Freeing the Artist Within

Arts & Spirituality RetreatFriday & Saturday, February 9 – 10, 2018

Come and explore fellowship through and within the arts and awaken your creative spirit!

Sponsored by the Worship & Arts Committee

Arts Experience Opportunities – Session IIICalligraphy Gothic lettering—sometimes referred to as Blackletter writing—is often a favorite of beginners as it lends a sense of formality to a work. It is a classic, dramatic lettering style, and a great way to introduce yourself to writing with a broad edge nib. Participants will be guided through the basics before creating their own dramatic Gothic letters. Facilitated by Debby Reelitz

Clay Vessels Here’s an opportunity for you to work with clay to create a vessel that will capture and hold positive energy and light! Facilitated by Susan Hight

Open to Your Innate Creativity with Gentle Yoga This gentle yoga and meditation is designed to turn your attention inward, allowing you to access your creative self. Through controlled breath and movement, we’ll access a place of stillness and mindfulness. Wear stretchy, comfortable clothing. Bring a yoga mat or borrow one of ours. Beginners welcome— no experience necessary. Facilitated by Cynthia Wolcott

There is a Time “To Everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under the Sun.” Often times we see/hear/read something powerful, yet can’t articulate why it works. Modern dance pioneer Jose Limon choreographed powerful dances with human themes. This session will focus on his classic piece There is a Time set to Norman Dello Joio’s award-winning Meditations on Ecclesiastes. This lecture-style session is designed as purely enrichment; an opportunity for participants to see/understand the process, and use of symbolism within the art forms of music and dance. Presented by Kate Swanson

Touch, Interlock, Absorb: A Dance Canvas Everybody dance now! Participants reconnect to their bodies by seeing and moving in new ways. Participants will experiment with various dance techniques from Gaga, Doris Humphrey, and Cape Verdean traditional movement to West African, Hip Hop, and Limon—participants will move like never before. Facilitated by Arien Wilkerson

Workshop Artists in Residence (* member of Asylum Hill Congregational Church)

Susan Bradley, Artist, Educator Mira Gnap, Spiritual Energizer

Susan Hight,* Artist, Educator, Curator Alice Luster,* National Garden Club Flower Show Judge

David D.J. Rau, Artist, Museum Educator Debby Reelitz, Master Calligrapher

Martha Simpson,* Artist Kate Swanson, Musician, Teacher

Arien Wilkerson, Dancer, Choreographer, Cynthia Wolcott, Yoga Instructor; Life, Film Artist, Artistic Director Health & Wellness Coach

Asylum Hill Congregational ChurchHelping people grow in faith and love as disciples of Jesus

RETREAT SCHEDULEFriday, February 9

5:30 p.m. Registration and Refreshments

6:15 p.m. Welcome Performance

6:45 p.m. Dinner and Fellowship, Catered by Hands on Hartford

7:30 p.m. Building Community through Creativity with David D.J. Rau

8:30 p.m. Closing

Saturday, February 10

8:30 a.m. Coffee and Fellowship

9:00 a.m. Welcome and Details

9:10 a.m. Building Community through Music with Jack Pott

10:00 a.m. ARTS EXPERIENCE I (see descriptions below)

11:45 a.m. Lunch and Fellowship

12:30 p.m. Performance

1:15 p.m. ARTS EXPERIENCE II

2:45 p.m. ARTS EXPERIENCE III

4:15 p.m. Building Community through Worship and Celebration

Arts Experience Opportunities – Session IJacob’s Coat The famed coat of many colors is a historical novelty, much like the scarf you’ll create in this rollicking-frolicking felting-for-beginners class. Don’t like scratchy? Try superfine merino wool and Tencel, a man-made soft and sheeny fiber guaranteed to soothe your soul. Let your fingers do the walking, and talking, as you create your one-of-a-kind scarf! Facilitated by Martha Simpson

Live Your Vision, Now: Thoughts Do Matter Despite our best efforts, negative thoughts can dominate our thinking, leading us into states of despair. Through art, music, movement, and writing we’ll explore positive strategies that can re-shape thinking, raise spirits, and boost emotions. Healthy choices will inspire and guide us to living our visions of who we really desire to be, starting right now! Facilitated by Mira Gnap

Making Paper Magic: Pop-Up Cards and Handmade Envelopes If you can fold, cut, and glue, you can make your own fantastic pop-up greeting cards with matching envelopes. Rau will demonstrate the basics before turning the class loose to create designs of their own. Once you learn the basics, the sky is the limit. Facilitated by David D.J. Rau

Mandalas Mandalas are popular ritualistic symbols that represent the universe in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Their colorful, geometric patterns suggest a microcosm of the universe. Using a compass and paper, participants will draw the basic structure of a mandala before embellishing with color, shape, and line. This mindful session features group meditation and sharing—and concludes with a snake dance! Facilitated by Susan Bradley

Open to Your Innate Creativity with Gentle Yoga This gentle yoga and meditation is designed to turn your attention inward, allowing you to access your creative self. Through controlled breath and movement, we’ll access a place of stillness and mindfulness. Wear stretchy, comfortable clothing. Bring a yoga mat or borrow one of ours. Beginners welcome—no experience necessary. Facilitated by Cynthia Wolcott

Arts Experience Opportunities – Session IIFolk Dance Folk dance represents one of the strongest ways traditions of countries and regions can be showcased to the public. These dances carry on over the years because they can be danced by all, with accommodations as necessary. This session will introduce folk songs as well as the dances and games associated with each. Facilitated by Kate Swanson

Live Your Vision, Now: Thoughts Do Matter Despite our best efforts, negative thoughts can dominate our thinking, leading us into states of despair. Through art, music, movement, and writing we’ll explore positive strategies that can re-shape thinking, raise spirits, and boost emotions. Healthy choices will inspire and guide us to living our visions of who we really desire to be, starting right now! Facilitated by Mira Gnap

Making Paper Magic: Pop-Up Cards and Handmade Envelopes If you can fold, cut, and glue, you can make your own fantastic pop-up greeting cards with matching envelopes. Rau will demonstrate the basics before turning the class loose to create designs of their own. Once you learn the basics, the sky is the limit. Facilitated by David D.J. Rau

Touch, Interlock, Absorb: A Dance Canvas Everybody dance now! Participants reconnect to their bodies by seeing and moving in new ways. Participants will experiment with various dance techniques from Gaga, Doris Humphrey, and Cape Verdean traditional movement to West African, Hip Hop, and Limon—participants will move like never before. Facilitated by Arien Wilkerson

What’s My Line? In this workshop, learn about the Elements and Principles of floral design as you create your own special flower design. All materials will be supplied. Facilitated by Alice Luster