Previous Workshops
Explore our past workshops and witness the results of our dedicated work as art teachers. See the body of work that we've created with our students and discover the magic that can happen when creativity and education come together.
Participants sharing journaling based on saint reflections
Expressive Arts Workshop
Eastern Orthodox Inspired
Chicago, Illinois
A fun-filled EXA workshop presented at the annual OCAMPR Conference where professionals in medicine, mental health, theology (psychiatrist, psychologists, physicians, social workers, therapists, priests and clergy, and others) focused on finding the light in darkness, connected to our saints, and created from their authentic self.
Connecting to our inner goddess using intuitive movement after a drama role play that includes a COSPLAY using Greek goddess dress for photo enactments.
Expressive Arts Retreat
Ios, Cyclades
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Our experience brought together participants from Sweden, Ireland, Dubai, and the US. Intuitive dance, 5 Rhythms in the ocean, nature walks with meditation, sketching, cyanotypes, encaustic exploration, visual arts, drama enactments using Greek mythology, soap making and herbal foot foozies, rock sculptures, story telling under the Milky Way and lots of connection. We visited a cheese factory, folk danced at a local feast at St John’s Church with homemade wine and goat with orzo. Traditional organic breakfasts and lunch from farm to table. We came together as strangers and left as friends. Every summer another opportunity to connect, create and rejuvenate.
Creating calavera face paintings on participants of El Dia de los Muertos Festival in Astoria Park, Queens
Dia de los Muertos Festival
Astoria Park, Queens
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While the holiday has been traditionally observed in Mexico and in American cities with large Hispanic populations, the festival brought together various multicultural communities across generations in LIC/Astoria to engage in creative arts and crafts associated with the holiday. Even with so many other events going on and very little in terms of time and money, I have to say the event was very successful. The main event for the festival was the erection and decoration of the central ofrenda. An ofrenda. or altar, is a table created to remember those who have passed away, decorated with flowers, candles, fruit and even bread or sweets. Each person takes something to the offering table and engages in a prayer, a conversation with that loved one. For our event, each participant was instructed to write a letter, a prayer, a poem, or some other message for their loved one. Some brought a 4”X6” photo. They could craft a paper marigold or take one of the flowers, candy or fruit provided as an offering to the dead. Each person had a few moments to decorate the table and “speak” to their loved one. This ceremony was meant to be cathartic as well as creative. What made it successful was the cathartic creativity involved in writing letters and messages to loved ones who had passed away. Some people actually brought photographs of loved ones. Some brought flowers. Another group brought Dante, a a little dog dressed up as the dog in the movie “Coco.” This brought such a joy and relief to everyone present. At the end of the event, the ofrenda was filled with letters and offerings. It was very moving. More than one person cried (including me as I had a six-month memorial to my beloved uncle that very day that coincided with the festival.) I am so grateful that I got the opportunity to organize this event. Many people thanked me wholeheartedly for doing it. I believe it might be here to stay. Some of the other events scheduled for the festival included: -decorating calaveras or skulls -making papel picado, the cut up tissue garlands -making el día de los muertos design-inspired CoVID masks -assorted crafts for kids and adults Best of all, it was free! I hope to interest enough people in the community to make el día de los muertos festival an annual event. I believe that creativity brings community together and promotes well being and good will. Another great event brought to you by Atelier Eirené.
Sculpture Park Workshop
Long Island City, NY
Socrates Sculpture Park hosts free family drop-in sessions. For my workshop, as many as 85 people, including elderly and children, got to make a hot mess using wax and pigments. For many it was their first time engaging with the ancient medium. A wonderful way to connect while creating.
Expressive Arts Workshops
Astoria Park, Queens
Astoria Park is the lungs of this corner of NW Queens. As a practitioner of mindful practices that incorporate eco-therapies, I have used the Park as my outdoor studio and stomping ground. I have facilitated Finding Your North Star workshop, Celebrate the Winter Solstice: Going Under, Burgeoning: A Spring Solstice Workshop, Mid-Sommers/St John's Festival and many walking meditations with sketches and journaling. As a rule I try to schedule workshops to mark the change of the seasons.
Trying to find balance while dancing with a partner; so much of life is learning how to maneuver our own will and wants while also synching to others’ actions. This embodied exercise exposes the lessons we need to learn to keep our sticks up high.
Driftwood Studios Artist Residency
East London, Rainbow Valley
12 women experienced the power of connection through expressive arts during my residency at Driftwood Studios, Gonube, South Africa. We danced in dyads, created structures and rock sculptures that spoke to our ability to balance all the facets of our lives, and journaled for clarity and intention setting. The energy was electrifying and the positivity contagious. I incorporate the cultural traditions of the country I am visiting with my own for inter-cultural cross-pollination. When I travel I try to be an "expressive arts pilgrim," someone who is there to revere the culture, history and practices of the culture I am learning from while giving back in the form of learning.
Expressive Arts at St Sophia Sunday School
St. Spyridon, Washington Heights NY
After liturgy at the historic Orthodox Church of St Nicholas in Washington Heights, families engaged in expressive creativity by learning about iconography and making their own icons, going on a Byzantine bird scavenger hunt, painted churches, worked with clay to discover parts of their inner selves all in the name of Christian fellowship. I led the Sunday school creative workshops for close to a year.
Expressive Arts for Teens/Young Adults
Teens face special challenges, not only as they transition from childhood to adulthood with all those ramifications, but in the digital age, they must navigate through a rapidly changing world. I have provided trauma-informed, curriculum-aligned classes and workshops specifically aligned to the needs of this population for over 25 years. As a licensed special education educator for District 75 of the NYC Dept of Education, I have experience with all sorts of adolescents. By tailoring the intention to their needs, I can weave music, drama, visual art, journaling and poetry to lead them to deeper self-awareness and increase self-esteem, self-efficacy and resilience.