Tag: Cancer and Creativity

This program has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for a later date. 

with Theresa Walker

Where are you in your journey of healing? Take time in this quiet winter season to get in touch with your soul’s wisdom in a SoulCollage® session. You will choose from a variety of magazine images spread out before you. You will cut, paste, and compose your own unique collage on a 5 inch by 8 inch quality matboard. Guided exercises will help you find the wisdom in the collage you have made. Discover aspects of your inner self, have fun, and enjoy community in this creative activity. Absolutely no artistic experience needed.

 

Address: 

Smith Center for Healing and the Arts

1632 U Street NW

Washington, DC 20009

 

Suggested Donation: $15

About Theresa Walker 

Theresa Walker is a registered SoulCollage® facilitator and has led groups for the past 10 years. She has made over 100 SoulCollages® and uses them in her own life journey, for instance, dealing with grief over the loss of a loved one and getting in touch with her inner guidance on relationships, work, and paths forward. Often the compositions are lighthearted and encouraging. She finds that participating in a group is a fun and meaningful way to access one’s own unique creative spirit and share that spirit with others.

This program is currently full. If you would like to be added to a waitlist, please email programs@smithcenter.org. 

with Lauren DeMarco

“What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity…a soothing, calming influence on the mind, rather like a good armchair which provides relaxation from physical fatigue.” – Henri Matisse

For artist Henri Matisse, making art was a way to decompress and spark joy. Take advantage of the restorative effects of creating art at an in-person Paint & Sip at Smith Center. An instructor will guide you through easy-to-follow steps to create your own interpretation of an abstract painting inspired by Matisse. No artistic skill or experience is required for this fun evening of painting and socializing. Supplies, snacks, and drinks will be provided. Come meet someone new, use your creativity, and leave more refreshed than you arrived.

This event is open to the community and free of charge to ensure that it is accessible to everyone. 

Suggested Donation: $20

Address:

Smith Center for Healing and the Arts

1632 U Street NW

Washington, DC 20009

For those who haven’t been to Smith Center before, 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 Lauren DeMarco

Lauren is a graduate student in Georgetown University’s Master’s Program in Engaged and Public Humanities and a current intern at Smith Center. Prior to this, she graduated from Wake Forest University with degrees in studio art and English. Lauren is an avid reader, passionate artist, and mediocre runner. Creative pursuits have always been a source of healing and joy for her, so she is excited to connect with the Smith Center community through the arts.

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, register by clicking the RSVP button above or by emailing carla@smithcenter.org.

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

with Theresa Walker

Writing pen pals

Writing doesn’t have to be a lonely pursuit. Grab your cup of coffee or tea and pen and notebook (or laptop, iPad) and join fellow writers for a meeting of Pen Pals.

 

The facilitator will offer writing prompts on the topic of “Celebrating My Life.” We will focus on strengths we have gained through the challenges we have faced in our lives.

 

There will be time for personal writing, discussion, laughter, and kind responses. No critiquing, just writing and support.

Suggested Donation: $10

About Theresa Walker

Theresa Walker is a registered SoulCollage® facilitator and has led groups since 2011. She is a certified expressive arts facilitator, trained at Salve Regina University in writing and visual arts, and she is a graduate of Shalem’s Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups program.

This program series 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 carla@smithcenter.org.

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

with Anna Rashkover, Kai Wasson, Kiersten Gallagher, Nia Holden and Olivia Gonyea

Photovoice

Join us for a 2-part program where we will explore the personal and socially constructed forces that shape our experiences. We will identify and reflect on community needs and engage in critical dialogue with others in a safe, collaborative environment.

 

This 2-part program will be based on Photovoice methodology. Photovoice involves the use of photography to visually represent and narrate everyday experiences from personal perspectives. It can help us generate new insights into our socially constructed realities.

 

Photovoice is a humanistic and compassionate way to reflect and communicate with others as we represent ourselves, expose challenges we face, and ignite social change.

 

Activities will include mindfulness practices, personal presentations of photography, and group discussion.

Participants do not need to own a professional camera to participate and may use whatever methods they would like to take photographs. No photography experience is required. Participants are encouraged to attend both sessions as we aim to foster community and a safe, open environment for sharing.

This program is open to everyone, including caregivers.

Through My Eyes: A Photovoice Experience will be offered as a 2-part series on Saturdays, April 2 & 9, 2022 from 10 – 11:30 AM EST. Participants are encouraged to attend both sessions. Please let us know ahead of time if you are unable to attend both sessions.

Suggested Donation: $20 (series)

About Anna Rashkover

Anna Rashkover

Anna Rashkover is an American University student studying Public Health. Anna is interested in studying health communication and social and behavioral sciences to help create effective public health campaigns which address complex issues plaguing the United States and other countries.

About Kai Wasson

Kai Wasson

Kai Wasson is a senior Public Health major at American University. He will be attending a MA in Sociology program next year and is interested in occupational health and safety.

About Kiersten Gallagher

Kiersten Gallagher

As the Cancer Support Program Director, Kiersten fully believes that through the arts we can expand our perspectives and explore new fulfilling ways of being. She invites you to make our space your own refuge, to circumvent your daily routine to spark creativity, to take time for introspection, and draw outside the lines.

About Nia Holden

Nia Holden

Nia Holden is an American University student studying Public Health and Health Promotion. Nia is interested in studying nutrition and working with vulnerable populations.

About Olivia Gonyea

Olivia Gonyea

Olivia Gonyea is an American University student studying Public Health and International Studies. Olivia is interested in studying disease prevention and control and working in health program planning.

This program series 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 carla@smithcenter.org.

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

with Anna Rashkover, Kai Wasson, Kiersten Gallagher, Nia Holden and Olivia Gonyea

Photovoice

Join us for a 2-part program where we will explore the personal and socially constructed forces that shape our experiences. We will identify and reflect on community needs and engage in critical dialogue with others in a safe, collaborative environment.

 

This 2-part program will be based on Photovoice methodology. Photovoice involves the use of photography to visually represent and narrate everyday experiences from personal perspectives. It can help us generate new insights into our socially constructed realities.

 

Photovoice is a humanistic and compassionate way to reflect and communicate with others as we represent ourselves, expose challenges we face, and ignite social change.

 

Activities will include mindfulness practices, personal presentations of photography, and group discussion.

Participants do not need to own a professional camera to participate and may use whatever methods they would like to take photographs. No photography experience is required. Participants are encouraged to attend both sessions as we aim to foster community and a safe, open environment for sharing.

This program is open to everyone, including caregivers.

Through My Eyes: A Photovoice Experience will be offered as a 2-part series on Saturdays, April 2 & 9, 2022 from 10 – 11:30 AM EST. Participants are encouraged to attend both sessions. Please let us know ahead of time if you are unable to attend both sessions.

Suggested Donation: $20 (series)

About Anna Rashkover

Anna Rashkover

Anna Rashkover is an American University student studying Public Health. Anna is interested in studying health communication and social and behavioral sciences to help create effective public health campaigns which address complex issues plaguing the United States and other countries.

About Kai Wasson

Kai Wasson

Kai Wasson is a senior Public Health major at American University. He will be attending a MA in Sociology program next year and is interested in occupational health and safety.

About Kiersten Gallagher

Kiersten Gallagher

As the Cancer Support Program Director, Kiersten fully believes that through the arts we can expand our perspectives and explore new fulfilling ways of being. She invites you to make our space your own refuge, to circumvent your daily routine to spark creativity, to take time for introspection, and draw outside the lines.

About Nia Holden

Nia Holden

Nia Holden is an American University student studying Public Health and Health Promotion. Nia is interested in studying nutrition and working with vulnerable populations.

About Olivia Gonyea

Olivia Gonyea

Olivia Gonyea is an American University student studying Public Health and International Studies. Olivia is interested in studying disease prevention and control and working in health program planning.