I feel very lucky to have had a summer filled with visiting friends and  teaching watercolor and creativity workshops in beautiful places to wonderful people on their own paths to their greatest creative potential.  I am just back from teaching watercolor for two weeks in Alaska at the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival and a wonderful week-long creativity workshop  at Dillman’s Art Resort in Lac du Flambeau, WI. (Ask me about my Expressive Watercolors workshop there in September 2020).

I believe that seeking a larger place for creative work in our own lives shows a willingness to expect more for ourselves and others.  This has been proven to me over and over gain as I see the creative work that is taking place all over the world.  People are learning how to use their art to think about what matters to them, and to speak in ways that words alone cannot.  Its been a privilege to witness the kinds of things people are doing with their art.

In Alaska (which is full of creative artists and thinkers)  there is a group of local artists working to create a space to gather create community and bring together philosophy and art with a goal of exploring connectionsbetween spirituality and art and sharing artistic expressions.  They are calling it the Voice of Art Alaska, and meeting monthly on first Saturdays. Here is a call for art for one of their upcoming events, an evening of art and performance, entitled ‘Night of Arts: Celebrating the Heroic‘ with the express purpose of using the arts to awaken the heroic in each of us, and in turn we help transform humanity into a more mature, compassionate civilization, with a reverent attitude toward all life.  I am in!

Here in Wisconsin promoting the arts for all of us has been a goal of the Wisconsin Regional Art Program since 1940.  A part of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s commitment to the Wisconsin Idea, the program is unique in the country.  Dillman’s Art Workshops is offering the newest WRAP exhibition September 27th in Lac du Flambeau.  Registrations can still be added online until September 26th.  The nationally renowned artist David R. Becker will be judging and giving a free mini demo on watercolor tips and tricks for participating exhibition artists. Artists starting at age 14 can summit for awards.  Award recipients will be invites to have their work shown at the annual State WRAP Exhibition at the Center for Visual Art in Wausau, WI, in September 2020.

The  absolutely wonderful 2019 State WRAP Exhibition is on display at the Pyle Center on the UW-Madison campus right now!  You can still see it for one more week.  It celebrates the range of wonderful art being done now by artists who do not identify as professional artist from across Wisconsin.This year’s State WRAP conference takes place in Madison next week September  20-21, 2019. The 2019 State Day speaker is paper artist Michael Velliquette!  Michael will talk about his work and then guide participants in creating a miniature exhibition. See more about his mini exhibitions at loveytown.org/exhibitions.

The WRAP program is a jewel in the Wisconsin Art Crown.

Another amazing art organization that is growing the creative in Wisconsin is ArtStart in Rhinelander Wisconsin.  “ArtStart is a group of volunteers—business people, artists, art lovers, educators, and other community-minded citizens—who have transformed the historic Federal Building in downtown Rhinelander, Wisconsin into a destination arts and cultural center.” The City of Rhinelander voted to purchase the building from the Federal Government for $1 and lease it to the non-profit organization, and ArtStart, Inc. was born. They have become a center for the arts in their region.

On September 26-29, 2019, Art Start is co[sponsoring Project North,  in Downtown Rhinelander, Wisconsin.  “Project North will provide an affordable option for people to explore their own creativity and experience the diverse passions of others. Breaking down the walls between performer and audience, Project North is an immersive event that will allow one to deepen their connection to self-expression. All this will be fostered by a true community of Rhinelander non-profits, businesses, artists, activists, educators and visionaries.”

And a part of Project North, ArtStart is co-sponsoring the School of the Arts Legacy Program. You could join artists and writers from all over the state for an inspiring and adventurous extended weekend arts retreat on the beautiful University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, Treehaven campus outside of Rhinelander.  ArtStart is collaborating with Nicolet College to simplify the registration process.  While registration for lodging and meals has passed it is not to late to register for classes.  Course registration will remain open until space is filled or until the time of the class.  Check it out!

Next week I am off to teach a week-long watercolor seminar in Door County at Lawrence University’s  Björklunden, Watercolor:  A Fresh Start  (September 15-20) and then I head back there in October  (October 20-24) for a creativity workshop for artists and non-artists, Re-Vision Mixed Media Art & Creativity Intensive at Björklunden.  Check out more about it below and plan to join me!

 

 October 20-24, 2019
Re-Vision Mixed Media Art & Creativity Intensive at Björklunden
​Lawrence University’s Björklunden
Bailey’s Harbor, WI

The Re-Vision Mixed Media Art & Creativity Intensive is an arts-based creativity expanding experience for artists and non-artists.  Spend three days and four nights in beautiful Door County at a lakeside lodge in the off season.  Arrive Sunday evening and have supper with the other Intensive participants (commuters invited for Sunday evening meal too).  The workshop will take place 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM daily October 21-23, (with a 2 hour break at lunch to walk or nap before the afternoon activities).  Leave after breakfast on Thursday, October 24, 2019.

 

 

• Spend mornings, 9:00-12:00, enjoying mixed-media, watercolor, and/or other drawing and painting media in guided exercises designed to explore your creativity and help you move yourself forward as a person and an artist.
• Lunch, nap or take a walk to enjoy the Björklunden grounds, 12:00-2:00
• Spend afternoons in additional open studio and arts activities with coach/instructor Helen Klebesadel until 2:00-4:00 daily.
• You will have 24 hour open studio access to the art studio.
• Guided exercises are designed to help you bring your most authentic voice to your life and your art and to discover, re-mind, re-cover, and re-member your vision for yourself as a creative person. Artists will discover new motivation and content for their artwork, and non-artists will better define their life visions for themselves as creative people.
• Embrace your greatest vision for yourself as an artist and a creative and join us in pursuing  the goal of imagining your next action steps toward that vision of yourself as the most whole person you can be.
• Guests may join you and share a room for the cost of double lodging and meals. Ask Helen about this option.
• Registration is being handled by Helen. Questions? email <Helen@Klebesadel.com> or call her at 608/262-3056 for other options. A supply list will be sent with registration confirmation.

Register here: https://www.creativitylessons.com/workshop-schedule.html