The Book of Awe Workshop Series
The Book of Awe Project: Awe, Wonder and Creativity Workshop Series
Led by Kathleen Sweeney, Interdisciplinary Artist, Environmentalist and Educator
Saturdays, 9am-noon, August 17, 31 and September 14th, 2024
Awe and wonder create expanses of timelessness known to writers, musicians, and artists as ‘the flow state.’
Recent scientific research has demonstrated the healing benefits of nature walks, to reduce stress, and enhance our immune systems. Awe walks increase our capacity for curiosity, creativity, problem-solving and compassion.
Forest bathing, known in Japan as shinru yoku, provides antidotes to ‘eco-anxiety’. When we slow down, look around, notice and breathe, we remember our deeply rooted connection to the trees, bird songs, and the scent of green.
These Saturday morning workshops combine digital detox, guided meditation and open attention flow states with creative explorations of ways to rewild ourselves through seeing and sensing wonder in the natural world.
Held at the artist’s woodland studio in Roxbury, NY.
Sponsored by AMR Artists, Inc. Funded in part by the O’Connor Foundation
Workshop One: Awe Walks and Creative Writing
Saturday August 17, 2024, 9am-noon
Forest bathing, sensory awareness, and creative writing. Open attentiveness to sounds, scents and light, experiences translate to poetic observation on the page. Guided meditation and writing prompts following a group experience of ‘wonder walking’ in the woods. Writing journals provided.
Workshop Two: Wonder Collections in Photography, Video and Audio
Saturday, August 31st, 2024, 9am-noon
Guided meditation, digital mindfulness and open awareness techniques, followed by a silent group photo/video/audio expedition. Light, shadow, and close-up observation in nature mindfully ‘foraged’ as photos, 10-second video and audio clips. Editing guidance using phone as artistic tool, with tips for reclaiming creative time in era of attention algorithms.
Workshop Three: Enchantment and Mixed Media Bookmaking
Saturday, September 14th, 2024, 9am-noon
Demonstration of bookmaking using bark, wildflower pigments, lichens and fungi followed by group forest walking meditation to forage for natural materials to create unique, handsewn accordion collage books. Rice papers, silk threads, botanical inks, and writing materials provided.
Pre-registration is required. Studio street address provided with registration.
Email kathleen@wordcitystudio.com to reserve a spot - $25 per workshop ($70 for the series).
