This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, register by clicking the RSVP button above or by emailing olivia@smithcenter.org.

You will receive the Zoom information no later than the morning of your program.

with Theresa Esterlund

Practice mindfulness in a new way and open to being – with yourself, with each other, with the present moment. In this workshop, you’ll be guided in a slow looking activity around a single work of art from the Joan Hisaoka gallery as a technique for accessing inner wisdom and sparking creative flow. In conjunction with this mindfulness practice, you’ll use a series of prompts and poetry writing techniques to express yourself through the written word, individually and collectively. You’ll discover new insights and fresh perspectives as you build empathy and learn to integrate this type of practice into your journey.

By slowing down as you look, you’ll be invited to explore personal insights, reflections, and ideas. You’ll also have an opportunity to practice opening to other perspectives and points of view through group participation. Slow looking (or slow art) comes out of the “slow” movement and is often intended to help you look at and learn about artwork, especially if you are not as comfortable or familiar with art. It can be applied to any kind of looking or listening (at a tree, a piece of music, another person), and when infused with mindfulness, it can be a powerful way to connect with yourself and each other.

Suggested Donation: $15/session


About Theresa Esterlund

Theresa Esterlund is an artist, educator, and mindfulness guide whose teaching draws from her deep experience and expertise. In her mindfulness practices, she facilitates pathways for integrated mindful living, creating environments for personal exploration and transformation that are based on individual experiences. Theresa’s collages are windows that open to the inside—as well as abstract landscapes and other arrangements. She currently brings her love of gathering, sorting, and composing to letterpress, which also gives her a path to integrate words and phrases from her poetry. After retiring from a professional career in museum education, Theresa channeled her vision to inspire compassionate connections into a stationery business, Open to Being, that reflects the intersection of her mindfulness and artistic practices.

This program is being offered in-person. In order to participate, please register by clicking the RSVP button above or by emailing olivia@smithcenter.org.

Substance of Venom New single channel video work, 2022 (video still) by artist Cherie Sampson

The Smith Center for Healing and the Arts will be hosting an in-person art workshop in collaboration with the current exhibition, every.single.one: art, cancer, and transformation, on display at the gallery! “every.single.one” became the title for a body of creative works developed since 2017 by Cherie Sampson that document and depict personal, familial and community experiences with hereditary breast cancer. Works from the project include video art and short
films, soundscapes, photographs, montages and an additional live performance that will be performed in the beginning of August. We invite you to experience the exhibition in its entirety during our Gallery Art Workshop. Following the exhibition viewing, participants will engage in a reflective art exercise. In this art
space, you will be able to utilize different mediums to create your own work of art inspired by the show. Participants are free to create in their own way.

If you have been touched by cancer in some way, we invite you to join us for this workshop.


Address:

Smith Center for Healing and the Arts

1632 U Street NW

Washington, DC 20009

Smith Center is a 15-minute walk from both the Metro Red Line (Dupont Circle) or Green Line (U Street Cardozo). For those driving, there is On-street, two-hour metered parking on U St and two-hour, non-metered parking in the surrounding neighborhood.


About Cherie Sampson

Cherie Sampson has worked for over 25 years as an interdisciplinary artist in environmental performance, sculpture and video art. She has exhibited internationally in live performances, art-in-nature symposia, video/film screenings and installations in the US, Finland, Norway, Holland, Cuba, France, Greece, Italy, India, Spain, Argentina, South Korea, Hong Kong and other countries. Sampson is the recipient of a number of fellowships & grants including two Fulbright Fellowships to Finland (1998 & 2011), a Finnish Cultural Foundation Grant (North Karelia Fund), three Finlandia Foundation Grants and multiple internal research grants for artistic projects from the University of Missouri. She divides her time between the University of Missouri where she is an Associate Professor of Art and her organic farm in Northeast Missouri where she creates some of her art works in the cultivated and wooded environments. She is the current President of Artists in Nature International Network (AiNIN). Sampson received her Master of Fine Art Degree in Intermedia & Video Art from the University of Iowa in 1997 with a minor in Sculpture.

For more information, please visit: https://cheriesampson.net/every.single.one-(work-in-process)-2019-2021).html

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, you must register here or by emailing carla@smithcenter.org

Este programa se ofrece virtualmente en Zoom. Para participar y recibir la información de Zoom, debe registrarse aquí o email carla@smithcenter.org

with LaColectiva

Vasalisa en mi

Join us Monday, March 8th at 1pm for a workshop hosted by LaColectiva, women’s artist collective located in Bucaramanga, Colombia. This workshop will explore themes found in the book Women who Run with the Wolves: Myths & Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype

Participants will be invited to create a doll based on their own wildness

Reconnect with your feminine intuition! 

Let it go, renew your thoughts, rejuvenate your soul, and discover the power of your psyche. 

Only in taking these steps can we explore our intuition and let it guide us in our spiritual search for ourselves.

Materials you’ll need: 

Paper, pencil or markers, scissors, pink yarn (or any colors you have), needle & thread

Información programática en Español

 


LaColectiva un grupo de artistas de la ciudad de Bucaramanga, que viene trabajando sobre el quehacer artístico en Santander y reflexionando acerca del género y sus implicaciones socioculturales; a partir de estas preocupaciones se da inicio a una búsqueda de identidad a través de expresiones artísticas que, entrando en consonancia con las experiencias propias, planteen análisis, cuestionamientos y discusiones a los roles asignados y relacionados con lo femenino, para generar conocimientos y contribuir a las transformaciones sociales de la región.

@la.colectiva

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, you must register here or by emailing carla@smithcenter.org

with Carolina Mayorga

Artwork by Carolina Mayorga

Part 3: The Fundamentals of Drawing (November 2, 6:30-8:00pm)

This workshop based on Surrealism, will be an opportunity to learn about fundamental concepts of drawing and 2D media. Assignments will include observational drawing and experimentation with different materials and techniques that will expand your visual vocabulary and will help you discover your inner talents. Hope you join us!

Materials: 
  • Paper of any kind/size
  • Any kind of pen, pencil or marker
  • A few interesting objects that you would like to draw (the more detailed, intricate and textured, the better!)

Suggested Donation: $10

 

And, join us next week for Part 4: The Fundamentals of Sculpture (November 9, 6:30-8:00pm)

Visit www.joanhisaokagallery.com to view Aceptar: Una Exposición Colectiva


About Carolina Mayorga

Carolina Mayorga, Colombian-born and naturalized American citizen, has exhibited her work nationally and internationally for the last 20 years. Her work is part of national and international collections and has been reviewed in publications in North and South America and Europe. Mayorga’s artwork addresses issues of social and political content. Recent exhibitions in Washington, DC include her first museum show at the Art Museum of the Americas, a performance/interactive sculpture at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden among others.

The artist lives in Washington D.C. https://carolinamayorga.com/

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, you must register here or by emailing carla@smithcenter.org

with Carolina Mayorga

Artwork by Carolina Mayorga

Part 4: The Fundamentals of Sculpture (November 9, 6:30-8:00pm)

Participants in this workshop will learn fundamental concepts of tridimensional art by creating their own dwelling based on the concepts and techniques used for the creation of my video sculpture for ACEPTAR. Experimentation with different materials and improvisation will be encouraged. Hope to see you soon!

Materials: 
  • Cardboard
  • Photographs
  • Magazines
  • Glue
  • Any kind of paint
  • Any other item or material you would like to add to your building!

Suggested Donation: $10

Visit www.joanhisaokagallery.com to view Aceptar: Una Exposición Colectiva


About Carolina Mayorga

Carolina Mayorga, Colombian-born and naturalized American citizen, has exhibited her work nationally and internationally for the last 20 years. Her work is part of national and international collections and has been reviewed in publications in North and South America and Europe. Mayorga’s artwork addresses issues of social and political content. Recent exhibitions in Washington, DC include her first museum show at the Art Museum of the Americas, a performance/interactive sculpture at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden among others.

The artist lives in Washington D.C. https://carolinamayorga.com/

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, you must register here or by emailing carla@smithcenter.org

with Carolina Mayorga

Day 1: The Fundamentals of Drawing (June 15, 1:00-2:30pm)
Participants in this workshop will have the opportunity to learn about 2 fundamental concepts of drawing and 2D media. Observation, one of the most important elements in drawing, will be stressed through different assignments that include a variety of techniques and materials.
Materials: 
  • Paper of any kind (paper bags, printed paper, etc.)
  • Any kind of pen, pencil, or marker
  • A few items from your kitchen or closet that you would like to draw

Suggested Donation: $10

Click here to learn more about Day 2: The Fundamentals of Sculpture (June 22, 1:00-2:30pm)

Visit www.joanhisaokagallery.com to view Aceptar: Una Exposición Colectiva


About Carolina Mayorga

Carolina Mayorga, Colombian-born and naturalized American citizen, has exhibited her work nationally and internationally for the last 20 years. Her work is part of national and international collections and has been reviewed in publications in North and South America and Europe. Mayorga’s artwork addresses issues of social and political content. Recent exhibitions in Washington, DC include her first museum show at the Art Museum of the Americas, a performance/interactive sculpture at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden among others.

The artist lives in Washington D.C. https://carolinamayorga.com/

with Tamara Wellons, Artist in Residence Manager at Smith Center for Healing and the Arts

featuring Kinard Cherry

Valentines Day 2020!

Please join us for a new concert series at the gallery hosted by our very own Tamara Wellons, Artist in Residence Manager at Smith Center for Healing and the Arts and Washington, DC based vocal artist.

Each quarter Tami will host a series of different accompanying artists and musicians. The first series will debut on Valentine’s Day as we celebrate love with the smooth rhythms of Tami Wellons and her husband, Kinard Cherry.

Tamara Wellons is a vocal music recording artist who has a voice that flows seamlessly from hymns to soulful house music. Upholding her southern Virginia roots and musical tradition, Tamara has performed on prestigious national and international stages, such as London’s Jazz Café, DC’s Blues Alley, Richmond Jazz Festival, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and many more. Her latest project was recorded with bassist, drummer and lead guitarist and husband, Kinard Cherry.

Tickets: $15

with Helen Frederick

The Healing Arts Series

Exploring the concept of site-specific space and working from a probe the instructor will provide, you will experiment with one element that can be repeated, expanded, or interfaced with itself to plan a small artwork. With personally defined activities derived from objects that act as touchstones, you will take a role in exploring a sensorial or physical experience, as seen in the artworks of Material Woman. This may include the act of splicing ropes, yarn or paper; piling up of small three-dimensional objects, using words and your voice, or inviting others to help you create a tiny installation. We live in a country of cultural appropriation where we desire to experience each other in ceremony. Bring one or two objects with you that you feel represent a deep connection about you, a material that you respond to, and may relate to your cultural roots. Participants and the instructor will enjoy conversation before and after your work is created to share some conclusions. No artistic experience required.

Suggested Donation: $15