CLASS ID: 3Y801
Date/Time: Saturday, March 2, 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Greta Gaard, Ph.D. in English, MSW in Clinical Social Work & Mina Leierwood, M.A. in Education
Mindfulness practice teaches one how to set aside habitual patterns of thought, and to pay attention to a deeper level of sensations, images, emotions. Similarly, both good writing and expressive art address life’s greatest questions through a grounded awareness of sensations, environments, other beings, and earthly elements. This workshop introduces mindfulness practice accompanied by the practices of reading and writing poetry, and creating art.
In the morning session, we will read short poems that use mindfulness as a lens on life itself — poems by Mary Oliver, Pablo Neruda, Rumi, Lynn Ungar, David Wagoner, Naomi Shihab Nye — discussing these poems in terms of form, metaphor, sensory detail, rhythm and stanzas. The format alternates mindful poetry reading, reflection, discussion, and the practice of mindful poetry-writing.
In the afternoon session, participants will explore paper, ink, watercolor and assemblage to reflect and expound upon their written works. No artistic experience is necessary, only a sense of curiosity is needed. We’ll be learning to trust our intuitive, artist-selves, and with a little coaxing, your inner spirit is sure to come and play. By the end of the workshop, participants will have created a complementary pairing of poetry and art.
Continue reading
