Day 2: Inside Out Project Summer 2015 #ownyourjourney- a visit to @VPDHorses

INSIDE OUT PROJECT: OWN YOUR JOURNEY- Breaking the cycle of violence through creativity Inside Out Project – Own Your Journey SUMMER 2015 is a three week intensive arts-based program running out of Mountainside Secondary School (July 6-24, 2015) for youth ages 13-20 that uses the vehicles of therapeutic art, photography and stop motion animation to teach life and…

Day 1: Inside Out Project: Own Your Journey Summer 2015 arts-based youth program

INSIDE OUT PROJECT: OWN YOUR JOURNEY- Breaking the cycle of violence through creativity Inside Out Project – Own Your Journey SUMMER 2015 is a three week intensive arts-based program running out of Mountainside Secondary School (July 6-24, 2015) for youth ages 13-20 that uses the vehicles of therapeutic art, photography and stop motion animation to teach life and…

Animating Shaun Tan’s The Red Tree at Mountainside Secondary.

An extension of the Inside Out Project Own Your Journey  at Mountainside Secondary 2014-2015, the animation portion- spearheaded by my colleague and dear friend, Ian Powell- engaged students in a deep and meaningful way.  Ian chose The Red Tree by Shaun Tan as the vehicle to help students address social and emotional intelligence, self-reflection and empowerment…

Home Funeral Practicum July 18, 2015.

Have you ever had a friend or relative die, and wished you could have kept them at home for a day or two, to take care of the body yourself and say your farewells without pressure?   In fact, you can. – source I am absolutely delighted to be participating in the following Home Funeral Practicum on…

ART SCHOOL: Special HOW TO DRAW A PORTRAIT package

Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter. – Oscar Wilde Special HOW TO DRAW A PORTRAIT (in my style) home art school package- at special price for limited time!      LEARN AT YOUR OWN PACE! Package includes: 1. Introductory exercise to my drawing technique 2. 3-D…

ART SALE: One-of-a-kind journals 

One-of-a-kind journals with hand-drawn, embroidered covers containing  12 of my original journaling exercises — — — I have been developing a little project for awhile now, inspired by my desires to: • combine my learned lessons from years of facilitating art sessions • reach more people that doesn’t require arranging in-person workshops. But I want to do it in…

The Alpha Secondary School heART Project Sessions 1-4 of 6

The Alpha Secondary School heART Project Youth-run initiative using the vehicle of street art to address social and emotional intelligence and life- and transferable skills, while developing self-empowerment, peer to peer interaction and community connections I am delighted to be working with Yasmin Tayob and Michele Lopez and extraordinary students and volunteers on a wall…

Inside Out Project Mountainside Secondary: own your journey

On September 30, 2014, I began my collaboration with Ian Powell at Mountainside Secondary on the INSIDE OUT PROJECT- OWN YOUR JOURNEY, inspired by my hero JR: MOUNTAINSIDE SECONDARY: Inside Out Project: Own Your Journey Youth-run initiative using the vehicle of portrait photography and street art to learn life and transferable skills while developing self-empowerment, peer…

Connections and Creativity: The Inner Critic at the Centre for Peace Feb 23 #yvr

We had a fantastic session on January 26, 2015: CONNECTIONS & CREATIVITY USING VALUES, MINDMAPPING and AUTHENTIC NETWORKING Announcing our next Connections and Creativity session: THE INNER CRITIC Buy tickets at EVENTBRITE Laura Mack and Kat Thorsen invite you to experience a deeper connection to self, tap into your creativity and connect with others at a truly authentic level in their new series: Connections and…

Abundance means less. What? #selfleadership

I’ve been really committing to the mantra Abundance 2015. My mindset is more focused on creating abundance. But my realization is that I’ve been coming at it all wrong. Abundance to me does not mean more. Abundance means less. What? Doesn’t abundance mean more? Definition:  The lesson for me, as I quickly approach 53, lies in taking a…

INNER CRITIC series Part 3 of 6: INVESTIGATE #journalexercise

The inner critic is always worth a revisit.  I have broken the series into 6 parts: 1. RANT 2. JUDGE 3. INVESTIGATE 4. CAUTERIZE 5. TEASE 6. EMBRACE Each exercise starts with a journal entry and/or mindmap.  Then we look at the emotions that come up as we share openly.  I encourage you to experiment by…

Inside Out Project: Own Your Journey, Mountainside Pilot Project Week 5 of 5

Recall: LINK: MOUNTAINSIDE SECONDARY: Inside Out Project: Own Your Journey Youth-run initiative using the vehicle of portrait photography and street art to learn life and transferable skills while developing self-empowerment, peer to peer interaction and community connections. THEMES: Connection and Empowerment CO-FACILITATORS: IAN POWELL, KAT THORSEN Pilot Project: September 30, 2014- October 30, 2014 INSPIRED BY OUR…

My retreat journal part 6 of 6: The Closing Circle

I experienced a life-changing weekend as I co-facilitated Creativity and Connection Retreat October 17-19, 2014 on Bowen Island with Laura Mack at Xenia Retreat.  Here are some journal excerpts so you can get a small glimpse as to how powerful the experience was for me. Recall: PART 1 October 17, 2014 FRIDAY INTO SILENCE PART 2 October…

My retreat journal Part 5 of 6: The Dance

I experienced a life-changing weekend as I co-facilitated Creativity and Connection Retreat October 17-19, 2014 on Bowen Island with Laura Mack at Xenia Retreat.  Here are some journal excerpts so you can get a small glimpse as to how powerful the experience was for me. Recall: PART 1 October 17, 2014 FRIDAY INTO SILENCE PART 2 October…

My Retreat Journal Part 4 of 6: The Symbols Way

I experienced a life-changing weekend as I co-facilitated Creativity and Connection Retreat October 17-19, 2014 on Bowen Island with Laura Mack at Xenia Retreat.  Here are some journal excerpts so you can get a small glimpse as to how powerful the experience was for me. Recall: PART 1 October 17, 2014 FRIDAY INTO SILENCE PART 2 October…

My retreat journal Part 3 of 6: The Cyclops Goddess

I experienced a life-changing weekend as I co-facilitated Creativity and Connection Retreat October 17-19, 2014 on Bowen Island with Laura Mack at Xenia Retreat.  Here are some journal excerpts so you can get a small glimpse as to how powerful the experience was for me. Recall: PART 1 October 17, 2014 FRIDAY INTO SILENCE PART 2 October…

My retreat journal Part 2 of 6: Into the labyrinth

I experienced a life-changing weekend as I co-facilitated Creativity and Connection Retreat October 17-19, 2014 on Bowen Island with Laura Mack at Xenia Retreat.  Here are some journal excerpts so you can get a small glimpse as to how powerful the experience was for me. Recall: PART 1 October 17, 2014 FRIDAY INTO SILENCE — Part 2 October…

My retreat journal Part 1 of 6: INTO SILENCE

I experienced a life-changing weekend as I co-facilitated Creativity and Connection Retreat October 17-19, 2014 on Bowen Island with Laura Mack at Xenia Retreat.  A HUGE THANK YOU TO LAURA FOR PROVIDING THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR ME. SPECIAL THANK YOU Saria, and to Angelyn, Loretta, Fran and Lorena — Here are some journal excerpts so you…

Inside Out: youth empowerment, peer to peer interaction and community connections.

I am so excited to be part of this incredible project inspired by my hero JR: MOUNTAINSIDE SECONDARY: Inside Out Project: Own Your Journey Youth-run initiative using the vehicle of portrait photography and street art to learn life and transferable skills while developing self-empowerment, peer to peer interaction and community connections. THEMES: Connection and Empowerment CO-FACILITATORS:…

“I am wandering awed… gnawed trees breathe a delicate air.” Creativity & Connection Retreat Oct 17-19, 2014

CREATIVITY AND CONNECTION RETREAT WITH LAURA AND KAT Retreat Flyer We will provide you with tools for gaining insight and shifting perspective using inspiring themes such as archetype symbology and shadow-work.  Self-reflection activities will take you deeper into your own journey while group experiences expand your mindset. Laura will share authentic leadership exercises to assist…

Human Connection, Creativity and Health- @bridge4health free workshop with @parentasleader and @KatThorsen

Would you like to spend an evening exploring the healing power of human connection through a gentle introduction to netweaving and creative expression? Bridge for Health and the Burnaby Public Library present this free workshop by an authentic leader and facilitator Laura Mack, and therapeutic art facilitator Kat Thorsen. Laura Mack is a business consultant, facilitator and writer.  She…

Michele’s Happiness and Joy Lessons for Parents and Teachers

I first met Michele Lilyanna in 1996 at Roberts Creek Community Elementary School.   Through luck and serendipity, Michele taught both my kids.   She and I quickly bonded over a mutual and voracious love of the creative process.   We eventually taught art classes together to all ages.  I learned so much from co-facilitating with Michele- how…

Sacred Contracts Journal Exercise Part 5 of 8: Throat Chakra

  SACRED CONTRACTS JOURNALING EXERCISE SERIES PART 5 OF 8 THROAT CHAKRA We are tapping into our calling, our purpose, our joy in this SACRED CONTRACTS journal series.  It is inspired by Caroline Myss.  The journal series is  an experiment on my part, and I welcome you to join along. Recall Part 1: Future and Present where we took…

Stay tuned for Operation Sock Monkey Handbook fundraising!

My personal mission is to awaken creative expression through local and global art initiatives. One initiative partners me with Operation Sock Monkey to create a life skills and entrepreneurship handbook. Our goal is to implement local pilot projects in the Fall and to bring the work to New York City and San Francisco youth programs…

#KeithHaring inspired canvas in progress at @MediaForYouth

At Intersections Media we love Art Mondays!  Besides filmmaking, a significant part of Intersections is dipping our hands into the visual art/creative process and into art history by creating art work that interprets the masters and that creates community dialogue.  On Mondays we cover the art component and attack the canvas.  We are in the process of creating…

Recalling the creation of the mural “Destiny Manifesting.” #youthart

My students and I started this mural in the art therapy room at Keith Lynn Alternative Secondary in North Vancouver in 2009… and on July 5, 2011, I dragged it to Kirkstone Park, North Vancouver… The mural was inspired by Doze Green‘s Galeria de la Raza, 1999, as found in the book Street Art San Francisco- Mission Muralismo: Here’s a photo journey…

Sacred Contracts Journaling Exercise Part 4a of 8: what is your true nature?

SACRED CONTRACTS JOURNALING EXERCISE SERIES PART 4a OF 8 WHAT IS YOUR TRUE NATURE? We are tapping into our calling, our purpose, our joy in this SACRED CONTRACTS journal series.  It is inspired by Caroline Myss.  The journal series is  an experiment on my part, and I welcome you to join along. Recall Part 1: Future and Present where we…