Melanie Massey Groves

Bringing MoJoy to MoPeople

article by Maré Brennan

Melanie Massey Groves needs an accordion fold-out business card. This energetic, mother-of-two established one of the most successful physical therapy practices (Melanie Massey Physical Therapy) in 1995 to serve patients in West Monroe, Monroe, Ruston and Shreveport and has never shied away from an opportunity or a challenge. Her physical therapy motto is “to joyfully use your gifts to brighten the lives of others.”  Known for her innovative approaches to physical therapy, it is no surprise to find “creativity” is a word frequently used wherever Melanie leads. Her inspirational, painted canvases and intricate, hand-crafted jewelry and beadwork have gained a huge following of devotees. Melanie has for years used the creative arts as part of occupational therapies in her practice. As part of her outreach as a John Maxwell Co.-trained motivational life and leadership coach, Melanie has hosted creativity workshops, where women would join together for a weekend of crafts, fellowship, canvas painting, jewelry-making and inspiration. Through MoCo (a play on Melanie’s nickname of “Mo” and the word “motivational,” Melanie offers individual and business coaching, public speaking, motivational retreats and corporate leadership training. Melanie’s blog, www.mymojoy.com, blends all of her worlds in one easy and fun to read online stop.

Melanie’s latest endeavor, MoJoy Studio is a logical “next-step” for this dynamo. “It’s like it was meant to be,” explains Melanie about having the building next door to her Melanie Massey Physical Therapy West Monroe office come up for rent this past January. MoJoy Studio is a one-of-a-kind artspace where the creative process becomes a key to learning and unlocking self-awareness through any number of media. For Melanie, who was an art major before going to physical therapy school, her life has come full circle with all aspects perfectly interwoven.

For Children: MoJoy Studio has after-school art classes forming now for the fall. If this summer’s children’s activities are any indication, MoJoy is the place to be if you are a budding young artist. Led by local artist/instructor and Best Artist of the Delta winner Emery Thibodeaux or art education major Suzy Allen, kids are able to explore the world of art in a way that is geared to instill a sense of accomplishment and confidence and teach skills that open up untapped creativity and problem solving. “Teaching kids to be creative is good for any career,” explains Melanie, as she points to a mixed media canvas that is centered with a child’s photograph in profile with words like “awesome” and “kind” filling the spaces around the child’s face. “This summer we did several esteem building projects, like these canvases with self-portraits and the words they used to describe themselves.”

Camp Creative Kids’ Classes (ages 5-10) will take place on Mondays starting September 8 and on Wednesdays beginning September 10 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. This class focuses on creativity and will get your child exposed to many different art forms, including painting with acrylics and watercolors, drawing mixed media collage and ceramics. With a different project each week, this class is the perfect way to start developing artistic skills.

The Tribe – Devoted Young Artists (ages 10-14) classes take place on Thursdays starting September 11 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  This class is for young artists who are looking to make the leap from creativity to fine art, offering a more in-depth approach and incorporating the elements of art, principles of design and the creative process. The Tribe starts out with drawing basics (pencil, ink and charcoal) and transitions into color theory and focused, multi-session canvas paintings.

All children’s classes will run for twelve weeks throughout the fall semester, breaking only for the week of Thanksgiving and ending the first week of December. An Artists’ Reception will be held Saturday, December 6 to celebrate each artist’s best works. Call 318.884.8334 or email [email protected] for more information about classes.

Children will love to celebrate and create with Birthday Parties by MoJoy. The birthday boy or girl gets to pick their favorite art project, invite their friends and create unique and meaningful art with a MoJoy instructor. The project can be customized to suit any birthday theme. And if you are busy mom with no time to plan, MoJoy Studio can even handle every detail from cake to decorations. Call to find out how easy and fun your child’s next birthday can be!

MoJoy Studio is not just for kids! August has been Teacher Month at the studio with teachers receiving 10% off classes or products, including the incredible “Let’s Grow! Teacher Edition” Planners that Melanie has developed especially for teachers. Each of these workbooks for teaching professionals helps chart areas of personal growth and can be used as evidence toward reaching Common Core goals. You have to see these planners to believe them!

Feeling jealous and want to get in on the creativity? MoJoy Studio offers custom classes that are perfect for a day trip or girls night out. If you bring 5 friends, then you get to come free! Simply pick the kind of project you and you friends will want to do, whether it’s a mixed media canvas, ceramics, jewelry design, painted wooden bangle bracelets or any number of fun projects. Invite your friends. Bring your own food and beverages. And come make unique and meaningful art! The possibilities for fun are endless… Melanie envisions Big Sis Lil’ Sis Sorority get togethers, Bachelorette parties, Mother/Daughter collaborations and so much more centered around a unique class creating memories and awesome projects to take home.

As the holidays start to approach, be on the lookout for a handmade pop-up shop within the MoJoy Studio where you can find artisan crafted gifts, small stocking stuffers or the beads, materials and tools to create your own holiday masterpiece.

Melanie is known throughout the country for her women’s art/personal growth retreats that she has hosted at her home, drawing participants from as far as New Jersey, New York and Florida. Says Melanie, “Everything we do at the retreat is based on determining your core values and priorities and how to maximize those in your life.” The crafts created during the retreat are used to reinforce those core values, like jewelry featuring key words from value statements, subtle reminders in a chic wearable cuff or necklace.

Want to learn more and unleash your inner creative spirit or that of your child’s? Call MoJoy Studio at 318.884.8334 or email [email protected] to sign up today. To learn more about MoJoy Studio or MoCo Motivational Coaching, follow Melanie’s blog at www.mymojoy.com or follow them on Facebook or
Instagram @mojoystudio.