentiment she shares with Executive Director, Lilou Von Kokoro, who adds, “No cell phones around, just old-fashioned play.”

Every visitor has a chance to take part in any of the ongoing projects, and have their names listed nearby (and sometimes, on) the piece they contributed to. This hands-on approach to creativity and production gives visitors more than one way to be involved.

DoodleHATCH is a mixed-media heaven for artists and creatives from all walks of life. “I love working with hobbyists, home artists, people who work with wood, metal, or any mixed-media,” Von Kokoro says of her favorite part of working with the art collective. Recently, DoodleHATCH revealed murals of marching mythological creatures drawn by Justin Nepomuceno in a combined effort between teen and adult volunteers. Another contributing artist, Floridian Doe Badley, will be flying in to help with the upcoming Above the Sea Mural, a gallery glass project that measures 80 feet long and 6 feet tall. Funded by United Way through Leadership Howard County, additional local collaborator Jeromie Miller will head the painting, construction, and assembly of this mural, aimed at incorporating younger artists. 

The cooperative art effort has expanded beyond the walls of DoodleHATCH; another mural (still in the design phase) will adorn the walls of the nearby site for the new Head Start Program this year. Images will be selected by the Community Action Council.

1. The Head Start Project: Head Start is opening a new location in the LRVC. DoodleHATCH agreed to plan and paint a mural for their exterior play area fence. The project dimensions are an astounding 100 ft. long x 6 ft. tall, and will enlist local volunteers of all ages.

2. The Above the Sea Mural Project: This gallery glass project highlights many techniques, ultimately producing a work that looks like stained glass. “I love this technique; the colors change dramatically from day to night,” says Andersen excitedly. The beautiful colors provide a captivating piece; the technique is shown below in Doe Badley’s “Destiny,” photographed twice, in different lighting:

“We keep a record of every artist involved; their names go on the artwork,  connecting them to each other and the community,” says Andersen. DoodleHATCH is a creative, colorful inspiration to families and artists of all ages! Stay tuned for information on “Dragula,” DoodleHATCH’s premier Halloween costume party, to be held October 30th.