2022 Fall Program...coming August 5th.

Join Alisha Pomazon to explore the belief that each of us holds within ourselves both a contemplative Monk and a creative Artist. This six-week workshop series will primarily be guided by the text in Christine Valters Paintner's book The Artist's Rule: nurturing your creative soul with monastic wisdom. Learn about and experience Lectio Divina, an ancient contemplative way of reading, slowing ourselves down in order to listen deeply. The embodied practice of creative expression allows us to fully engage in this important and soulful journey. The place where our contemplative Monk meets our creative Artist is a wonderully inviting and spiritual space.

This small group setting offers a safe and welcoming environment for exploration.

Alisha Pomazon is an assistant professor in the Religion and Culture Department at St. Thomas More College. She loves painting, designing "beautiful biblical verses," and looking at expressions of spirituality in art.

6 Tuesdays, May 17 - Jun 21 *Revised Workshop Dates

7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Workshop Fee: $145 - including Christine Valters Paintner's book The Artist's Rule: nurturing your creative sould with monasic wisdom ($23 value) and all creative materials used in class.

The Monk and Artist Within will be held in the lower level of The Refinery

Existential questions such as "Who am I?" or "What do I want?" can stop us in our tracks, which isn't helpful for increasing personal understanding or initiating change. This three-hour workshop uses creativity to bypass emotional roadblocks by combining creative prompts from Tyler Knott Gregson's wonderful book Miracle in the Mundane with the guided facilitation of an art therapist, Dianne Shannon. Participants will take home a personal copy of Miracle in the Mundane to allow the journey of 'getting to know me' to continue. No art experience is required, but a comfort using art materials is helpful. Scribblers and doodlers are welcome!

Dianne Shannon is a Registered Art Therapist with a private practice. Learn more about Dianne at https://dianneshannonarttherapy.ca

Wednesday, March 23

7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Class Fee: $45 - including a copy of Tyler Knott Gregson's book Miracle in the Mundane and all creative materials used in class.

Getting to Know Me will be held in the lower level of The Refinery

Paint Your Music is a unique experience creating a connection of expression between classical music and painting. Participants will create a canvas of soundscape art. You will express your own interpretation of classical music through the medium of painting. Using acrylics, brushes and canvas, you will be guided through suggested methods of painting. These methods are inspired by both musical structure and modern dance improvisation. While a pianist performs pieces encompassing various time periods of classical art music, you will see your emotional response take form on your canvas. Everyone feels music - it is sure to be a creatively beautiful experience.

Monday, May 16

7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Class Fee: $50 - including materials

Paint Your Music will be held in the upper level Theatre in The Refinery

You are an artist! Yes, you are.

This class will help you get familiar with some of the basic skills and techniques that will build your confidence and encourage you to continue building your art skills. Sometimes formal art instruction can feel intimidating to the newcomer, so let's get comfortable and take some small steps together. We will look at drawing skills and some exercises that will help you train your eye and hand, interpreting what you see onto a two-dimensional surface. Color can be confusing with an awful lot of color choices, so we will play with color and color mixing. Finally, we will put these new skills together creating a piece of artwork using...plasticine! Plasticine is a wonderul, tactile medium that is very forgiving and lot of fun!

2 Mondays - June 20 - June 27

7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Class Fee: $60 - including materials

Building Drawing and Color Skills will be held in the lower level of The Refinery