Tag: Self-Expression

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

with Melanie Edwards

This Musical Mending Workshop uses the Tibetan Singing Bowl to promote relaxation and powerful healing properties. This class supports mental, emotional and spiritual well-being which is integral for health as it balances and clears the mind, leads to a renewed sense of purpose, well-being, calm and happiness. Sound healing also lowers anxiety, depression, high blood pressure and more. The sound frequencies slow brain waves to a deeply restorative state, which calms the body’s parasympathetic nervous system. Participants will be led through the components of the sound bowl and learn how to play them.

No prior experience is needed and the class is taught with yoga mats and/or chairs in a circle for an opportunity to have fun in a communal setting and set intentions for the New Year. Wear comfy clothes.

Address: 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.

Suggested Donation: $15

About Melanie Edwards

Melanie Edwards

Melanie Edwards is an award-winning singer, songwriter, pianist, violinist, music practitioner and tv/film composer. She holds a master’s degree in music from The Savannah College of Art and Design and was awarded the Artistic Achievement Fellowship to secure her MFA in Musical Theater – Performing Arts at SCAD. Furthermore, she was a Morehead Scholar Nominee at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she secured a BA in broadcast journalism, furthering her news career as a Carolina Week Reporter and later becoming a weather anchor for local news in eastern North Carolina. Likewise, she was the NCSU’s Department of Nuclear Engineering Investigators’ Program Award Recipient in Nuclear Technology at North Carolina State University where she focused on nuclear engineering and physics. Additionally, she holds a BA in Spanish from Universidad de España, in Sevilla, Spain. Melanie is certified in Mental Health First Aid USA by the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare and has 27 years experience as a performing artist and expressive, musical healer with several partner charities and organizations, such as: National Theatre DC and Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. She recently started a healing arts business providing “Musical Mending” workshops and services to nursing homes, assisted living quarters, hospices, hospitals and many underprivileged communities. In addition, she is the resident pianist for Clyde’s Restaurant and has performed at Gypsy Sally’s, The Henley Park Hotel, Beacon Bar and Grill and Peruvian Ambassador Castilla’s Residence in Washington, DC. She is also a regular performer at Rockwood Music Hall, in New York City.

https://www.melanieedwardslabs.com/

This workshop has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for a later date. Please email  olivia@smithcenter.org if you would like to be added to the list for the rescheduled date.

with Eileen Powers, MFA

Expressive Self-Portrait by Eileen Powers

For as long long as there have been artists and makers, there has been the creation of the self-portrait.

Whether it’s realist, abstract or performative, the act of situating and picturing the self often springboards the artist to self-awareness and insight. This interactive, program focuses on the many ways we can use creative and expressive activity as a stepping stone to reclaim our identity and balance.

The program opens with a short talk about the medium and the context of self-portraiture, followed by exercises using simple materials. We will employ the language of color, collage, pen, pencil and photography to help us explore our internal and external selves. Participants are encouraged to investigate class concepts through a take-home assignment that will be discussed in the second session.

The program is open to all levels and all experiences. Participants should bring pens, pencils, paper, markers or any materials of their choice to participate in exercises, and a willingness to share their experiences.

About Eileen Powers, MFA

Eileen Powers

Eileen Powers is a Cape Cod-based photographer, designer and self-portrait artist whose Can you make hair for me? collaborative art project has been featured in exhibitions, podcasts and news media around the country as well as in The Boston Globe. A forthcoming book about the project is currently in the works. She has a MFA in visual arts, and is on staff at the Photographic Resource Center in Cambridge, MA. She has led workshops at the Griffin Museum of Photography, Creighton University and the Nantucket Atheneum among others. A video about Eileen and Can you make hair for me? can be viewed here.

Part 2/2. 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 programs@smithcenter.org.

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

with Eileen Powers, MFA

Expressive Self-Portrait by Eileen Powers

For as long long as there have been artists and makers, there has been the creation of the self-portrait.

 

Whether it’s realist, abstract or performative, the act of situating and picturing the self often springboards the artist to self-awareness and insight. This interactive, two-session program focuses on the many ways we can use creative and expressive activity as a stepping stone to reclaim our identity and balance.

 

The program opens with a short talk about the medium and the context of self-portraiture, followed by exercises using simple materials. We will employ the language of color, collage, pen, pencil and photography to help us explore our internal and external selves. Participants are encouraged to investigate class concepts through a take-home assignment that will be discussed in the second session.

 

The program is open to all levels and all experiences. Participants should bring pens, pencils, paper, markers or any materials of their choice to participate in exercises, and a willingness to share their experiences.

Variations of You: The Expressive Self-Portrait will be offered as a two-part virtual program series on the following dates:

  • Saturdays, September 10th & 17th from 10:00am – 12:00pm ET

Suggested Donation: $20 (series)

About Eileen Powers, MFA

Eileen Powers

Eileen Powers is a Cape Cod-based photographer, designer and self-portrait artist whose Can you make hair for me? collaborative art project has been featured in exhibitions, podcasts and news media around the country as well as in The Boston Globe. A forthcoming book about the project is currently in the works. She has a MFA in visual arts, and is on staff at the Photographic Resource Center in Cambridge, MA. She has led workshops at the Griffin Museum of Photography, Creighton University and the Nantucket Atheneum among others. A video about Eileen and Can you make hair for me? can be viewed here.

Part 1/2. 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 programs@smithcenter.org.

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

with Eileen Powers, MFA

Expressive Self-Portrait by Eileen Powers

For as long long as there have been artists and makers, there has been the creation of the self-portrait.

 

Whether it’s realist, abstract or performative, the act of situating and picturing the self often springboards the artist to self-awareness and insight. This interactive, two-session program focuses on the many ways we can use creative and expressive activity as a stepping stone to reclaim our identity and balance.

 

The program opens with a short talk about the medium and the context of self-portraiture, followed by exercises using simple materials. We will employ the language of color, collage, pen, pencil and photography to help us explore our internal and external selves. Participants are encouraged to investigate class concepts through a take-home assignment that will be discussed in the second session.

 

The program is open to all levels and all experiences. Participants should bring pens, pencils, paper, markers or any materials of their choice to participate in exercises, and a willingness to share their experiences.

Variations of You: The Expressive Self-Portrait will be offered as a two-part virtual program series on the following dates:

  • Saturdays, September 10th & 17th from 10:00am – 12:00pm ET

Suggested Donation: $20 (series)

About Eileen Powers, MFA

Eileen Powers

Eileen Powers is a Cape Cod-based photographer, designer and self-portrait artist whose Can you make hair for me? collaborative art project has been featured in exhibitions, podcasts and news media around the country as well as in The Boston Globe. A forthcoming book about the project is currently in the works. She has a MFA in visual arts, and is on staff at the Photographic Resource Center in Cambridge, MA. She has led workshops at the Griffin Museum of Photography, Creighton University and the Nantucket Atheneum among others. A video about Eileen and Can you make hair for me? can be viewed here.

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 programs@smithcenter.org.

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

with Melanie Edwards

Musical Mending with Melanie Edwards

Singer, songwriter and musician, Melanie Edwards, recently launched Musical Mending Workshops which can be curated for any specific healing modality, be it collectively or individually. The workshops help with memory, cognition, expression, general wellbeing and are just plain fun for participants.

 

In addition, the classes focus on teaching techniques to manage grief, anxiety, depression and many more ailments by administering sonic techniques to relieve stress, help find inner peace and express authenticity. She often uses different instruments & singing skills to activate relaxation, calm the mind and nourish the soul. This is not about performing or being a professional singer, but rather a shared experience of collective sound healing in the present moment for the whole family.

 

Participants are free to join or simply observe in shared space, as well as bring their own mantras, words or poems to self-reflect and express via musical mending.

Suggested Donation: $10

About Melanie Edwards

Melanie Edwards

Melanie Edwards is an award-winning singer, songwriter, pianist, violinist, music practitioner and tv/film composer. She holds a master’s degree in music from The Savannah College of Art and Design and was awarded the Artistic Achievement Fellowship to secure her MFA in Musical Theater – Performing Arts at SCAD. Furthermore, she was a Morehead Scholar Nominee at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she secured a BA in broadcast journalism, furthering her news career as a Carolina Week Reporter and later becoming a weather anchor for local news in eastern North Carolina. Likewise, she was the NCSU’s Department of Nuclear Engineering Investigators’ Program Award Recipient in Nuclear Technology at North Carolina State University where she focused on nuclear engineering and physics. Additionally, she holds a BA in Spanish from Universidad de España, in Sevilla, Spain. Melanie is certified in Mental Health First Aid USA by the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare and has 27 years experience as a performing artist and expressive, musical healer with several partner charities and organizations, such as: National Theatre DC and Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. She recently started a healing arts business providing “Musical Mending” workshops and services to nursing homes, assisted living quarters, hospices, hospitals and many underprivileged communities. In addition, she is the resident pianist for Clyde’s Restaurant and has performed at Gypsy Sally’s, The Henley Park Hotel, Beacon Bar and Grill and Peruvian Ambassador Castilla’s Residence in Washington, DC. She is also a regular performer at Rockwood Music Hall, in New York City.

https://www.melanieedwardslabs.com/

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 Alexis Reale

Therapeutic Creative Dance

Therapeutic Creative Dance

Dance/movement therapy offers individuals the opportunity to strengthen the mind/body connection, engage in nonverbal communication, and to improve our overall health and wellbeing.

 

Defined by the American Dance Therapy Association as the “psychotherapeutic use of movement to promote emotional, social, cognitive and physical integration of the individual,” dance/movement therapy recognizes that we can create changes in the body to reflect lasting changes in the mind.

 

Join us for collective creative expression through dance, writing, art-making and verbal integration. Class includes both individual exploration as well as partner exercises to foster meaning-making through self-exploration and connection with others. Class typically involves a check in, an individual improvisation warm up, individual movement exploration around a theme, partner work, journaling/art making, and a final discussion.

 

The class is open to individuals with all levels of experience and ability around movement. You do not need to have dance experience, only a willingness to move, and class can be done standing, seated, lying down or wherever is best for your comfort.

Therapeutic Creative Dance will be hosted Weekly on Fridays from 12:30-1:30pm ET.

No dance experience is required! Class can be done standing, seated, lying down or wherever is best for your comfort.

Suggested Donation: $10/session or $25/month

About Alexis Reale

Alexis Reale

Alexis is entering her third and final year of her Master’s degree program in Dance/Movement Therapy and Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lesley University. Alexis is currently an intern at the Cancer Support Community of the Greater Lehigh Valley where she leads dance/movement therapy groups and 1:1 sessions with clients. Alexis previously interned at Dominion Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia, and continues to be under the supervision of dance/movement therapist Jody Wager. Alexis leads dance/movement therapy groups for adults, individuals living with chronic pain, and for older adults in assisted living communities. A lifelong dancer, Alexis believes that anyone can dance, and is delighted to be able to bring the healing power of movement to the Smith Center.

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 Alexis Reale

Therapeutic Creative Dance

Therapeutic Creative Dance

Dance/movement therapy offers individuals the opportunity to strengthen the mind/body connection, engage in nonverbal communication, and to improve our overall health and wellbeing.

 

Defined by the American Dance Therapy Association as the “psychotherapeutic use of movement to promote emotional, social, cognitive and physical integration of the individual,” dance/movement therapy recognizes that we can create changes in the body to reflect lasting changes in the mind.

 

Join us for collective creative expression through dance, writing, art-making and verbal integration. Class includes both individual exploration as well as partner exercises to foster meaning-making through self-exploration and connection with others. Class typically involves a check in, an individual improvisation warm up, individual movement exploration around a theme, partner work, journaling/art making, and a final discussion.

 

The class is open to individuals with all levels of experience and ability around movement. You do not need to have dance experience, only a willingness to move, and class can be done standing, seated, lying down or wherever is best for your comfort.

Therapeutic Creative Dance will be hosted Weekly on Fridays from 12:30-1:30pm ET.

No dance experience is required! Class can be done standing, seated, lying down or wherever is best for your comfort.

Suggested Donation: $10/session or $25/month

About Alexis Reale

Alexis Reale

Alexis is entering her third and final year of her Master’s degree program in Dance/Movement Therapy and Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lesley University. Alexis is currently an intern at the Cancer Support Community of the Greater Lehigh Valley where she leads dance/movement therapy groups and 1:1 sessions with clients. Alexis previously interned at Dominion Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia, and continues to be under the supervision of dance/movement therapist Jody Wager. Alexis leads dance/movement therapy groups for adults, individuals living with chronic pain, and for older adults in assisted living communities. A lifelong dancer, Alexis believes that anyone can dance, and is delighted to be able to bring the healing power of movement to the Smith Center.

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 Alexis Reale

Therapeutic Creative Dance

Therapeutic Creative Dance

Dance/movement therapy offers individuals the opportunity to strengthen the mind/body connection, engage in nonverbal communication, and to improve our overall health and wellbeing.

 

Defined by the American Dance Therapy Association as the “psychotherapeutic use of movement to promote emotional, social, cognitive and physical integration of the individual,” dance/movement therapy recognizes that we can create changes in the body to reflect lasting changes in the mind.

 

Join us for collective creative expression through dance, writing, art-making and verbal integration. Class includes both individual exploration as well as partner exercises to foster meaning-making through self-exploration and connection with others. Class typically involves a check in, an individual improvisation warm up, individual movement exploration around a theme, partner work, journaling/art making, and a final discussion.

 

The class is open to individuals with all levels of experience and ability around movement. You do not need to have dance experience, only a willingness to move, and class can be done standing, seated, lying down or wherever is best for your comfort.

Therapeutic Creative Dance will be hosted Weekly on Fridays from 12:30-1:30pm ET.

No dance experience is required! Class can be done standing, seated, lying down or wherever is best for your comfort.

Suggested Donation: $10/session or $25/month

About Alexis Reale

Alexis Reale

Alexis is entering her third and final year of her Master’s degree program in Dance/Movement Therapy and Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lesley University. Alexis is currently an intern at the Cancer Support Community of the Greater Lehigh Valley where she leads dance/movement therapy groups and 1:1 sessions with clients. Alexis previously interned at Dominion Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia, and continues to be under the supervision of dance/movement therapist Jody Wager. Alexis leads dance/movement therapy groups for adults, individuals living with chronic pain, and for older adults in assisted living communities. A lifelong dancer, Alexis believes that anyone can dance, and is delighted to be able to bring the healing power of movement to the Smith Center.

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 Gayle Danley, CEO, Poetry Pros and James Pennebaker, PhD (University of Texas, Austin)

Did You Know?

Smith Center is pleased to announce the launch of a special series of talks designed to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of the center. Each of the talks will highlight one of eight healing practices that research and practice tell us is important to the health and well-being of cancer patients/survivors, and their loved ones.

The topics include: Eating Well, Moving More, Managing Stress, Sleeping Well, Creating a Healing Environment, Sharing Love and Support, Exploring What Matters Now, and Expressing Oneself.

For each topic, we will have two expert speakers. One will provide a clear and concise review of the science behind the given topic: what we do and do not know about the topic, the impact of this practice on cancer-related quality of life and mortality specifically, and national recommendations for action. The second speaker will “translate” this information into an action plan (e.g., provide user-friendly tips about how to integrate this aspect of healing into your daily life). At the end, there will be time for a question and answer period.

Did You Know? will be hosted Monthly on Wednesdays from 6:00-7:30pm ET.

Upcoming Dates: 

  • October 20 – Expressing Oneself
    • with James Pennebaker, PhD (University of Texas, Austin), and Gayle Danley, CEO, Poetry Pros

In honor of our 25th Anniversary in 2021, we are suggesting donations for this series in fractions or multiples of the number “25.” E.G. $2.50, $12.50, $25, etc.

About Gayle Danley, CEO, Poetry Pros

Gayle Danley

Soon after crushing the competition at Asheville’s National Poetry Slam in 1994, Gayle Danley entered America’s classrooms teaching thousands of children how to access their emotions through the force of words. She performed and taught her way from Maryland Young Audience’s Artist of the Year, to National Young Audience’s Artist of the Year. She’s also both a former national and international poetry slam champion. CBS 60 Minutes profiled her work with middle schoolers as well as the Baltimore Sun, Washington Post and New York Times.

For the past five years, Gayle’s Grieffriend sessions have helped women who are living with AIDS, widows, incarcerated youth and those struggling with drug addiction and recovery use poetry to cope and bravely face life’s challenges.

Gayle was recently named Maryland Library Association Poet of the Year.

About James Pennebaker, PhD

Jamie Pennebaker is the Regents Centennial Professor of Liberal Arts and Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. His early research dealt with physical symptoms and health which eventually merged into the discovery of expressive writing.  He and his students discovered that when people were asked to write about emotional upheavals for 3-4 days for 15-20 minutes a day, their physical and mental health improved compared to controls. Over 1,000 studies on expressive writing labs around the world continue to show the value of this method. For the last 25 years, he has focused on computerized text analysis as a way of understanding and measuring people’s social behaviors and psychological states. His text analysis program, LIWC, is well known in psychology, business, and computer science. 

Pennebaker has been continuously funded by NSF, NIH, and other federal agencies since 1983. He has published over 300 articles and written or edited 12 books. He has received many awards and honors for research (e.g., Honorary Doctorate, Social and Personality Society’s Distinguished Scholar, Health Psychology Distinguished Scholar, APA’s Distinguished Contributions to Applications in Psychology, the Pavlovian Award, APS’s William James Fellow Award) and teaching (UT Austin’s Academy of Distinguished Teachers). He served as Chair of UT’s Psychology Department from 2005-2014 and President of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology in 2014. His most recent books are The Secret Life of Pronouns: What Our Words Say About Us (Bloomsbury, 2011) and Opening Up by Writing it Down (Guilford, 2016).

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 Liz Lescault

InterPlay

Could you use more community, support and ease in your life?

In times of stress it is important to stay connected with loved ones, to be in a supportive community, to reach out and to share with others. It is also vital to build our inner connections and strengths that nurture self care, self love and self acceptance.

We will share, reflect and listen deeply to others. We will move, tell our personal stories, laugh, play and sometimes share deeper concerns. We will witness, honor, and celebrate whatever is shared.

During each session we will have time to be in conversation, gaining support and reassurance from others. We will also explore alternative ways of expressing our concerns and moving stress out of our bodies through easeful movement and playful interchange.

We will build opportunities for self expression and creative solutions in our daily lives.

Growing Connections will be offered on October 15 & 29 from 7:00 – 8:15pm ET. Participants are encouraged to attend both sessions.

About Liz Lescault

Liz Lescault, a visual artist and sculptor, has practiced and taught art for over 40 years. Liz is Coordinator of the DC InterPlay Metro Region and is a member of the DC InterPlay Board. Liz leads Open Gathering days for InterPlay DC and organizes and leads workshops regionally and nationally.

Liz melds her art, teaching and personal philosophy with InterPlay wisdom, tools and forms.

Formerly, Liz, was a hotline crisis counselor, for various suicide prevention lifelines and The Trevor Project providing help for LGBTQ youth in crisis.

Liz also led InterPlay for elders with chronic illness and cognitive disabilities at Iona Senior Center up to the Covid shutdown and is looking forward to leading online programs for Smith Center for Healing and the Arts.

https://www.lizlescault.com/home