6 Degrees of Creativity’s online workshop offerings unite concepts of social networking, connecting, collaboration, art making, and creativity into a community of artists exploring transformation and creative goodness. It is a self guided (which means you can go at your own pace!) 6 month virtual experience running from July – December 2015 that includes a collection of inspiring offerings, designed by a group of instructors from the art therapy community.
The basic foundation of 6 Degrees of Creativity empowers the idea that we are all closely connected in some way and believe in the potential to make a difference through the power of art and creativity in our own lives, relationships, communities, and world. 6 Degrees of Creativity instructors, who are all active and engaged in their own art-making practice, will offer creative expression to explore and empower these themes.
Participants will be able to choose what offerings they will engage in from the content they receive and this year’s 6 Degrees of Creativity offering will include a private online Facebook community to share, discuss ideas, post workshop art, and deepen connection around workshop themes.
Check out this year’s line up:
Dye Another Day: An Exercise in Using Nature and Art for Self-Care: Drawing inspiration from the outdoors, we’ll set out to explore natural paper dying & staining. We’ll need some art-space rummaging skills for materials you already have. We’ll also be venturing outdoors and taking mindful walks in green spaces. The first part of this creative task will involve some hunting, scavenging, and assembling skills. No prior dying skills needed, this creative endeavor is user-friendly. We’ll need a several cups of patience, a bucket full of mindful-awareness, and a dash of beginners mind for optimum results. No cooking or drawing skills necessary. Final outcome will vary from one creative explorer to the next and can include ATC cards (of any size), post cards, paper decorating or prepping for an upcoming project. A great activity for those #creativedeed365 participants or anyone wanting to prepare several pieces of paper for later use.
Instructor: Sheila Lorenzo– Art therapist, artist, art educator, photographer and a lover of nature. Currently a doctoral candidate at FSU and employed full time working with clients who are chronically mentally ill in a forensic setting.
“I am a believer in dabbling in the visual arts and playing with the materials for self-expression and mindful contemplation. Coming from a traditional visual arts background I know just how intimidating the visual arts can be. I also know how important it is to cut-loose and get down to basics for the sake of self-nurturance and developing career resiliency. For personal exploration and nurturance, I turn to expression through mandalas. For a faster art “fix” I turn to mixed media in visual journaling and ATC cards; using whatever is near to make the expression concrete. My most recent creative endeavor is my commitment to daily creations for participation in #creativedeed365.”
Imagination Unearthed! Hidden Creativity Scavenger Hunt Challenge: This offering will challenge participants to look at the world around us through a creative lens that we might not notice or recognize at first glance- perhaps hidden away, unknown and without attention. We’ll be uncovering creative finds in our ordinary and extraordinary surroundings through embarking on a virtual scavenger hunt! Participants will receive a list of different items and concepts to unearth with our imaginations, capture through photography, and share with the community for months of inspiration and lots of new creative perspectives. Let’s go out and find some hidden creativity together!
Instructor: Gretchen Miller is a Registered Board Certified Art Therapist who practices in Cleveland, Ohio specializing in youth, women, and families impacted by trauma, homelessness, domestic violence, and grief & loss. She is the Community Organizer for the Art Therapy Alliance, helping to promote art therapy, the work of art therapists, and build community through the use of social media. In 2011 she also created 6 Degrees of Creativity, uniting concepts of social networking, connection, and collaboration into an online community of artists exploring creative goodness. In her own creative practice Gretchen enjoys finding inspiration, creating positive energy, fostering self-care, and discovering transformation through working with mixed media, painting, collage, altered art, handmade books, and organizing art exchanges. Her blog Creativity in Motion frequently highlights her art, interests, and creative activity.
Reduce, Reuse, Reaffirm: In this workshop you will create a list of affirmations to help you accomplish change within your life. You will then learn how to use recycled and simple materials (from cardboard food packaging, collage, to acrylic paint, pens, and glue) to create mail art! You will learn several different techniques for creating mixed media postcards that are ready to stamp and mail to someone you know! The cards you create will focus on an applicable affirmation which either enhances your own journey, you can then send this card on to someone who may need a similar positive thought in their life; It is my belief that postcards with positive messages find their way to those who need them!
Instructor: Rachel Mims is a mixed media artist and art therapist living in Waco, Texas. She has been making art all of her life, but her art took on new meaning while she was on active duty in the U.S. Army. In 2009, while stationed in Suwon, South Korea, Rachel had hip surgery. Her recovery did not go as planned and she used art to help her through this difficult time. This experienced led Rachel to have a desire to utilize art to help other military members and veterans. Rachel loves art journaling and creating and exchanging mail art. She is currently serving as the Veteran’s Counselor for Texas State Technical College and provides art therapy and mental health counseling services to student veterans and dependents.
Soulful Silhouettes: Our creativity is part of our soul, our soul’s voice. John Updike says, “What art offers is space-a certain breathing room for the spirit.” I love this! The breath and the spirit and art; this workshop combines these powerful things. We will draw on the power of imagination while exploring the connection of body mind and art materials. We will be engaging our minds and bodies by exploring yoga asanas with imagination, colors and textures, sparkles and fun. In this workshop you’ll be invited to learn and explore the potential and creative flow from body postures that yoga brings us with purpose and alignment, balance and expression of our soul’s voice. No experience is required with yoga or art making. We will be working with imagery and whatever art supplies you have around. Markers, pencils, paint, stamps, glue, glitter… whatever speaks to your soul is what we’ll use!
Instructor: Heather Randazzo is a Board Certified and Registered Art Therapist, and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the Chicagoland area. She is a Mixed Media Artist, Art Therapist, Supervisor and Educator dedicated to having a positive impact on community. Heather serves on Executive Boards including the Illinois Art Therapy Association Board as Director and Treasurer. She enjoys providing a space to create through her studio classes and creative workshops at Suncrest Studios in Bolingbrook, Illinois and in collaboration with a variety of practitioners. As a general out-patient therapist for more than fifteen years, Heather enjoys helping adults, couples and families, children and teens.
I hope you’ll make plans to join us!
Registration is now open here!
6 Degrees of Creativity 