Make learning aRt

a place for dreamers, makers, and everyday artists to play full out.

Play Full Ground is a Creative Microschool and Learning Lab for youth in Monterey, CA.

At Play Full Ground, art isn’t just about how things look—it’s about how we think, act, and create change. Founded by artist and educator Mai Ryuno, Play Full Ground is a creative learning community where students turn ideas and dreams into reality through curiosity, collaboration, and creativity.

Here, failure is not an end but a step toward discovery. Students, families, and mentors together form a community that learns by doing—experimenting, reflecting, and evolving.

Guided by the Think, Do, Share framework and inspired by project-based learning and socially engaged art, students explore real-world challenges, design creative responses, and share their learning with the community.

The school itself is a living artwork—an evolving collaboration between students, parents, educators, and supporters—working together to reimagine what education can be.

play full ground alternative high school learning community space front door

play full ground micro high school welcome graphics

I'm Mai Ryuno

Artist | Educator | Founder

“Education itself can be an art form—and every student an artist of their own life.”

My mother once called me a dreamer and encouraged me to follow my vision of moving from Japan to the United States—to make friends around the world and become an artist. She didn’t give me directions, but she gave me something more important: her trust. That trust became my compass, guiding me to discover my own path through curiosity, courage, and creation.

As I practiced process-based, socially engaged art, I began to see that the creative process itself is a way of life—a way to turn imagination into reality and uncover who we truly are. Through art, I learned not just how to make things, but how to make meaning, community, and change.

Over time, I realized that art is not about talent or technique—it’s about connection, discovery, and perseverance. I don’t draw or paint; instead, I became an artist of learning, exploring how education can be a creative act in itself.

Play Full Ground grew out of this journey. It is the living expression of what I’ve learned: that when people are trusted, supported, and encouraged to explore, they can create extraordinary things. Here, I offer to students what my mother once offered to me—a place of trust, possibility, and belonging, where each person can experiment, fail, learn, and ultimately become the artist of their own life.

mai ryuno artist educator founder of play full ground looking up to a blue sky

New ProgramS
Starting January 2026

Let's spark creativity, collaboration, and community engagement together

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Discover

Learn・Create・Connect

Social CommunityArt

Express

Explore the intersection of creativity, community, and social impact through immersive, project-based learning.

ArT+DesignCreativity Classes

Experiment

Hands-on learning that merges artistic practice with innovation, teamwork, and community connection.

Youth

Co-Studying Space

Connect

A collaborative space for young learners to engage, create, and support one another’s learning journeys.

Public

Engagement

Exhibition

Engage

Studio presentations and community engagements showcase students’ learning and creative expression each semester.

Students' Voices

"I like the approach-not giving too many specific instructions, but instead allowing students to experiment and find their own style. Mai is also very encouraging to all students. She fosters a good atmosphere of sharing and learning from each other."

"She works well with all the different stages individuals may be in with their work. Has insights and ideas to share, but lets the student find his or her own way at the same time."

megaphone with flowers for student voices section of website

"Mai uses thought provoking discussions in order to become a catalyst for a student’s awareness of art as a formal expression."

"Mai is a wonderful person. She gives great feedback and critiques your artwork in a way that makes you understand what you can do better on. Very inspirational as well and encourages you to challenge yourself as well as, in a sense, open a door to your creativity if you let it happen."

"Mai has great ideas to challenge one’s routine way of going about work. She’s truly non judgmental about students' different approaches."