Making art with others is a powerful tool for cultivating connection; connection to self, to community and to our planet. When we feel connected we are engaged and invested. To nurture this connection in group settings, I use group agreements, affirmations and mindfulness exercises alongside the art activities that stimulate creative exploration and play. Students help me grow through visual and verbal assessment, asking and answering questions in a variety of formats and often voting on the trajectory of a project. Regardless of that trajectory, we are practicing our social emotional skills and exploring our creative expression. As we strengthen those skills we are strengthening the possibility for a bright and liberated future for us all. To learn more, check out my “workshops” page and go to Arts for Learning NW