WEST PITTSTON — Cabrini and Salvatore “Sam” Greco came to Greater Pittston with the purpose to help people express their inner creativity.

The best way they could do that was to open Greco Creative Arts Center, which offers various forms of expressing art through painting, dancing, music, yoga, education, poetry and healing arts such as meditation and hypnosis.

The center is located at 602 Luzerne Ave. and is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

“Our purpose is really about community,” said Cabrini. “We want to bring people together in their own uniqueness, and their own individual gifts and bring awareness to who they are. We believe everyone has a personal gift and a personal skill that they can guide it and have within them to bring forth.”

Related Video

The center opened a few weeks ago and is a non-profit organization that is undergoing the process of obtaining a 501c3, which would make it exempt from federal income taxes.

The husband and wife duo from Kingston said they operate on a volunteer basis and use the money made to go back into the building’s necessities such as electrical and heating as well as art supplies. They earn their living through private one-on-one sessions with customers.

Cabrini said the idea for the business came when her and her husband decided to pack up and travel the country back in 2003 with only $200 in their pockets.

Salvatore said the center was always in the plan when the couple made that decision to travel.

“The idea for the physical center was from day one in 2003,” he said. “Finally it has arrived, but it took all this experience of traveling and working with people to bring this place about.”

Salvatore spent time studying art in Rome, Italy and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree as well as a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Windsor located in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

He will teach visual arts classes that include painting, drawing and making three-dimensional art projects as well as working with school children to help them with education through art.

“I facilitate art classes that help kids understand certain concepts of mathematics and geography at their school level,” said Salvatore. “Let’s say, like third grade math patterns, where the child can’t understand mathematical patterns. They will create a mobile where they will cut out patterns and will make patterns out of pieces. Another one is they can sculpt, through puddy, the various stages of plant growth where we will have four or five pieces of sculpture from seed to blossom that takes on their science.”

Salvatore said he will also be teaching dance classes in the near future.

Cabrini will be teaching healing arts classes that include hypnosis, stress relief reduction, weight control and pain management.

She received her certification as a hypnotherapist at the Hypnotherapy Training Institute in Corte Madera, California and has been working with the healing arts for over 30 years.

“When people think of hypnosis they think of entertainment hypnosis and not in a therapeutic way or not in a personal development way,” said Cabrini. “It’s about restructuring your own thought process and the individual does that themselves. What I do is I induce people into the state of hypnosis through a state of relaxation and they have their own experience with whatever that evening’s topic is.”

Although customers can call Greco Creative Arts Center for appointments at 570-655-1100, Salvatore and Cabrini have an open door policy, meaning anyone can walk in and participate in a class right on the spot.

With Pittston undergoing an art revitalization, Salvatore and Cabrini hope they can do something similar in West Pittston.

“We’re in it for the long haul,” said Cabrini. “We’re really thrilled to have our center here in West Pittston.”

Husband and wife Salvatore and Cabrini Greco talk about services offered at Greco Creative Arts Center. The center is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Classes and seminars are available; walk-ins welcome.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Creative-Art-1.jpg.optimal.jpgHusband and wife Salvatore and Cabrini Greco talk about services offered at Greco Creative Arts Center. The center is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Classes and seminars are available; walk-ins welcome. Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch

Cabrini Greco, a Scranton native, points out an inspiration canvas titled ‘Messages to Humanity.’
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Creative-Art-2.jpg.optimal.jpgCabrini Greco, a Scranton native, points out an inspiration canvas titled ‘Messages to Humanity.’ Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch

Artist Sam Greco stands in front of art he created and on display at the Creative Art Center, located at 602 Luzerne Ave., West Pittston.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Creative-Art-3.jpg.optimal.jpgArtist Sam Greco stands in front of art he created and on display at the Creative Art Center, located at 602 Luzerne Ave., West Pittston. Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch

By Jimmy Fisher

jfisher@timesleader.com

Reach Jimmy Fisher at 570-704-3972 or on Twitter @SD_JimmyFisher