CREATIVITY |
Education and the Arts
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Education and the Arts
The
Creativity Workshop was the highlight of my summer! The instructors were
highly competent and very kind, and they helped me to understand how
to tap into my creative potential. I can't wait to use their techniques
in my classroom; my students will benefit from their expertise and hopefully
realize their own creative capabilities.
Tonya Tobey, English Teacher, Pauls Valley
Public School, Pauls Valley, OK
The
Creativity Workshop was life changing on so many levels. I went in with
an open attitude, but as a creative writing teacher and a writer for
so many years, I doubted a bit whether I could hear anything I hadn't
already thought about and implemented. Silly me. I came out with exercises
that will not only benefit my students, but also with some eye-opening
processes that will keep my "creative muscle" flexible and
strong. I'm already finding that the new approach of joining drawing
and writing, and the imaginative visualizations are sparking renewed
energy. The generosity and intelligence of all the participants was palpable
every day.
Jan Karman, English Teacher,
Wayland High School, Southborough, MA
The
workshop was fantastic! The diversity of the participants from around
the world provided an extraordinary opportunity to connect with people
I wouldn't have the chance to meet in my typical work environment. The
facilitators provided many unique ideas to get my own creativity flowing.
Many of these ideas can be directly applied to the courses I teach. The
workshop ended more than three weeks ago and I am still talking about
it to everyone at home. Thank you.
Janine Violini, Instructor, SAIT Polytechnic, Calgary,
Canada
I cannot tell you how inspiring your workshop was on a number of levels!
I continue to draw inspiration from those few days!
Deborah B. Reeve,
Ed. D., Deputy Executive Director, National Association of Elementary
School Principals, Washington, D.C.
I
enjoyed the Creativity Workshop in Florence, and I have recommended this
workshop to my college English Department Chair for any and all faculty
who are interested. I may attend another workshop in Florence and/or the
other locations in the future.
Rhonda Schlatter, Adjunct Faculty, Mesa
Community College, Apache Junction, Arizona
The Creativity Workshop in Crete was a perfect blend of relaxation and stimulation.
It was delightful to wake up each day in
the beautiful town of Chania and look forward exercises that freed the
imagination and refreshed the spirit. Shelley and Alejandro are talented
teachers as well as talented artists. They gave us enough assignments
to foster discovery and creativity, yet left us plenty of time to enjoy
the natural and archeological wonders of Crete. I came away from the workshop
with a sense of renewal and an array of techniques that I can call upon
to encourage my imagination and creativity.
Patricia Lancaster, Vice
President of Academic Affairs, Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida
Thank
you for the great, great inspiration and fun of the Creativity Workshop.
It helped me get a whole screenplay done during a trip
to Mexico afterwards. It was great for me and my students. I don't think
I've ever seen them so happy.
Doris Doerrie, Filmmaker, Professor, Munich Film
School, Germany
The
creativity workshops have not been just summer experiences for me
(I've taken them twice!). Rather, they have become for me a precious part
of the on-going tapestry that we weave in this journey called life. And,
in deep, deep winter I am warmed by your exercises in visualizations,
'free drawing', photos of nature in the midst of a thriving city, and
the memories of our collective stories shared by all.
Alice Daum Coen, Educator/Administrator, Hartford
County, Maryland Public Schools
To be in an atmosphere that nurtures and supports the artistic process
in safety and joyfulness is a gift. Our instructors led us through various
exercises that were sometimes playful, somber, humorous, and/or magical.
Storytelling as we wrote, colored, dreamed, and meditated as we deepened
in the doing of the process. I found power in the "doing" and
a safe place to be in an atmosphere of deep respect and creative energy
with affection and warmth that circulated in the air. This is only a small
instance of what the Creativity Workshop offers.
Lee Anne Fahey, Award Winning Actress and Writer,
New York City
A retired school administrator and aspiring novelist, I
completed the Creativity Workshop in Florence with a profound sense of
admiration for its two exceptional leaders. As a former educator, I was
impressed by Shelley and Alejandro's talent to reach into their bottomless
bag of tricks and present the participants with an unending array of mind-stretching--and
at times even body stretching--exercises. I particularly admired their
ability to connect people, ideas, and techniques seamlessly. The two of
them exude a naturally warm and caring demeanor from the moment they enter
the room, and the nurturing ambiance they provide encourages everyone's
imagination to blossom. How could imagination not thrive with two such
superb teachers? As an aspiring writer, I enjoyed not only the heartfelt
words of encouragement I received from Shelley and Alejandro, but also
the specific approaches to creativity they presented to all of us again
and again, each day enhancing, honing, and expanding a variety of skills
that force us to develop a fresh vision of the world around us. The sessions
last three and a half hours each, and yet they appear to fly by much too
quickly, leaving us yearning for more: more of the camaraderie that develops
among a disparate group of people of all ages and from all parts of the
world; more of the activities that tap into yet unexplored areas of our
individual and collective imagination; and, most important, more of Shelley
and Alejandro's unique brand of teaching the art of being creative, a
daunting task for others perhaps, but not for these two who succeed astonishingly
well in their mission.
Lad Goldberger, Assistant Principal (retired),
South Huntington Schools, Long Island, New York and novelist, Delray Beach,
Florida.
The Creativity Workshop provided the perfect focus for my travel in Greece.
The assignments brought the Crete environment and culture into sharper
focus during the afternoons of exploration. When writing and drawing during
the morning classes, I felt another culture's sensibilities emerging in
my thoughts and feelings. There are many ideas I brought home with me
from the workshop - ideas for the classroom, ideas for my own writing
- and these ideas have swirled around my head all summer long. The
thing that works so well in the Creativity Workshop is the instructors’
commitment to understanding and explaining the purposes of each activity.
It is very nice to return home with lots of notes and ideas but, better
than that, I returned home inspired by the passion, intellect, and integrity
of Shelley and Alejandro.
Courtney Reid, Writer and Assistant Professor of
English, Adirondack Community College, Saratoga Springs, New York
The instructors were like wizards to us participants. They
were focused only on us and our imaginations. With the supportive
and creative environment they created, their knowledge and various techniques
presented and our basic tools of pencil and paper, they helped us re-awaken
our imaginative powers. They raised my consciousness about how important
it is to exercise the imagination. After the workshop, I had another
week to explore Dublin and the surrounding area with my newly 'toned'
imagination. I hiked in the Wicklow mountains and I saw the radiance of
its beauty even more so, I believe, because my imagination was more engaged
after the workshop. I would recommend this workshop to anyone who, even
on a very basic level, wants to feel more alive.
Kathleen O'Neill, ELL Teacher to Adults, Carver-Scott
Educational Coop, St. Paul, Minnesota
Florence
was a gorgeous site for the workshop, full of everything to fill the senses!
My workshop leader, Kirpal Singh, was so warm and friendly. Working with
partners was an interesting experience. It was wonderful to meet people
from around the world and share our thoughts and feelings in our writings
and drawings. Thank you for allowing me to participate in such a life
long memory.
Susan Hassler, Teacher, Morris Brandon Elementary,
Atlanta, Georgia.
I
am glad to say that I still do my 20-minute creativity exercises daily.
Your workshop really enriched my life. I am using your
visualization exercises with the 200 children I work with weekly and with
my own creativity activities. I’m glad to tell you that your workshop
is touching the lives of many, many people here in South Africa. My dream
is to attend another of your workshops, in another country because I do
believe that the newness of ones surroundings is playing a magical role
in ones own perception of creativity.
Lanette Breedt, Artist and Teacher, Gauteng, South
Africa
I
encourage other educational leaders to attend the Creativity Workshop,
and to do so with fellow school administrators. I found sharing ideas
and perceptions during the Workshop with two of my colleagues who also
attended to be very helpful. I believe it will help us be supportive of
each other during the school year. As an elementary school principal,
one is responsible for the implementation of new curriculum and instructional
strategies. As a Creativity Workshop participant, I found the Workshop
experience enlightening for my professional understanding of self-expression,
and personal creativity journey. Most importantly, the workshop enhanced
my understanding of the writing process, and how to reach one's inner
thoughts, I believe will enable me to be stronger instructional leader.
AnnaMarie Erbes, Principal, St. Paul Public School
District, Minneapolis, Minnesota
The
workshop was an inspirational connection with body and soul.
Through the exercises, one was encouraged to engage with the inner space
of one's life. Through dreams and mindfulness, you gently moved us to
see in a new way. I never would have experienced Florence, so thoroughly,
so awake without your gifts. I am so grateful to have been a part of such
an elegant, kind, soulful and intellectual group. Imagination is a very
delicate, delicious form of communication. You gave us back our
delicate sensibilities for those moments.
Joanna Reed, Professor, Sussex County Community
College, Newton, New Jersey
Thank
you so much for helping me to clarify and name so many things about myself
that I might never have discovered had I not been prompted
by your workshop! The most important thing I think is that I don't need
a huge block of time to make art! I've decided to carve out at least 30
minutes a day. I also found it valuable to know it's O. K. to just forge
ahead. It's O. K. to fail, just do it and keep going. It was incredibly
motivating too to be surrounded by so much art and architecture.
Janette Danielson, Art Teacher, Beaufort Academy,
Beaufort, South Carolina
After
the Creativity Workshop, I was amazed to go back and read some of what
I wrote as the direct result of the relaxation activities!
I also learned was to pay more attention to my surroundings. Your observation
exercise: Doors and Windows of Florence had me noticing all sorts of new
things. In the past my rolls of film might have been filled with the typical
pictures of the Duomo, or a famous statue. While some of that is still
there, I've also captured on film, or in writing, or simply in my memory,
images of the delicate turn of a leaf, the petals of a hydrangea on a
terra cotta terrace, and the contrast of a freshly fallen lemon on a bed
of grass. Finally, the most valuable (though perhaps the hardest) lesson
for me was to learn the value of sharing my ideas and work with others.
I tend to be quiet and withdrawn for the most part, and most of my paintings
and writing don't go beyond my own eyes. I loved the safety that I found
by having a group surrounding me that were all open to finding the positive
in my work or offering up helpful suggestions.
Heidi Lang, Teacher, Falls Church City Public Schools,
Falls Church, Virginia
Combining
a focus on place (Chania, Crete) with an exploration of our personal journey
helped deepen reflection in a short space of time. The well thought out
exercises help participants sift through the surface layers quickly and
get to what matters. The instructors do not waste any class time and set
a delightful tone of reflective and playful practice. Each exercise was
relevant to my own classrooms so the workshop is very useful. But what
was most valuable to me was how engaging the workshop was for my own imaginative
work, the very work that will support my own writing and how I pay attention
to and engage the world.
Cheryl Johnson, College Teacher, University of
Idaho, Moscow, Idaho
The
workshop was wonderful. I left not only feeling a renewal
of my creative spirit, but like my soul had been restored as well. I was
so pleased with my own experience, that I brought some of the workshop
exercises into my senior thesis writing class. The students LOVED them,
and their writing was far better than students' work in previous classes.
Pamela Perry, Associate Professor of Sociology,
University of California, Santa Cruz
The
Workshop was exactly what I needed to reclaim the writer in me. Over
the years, I've traveled to participate in a number of writing and creativity
workshops. It isn't often that a trip or a workshop meets all of one's
expectations. But my ten-day sojourn to Crete to attend the Creativity
Workshop did, and then some. As a writer (and teacher of writing), I needed
to re-tap into my creativity for my own writing, which had been taking
second place to the small publishing house I had recently started. I immediately
responded to the relaxed yet structured workshop sessions, which lent
themselves to connecting with other participants. Whether it was an individual
exercise to tap into childhood memories or pairing up with one, two, or
three other participants, we dug deeper into ourselves to reach our creative
spirits. The three-and-a-half-hour sessions sped by. We were free to do
what we wanted the rest of the day, along with one or two engaging assignments.
We often met up with one another. The last two days we were on our own
to explore Crete.
Hanna Fox, Writer, Teacher, Publisher, Red Hummingbird
Press , Princeton, New Jersey
My
17-year-old grand-daughter, Jolissa, was very pleased with the time spent
in the Creativity Workshop. She also enjoyed being able
to participant in it with her Grandma Barbara. Everything was well planned
and carried out in the workshop. The ambience was set at the very beginning
with easy and restful exercises. Further exercises stimulated the imagination
in some new and in some familiar ways.
It was especially nice to hear the philosophy expressed: "Creativity
is a Journey, rather than a Goal." Learning is a Process, not a Product."
Barbara Hansen Epplett, Professor of Organ, Emeritus,
University of Oregon
I
wanted to tell you how much I loved attending the Workshops back to back,
first in Aix, then in Barcelona (4 Creativity Workshops
over 2 summers)! The workshops strengthened the practice of using my imagination
and my confidence that creativity was available to me if I gave myself
the time, the quiet and the witnessing that I found it deserved. Now I
am studying how the creative process relates to self-expression, particularly
in the lives of women. I have you to thank, in large part, for putting
me on this path. I don't think that I would have believed that fostering
creativity in individuals and in communities was something that I could
do or even that it was something of real value, if I hadn't had the affirming
experience of your workshop, where these things are valued.
Pamela Boll, Writer and Painter. Producer of Oscar
Winning Documentary "Born in Brothels", Boston
The
workshop itself is a life-altering experience, changing our world
from within, in order to change our perception of the
world around us. The lessons of the workshop gave us permission to stop
rushing from one thing to another, while the moment at hand slipped away
unnoticed. It was a chance to experiment, explore, evaluate and learn
from fellow participants, too. I returned home with many gifts, none of
which needed suitcase space or a customs declaration: a renewed energy
for taking creative chances; a stronger vision of possibilities and options;
a pocketful of tricks to renew the creative spirit when too much "life"
interferes. What great luck it is that the Creativity Workshop does not
have to be a "once in a lifetime" experience!
Marilyn Landis, Educational Consultant for Deaf
and Special Needs Children, Music Specialist for Hearing Impaired Children,
Hearsay, South Euclid, Ohio
The
Creativity Workshop may be captured in one word— Imagination!
Each morning in Barcelona, we awoke to blue, sunny skies and a warm Mediterranean
breeze. We spread out with our journals and colored pencils near by, and
then, lulled by the cadence of our instructor’s musical voice, we
switched off the editor in our heads and set out to capture lost dreams.
For three hours each day, we wrote and drew “automatically”
without fear or self-doubt, and listened to the stories of new friends.
Absolutely amazing things happen when you take flight at the Creativity
Workshop. You will return to earth, magically transformed.
Lalita Noronha, Ph.D., Research Scientist, Biology
Teacher, Fiction Editor of The Baltimore Review, Author of “Where
Monsoons Cry”, Baltimore
Since
I've been back, I've been telling everyone about the Creativity Workshop,
and they all say "It sounds like you had a great time." Which
I did. But it was so much more than that. It changed my life. Freed my
imagination. Awakened a longing in my heart to create that usually gets
ignored in my ordinary busy life. I saw others of my classmates come alive,
too. When a fellow participant said to me: "For the first time in
a long time I feel joy," I knew it wasn't just me who had been transformed.
It was a magical experience. One that will stay with me forever.
Rondi Aastrup, Principal,
Greater Boston Academy, Stoneham,
Massachusetts
The
Creativity Workshop helped our actors and writers to develop their professional
creativity from a new and original aspect. This workshop
helped us to find different perspectives of how to increase our creativity
and cultural focus in a very nurturing atmosphere.
Xavier Cifre, Producciones
Xavier Cifre, Inc. -
Productora Nacional de Teatro, Inc.,
San Juan, Puerto Rico
As
a writer, I have to say the workshop stands as a crucial juncture in my
work. The instructors were excellent guides to finding
one's buried or stifled creativity, coaxing it out with intriguing assignments
in art and writing, and teaching us to relax and let go of the various
"blocks" Being on a Greek island in a lovely ancient town meant
there was inspiration at every turn, and the other participants--writers,
advertising executives, teachers, artists, poets--were especially interesting
and intelligent companions in this enriching experience.
Mary Cross, Ph.D., Former Dean and Professor Emerita,
Fairleigh Dickinson University, Morris County, New Jersey
I am an elementary school principal who had completed her doctoral program
and was very tired of detail writing. The Creativity Workshop was a chance
to use the colorful pieces of my life story, appreciate their value, and
put together those individual gems to build a bigger picture. It wasn't
about statistics and making sense, it was about another type of journey.
Friendships were quickly made and bonds of common history created a living
patchwork of experience. I was surprised by how easily Shelly and Alejandro
could tap into distant days and bring them into a present focus. Each
day as I walked to class, I looked forward to the new treasures my mind
would unearth.
Dr. Drucilla Clark, Principal, Lakeview
Elementary School, Denville, New Jersey
I
was amazed at how the Creativity Workshop techniques led me to tap a wellspring
of experiences, ideas, and inspirations. The Creativity
workshop gave me the keys, and urged me to continue the discipline that
will prod the unconscious to manifest it's work - to delight, shock, and
inspire me to write.
Cora A. Gaabucayan, PH.D., Head of School, Montessori
West, Litchfield Park, Arizona
The
Creativity Workshop is a practical workshop that will surely inspire
The imaginative journey back to first memories, the symbolic associations
between memory and life, and the wonderfully visual aspects of the course
are just some of its highlights. Shelley and Alejandro are skilled guides
with a talent for tapping the emotive and creative founts in all participants.
Chandani Lokuge, Author, Director, Centre for Postcolonial
Writing, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.
Shelley
and Alejandro are truly masters of creativity exploration.
They guide you on a most amazing journey of yourself. Under Shelley and
Alejandro's skillful navigation, the cramped, stress-laden adult attitudes
that you arrive with seem to melt away . They are replaced with the precious
gift of childlike wonder for the world and all she holds. Next, your mind
and your heart open up to be filled with incredible thoughts and feelings,
There seems to be no end to your imagination, and your creative self spills
out with a giggle. Oh, what joy to feel the beauty of the world and to
honor your own creative self!
Sheri Matascik, Composer, Associate Professor of
Music, Maryville College, Tennessee
The
workshop helped me to determine the elements I need to have in my life
for me to continue to be a successful creative thinker. As principal of
an elementary school I have been able to put together enough the workshop’s
material to last this next year as I teach my staff the skills of being
a more creative thinker and, in turn, they will teach the students.
Lee Koran, Principal, St. Patrick Fine Arts Elementary
School, Alberta, Canada
I
will cherish my 10 days at The Creativity Workshop for a lifetime.
Through automatic writing and drawing, developing stories in cafes, and
working collaboratively with classmates, inspiration unfolded in ways
I never imagined. The exercises were a beautiful reflection of the artistic
way of living. They taught me to honor who I am as a writer and how to
make time for creativity in my daily life at home after the workshop.
Stephanie Merrill, Writer, New York City
The
setting in Chania was extremely conducive to creativity: a meeting room
small enough to allow for easy communication while nearby
tavernas offered space to sit and explore assignments with other participants.
The curriculum was structured so that one did what one wanted and omitted
what one didn't want. Instructors gave broad directions and were encouraging
and helpful without being insistent, leading to lots of freedom to explore,
imagine, and create. Making new friends, with lasting connections, was
the icing on the cake of this Creativity Workshop.
Ronald Naylor, Librarian, Soddy Daisy,Tennessee
I
produced as much poetry in ten days in Chania as I did in a month in a
conventional poetry workshop. The primary difference was
the ease of creation and the fun I experienced in the Creativity Workshop,
and I also saved time and money. The emphasis on ‘In process’
works really helped me. I also enjoyed the company of my husband in this
workshop; he isn't a poet and wouldn’t normally attend a poetry
workshop. The multi-genre/arts approach has many benefits to this end.
Sally Naylor; Poet and English Teacher, Baylor
School, Chattanooga, Tennessee
I
thought long and hard before deciding to commit the time and money to
attend
a 10-day Creativity Workshop in France, but
it turned out to be one of the best investments of my life.
Every hour brought fresh insights, ideas, and inspirations for both professional
and personal development. I'm still drawing from the wealth of stimulation
that I received and I expect to do so indefinitely. Will I return for
another Creativity Workshop in the future? Absolutely! I would recommend
this experience to anyone.
Laura Fasick, Professor, Minnesota State University, Moorhead
I
wanted to take a moment to tell you how much I enjoyed the workshop.
It was incredible. The exercises and your encouragement were
wonderful. But, more importantly, your sensitivity and perceptivity in
regard to others and the human condition is unbelievable. I wish I knew
10 more of you!
Neil H. Schwartz, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, California
State University, Chico
When
I got home after your workshop in Prague, so many people said to me: "How
was your workshop? You
look so alive, so happy, so fresh!" That’s exactly how I feel.
I realize that there will be blocks at times, but I feel a freedom that
I have NEVER felt before. The two of you, your gentle, kind manner, your
way of making everyone feel so comfortable...you have a real gift to share
with others. I only wish that more people could experience what you have
to offer. Not only are you artists, but you give of yourselves in a way
that is incredibly beautiful. Thank you for touching my soul, and helping
me see butterflies, birds, flowers, colors; for helping me soar and feel
like singing and writing and dancing.
Dianne
Stuckey, Teacher, American School of Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The
Creativity Workshop gave us time to breath--time to think--time to be
with
others who crave writing and art as we do. For both of
us, it was rejuvenation for our next years of teaching. Thanks for the
opportunity to integrate our feelings and our talents in most powerful
ways.
Margaret Hill, Professor of Language and Literacy
and Greater Houston Area Writing Project Director, University of Houston,
Texas
An
exceptional choice of location, (Paris) + an intelligently conceived program
+ a
pair of talented teachers of complementary expertise who have a knack
for being present when guidance is needed and absent when the students
are involved in their writing or drawing + a diverse bunch of interesting
people all bent to develop a side of them that is all too often ignored
= a successful and deeply enriching common experience. This seasoned teacher
left the workshop with a sizable bag of useful ideas to motivate her students
to write more and better, a sketchbook full of essays for herself and
a bunch of sweet and fun memories. I give this course an A.
Nicole Fandel, Teacher of French, Concord Academy, Acton,
Massachusetts
One
of the qualities of a meaningful experience is that it grows in depth
and positive regard as time goes on. That is how I feel
about this workshop.
Daniel
Lamken, Teacher Teacher, American School of Prague, Czech Republic
This
is my third workshop coming up and I can't wait! Shelley
and Alejandro ever so gently are able to get us fellow travelers into
a discovery mode that submerges us deeply into the experience of our very
own creativity. They are magicians!
Carroll Blue, Writer and Professor, School of Communications,
San Diego State University
Crossing
paths with Shelley, Alejandro, and most of those attending the workshop
in Florence will remain etched in my psyche as one of the most wonderful,
rejuvenating, nurturing, enlightening, relaxing, growth-inducing, experiences
of my life. Their
style of allowing their student's creativity to blossom was heart-warming,
to say the very least, and their skillful encouragement will not only
remain appreciated for years to come, but will be borrowed with gratitude
when I use them in my own classes, even though I teach hard core science.
Mohey Mowafy, Ph.D., RD, CNS, CEDS, Professor and
Director of Clinical Dietetics, Department of HPER, Northern Michigan
University
I
taught a creative writing class yesterday afternoon and felt a new confidence
after the summer's Creativity Workshop. I
was much more in control and more confident of what I was doing and saying.
My students seem more excited about their work using your exercises. I
feel that in several months time I shall still be doing and saying things
that echo what we covered
in your wonderful workshop.
Noel Shepherd,
Creative Writing Teacher, grades 5 and 6, Washington International School
The
greatest gift I received from the workshop was to learn in a different
way. We took time to focus, experiment
with different media and take risks. I have used so many of the ideas
and exercises from this workshop with my own students.
Joyce Standing, Teacher,
Overlake School, WA
This
workshop challenged my assumptions of the concepts of "time"
and "memory" and gave me a new way of "seeing"
and interacting with my images. This workshop has transformed my art and
teaching. It is a gift that I treasure and at every opportunity share
with my students.
Savneet Talwar, Artist, Assistant Professor, Southern
Illinois University
The
Creativity Workshop in Florence was two weeks in Paradise.
I wrote the first chapter of a first novel, and opened a new door in my
creative life. I'm still in touch with friends I made there. An unforgettable
experience!
Lowry Marshall, Acting and Directing Teacher, Playwright,
Dramaturg, Brown University
I
came back so energized and excited about the prospect of really creating
something. Thank you so much for your encouragement and
sharing so generously of yourselves.
Kathleen A. Paris, Ph.D., Sr. Consultant, Services
for Planning & Improvement, Office of Quality Improvement, University
of Wisconsin at Madison
The
Creativity Workshop in Italy has been a very special experience for me.
It opened up new ways to look at my work and I found new friendships.
The instruction is superb!
Vera Eisenberg, Painter, Buenos Aires, Argentina
I
found the workshop extremely valuable
in generating awareness of my creativity and in stimulating ideas.
Jeanne Arthur, Executive Officer, ACT Board of
Secondary School Studies, Australia
Our
only tools were an artist’s pad with unlined paper for writing or
drawing, a lead pencil, pen and colored pencils. Writing
became effortless, seamless, an outpouring from the heart. One of the
biggest surprises was the effect of drawing on my work and life. I’m
one of those non- drawing people, but as I sketched (poorly, of course),
it helped me to see more and more and I realized that there was really
no end to seeing. Some of the group had taken the workshop 3 and even
4 times before. Everyone jumped in wholeheartedly and we supported each
other’s undertakings. The workshop was a wonderful celebration of
our individual possibilities, coupled with tools for jump-starting writing
or any artistic endeavor. Everything the instructors gently poured into
our receptive hearts continues to resonate. I've finished a play I've
been playing hide-go-seek with for two years. I can’t wait to take
the workshop again. It is food for life.
Stephanie Satie, Actress and Playwright, Los Angeles
In
the Creativity Workshop, I found a place to dream, to question, to understand.
I strongly believe that we should fearlessly guard such spaces and ensure
that they remain a part of this university. The Creativity Workshop and
Shelley Berc and Alejandro Fogel’s teaching are invaluable assets
to the University of Iowa.
Evan Mazunik, Student, University of Iowa
Whenever
I feel blocked, I go back to a lot of the techniques I learned in the
Creativity Workshop. It was a great atmosphere for a class,
where you felt that you were free to create and not worry about judging
your work. I tremendously value the Workshop. Its teachers understand
something that many people only have vague ideas about -- how to encourage
creativity.
Jerry Abejo, Student, University of Iowa
I
was blocked until I took this course.The Creativity Workshop is amazing
in that it breaks down all your fears about thinking and writing. If
it wasn't for this class I fear I never would have finished my master's
thesis.
Francesca Salidu, Ph.D. candidate in Shakespeare,
University of Pisa, Italy
The
experience of taking the Workshop in Prague two years ago feels like yesterday
-- it is that close to me. The Workshop has and continues
to have a huge impact on me and my work.
Paulette Laufer, Playwright and Theatre Manager,
Kennedy Center for the Arts, Washington, D.C.
The
Creativity Workshop provides a unique opportunity for persons of many
different ages to make transitions in their lives. The
artist-teachers empower individuals by stimulating reflection, remembrances,
interactions, and by drawing upon the well-springs of creative energy
deep inside each of us. Using the psychology of Carl Jung and examples
of artists/writers of many periods, they help participants to see anew,
rather than by teaching writing, drawing, or painting. These teachers
provide a safe space and time with warm support for inner exploration
so lacking in today’s hectic world.
Janine C. Edwards, Ph.D., Teacher/Researcher
Texas A & M University System
As
a practicing visual artist, I came to the workshop desiring
to develop my writing skills. I was looking for practical, but creative
exercises I could use outside of the idyllic conditions workshops offer.
I was not disappointed! The visualization exercises, and the daily observational
writings were creative, practical and transferable to any situation. I
left with many ideas for personal short stories and am happy to say have
made time to write everyday!
Robert Davis, Art Instructor, Shanghai American
School, China
I
had a wonderful time and would love to attend another workshop, either
in Europe again or when I eventually travel to the States.
I found the techniques presented very useful and will continue to use
them in my creative journey.
Donna Reed-Harrison, Administration Officer, Clarkson,
Australia
A
new self-awareness came to light for me during the workshop,
a realization that the creative and personal issues of my life were not
there by accident, that they were in fact central to my growth as an individual
and an artist. I reached this awareness primarily due to the workshop
exercises involving our unique interaction with the city of Prague. The
tactility of experience shifts your perceptions: stare at a castle door,
trace the contours on a statue that's been there waiting for you since
the 1500s, rub your palm on a seven-hundred-year-old cornerstone. You
shudder and creative possibilities come forth riding on the back of personal
issues--you connect with history--your own, the wider world's, and with
the craftsmen of centuries past. What was remote has become intimate,
and your view of yourself and your perception of the past, present and
future is amplified.
Stephen Bracco, Freelance Writer, Novelist, Copy
Editor, Brooklyn, New York
The
enjoyment of spontaneity gave energy.
So many ideas in my head, so many possibilities which
made me so aware. Achieving results in a playful way - what a wonderful
experience. I believe now in my imagination! Thank you.
Claudine
Merkel, Dancer/Choreographer, Münster, Germany
I liken Shelley and Alejandro to Pied Pipers, leading workshop
participants along a path of creativity that opens both inner and outer
worlds to an extreme new awareness. The workshop in Barcelona was interesting
on a professional level as well as fully rejuvenating on a personal level.
Shelley and Alejandro are trustworthy guides on the varied paths being
traveled by the workshop participants. The workshop will charm you, challenge
you, and refresh the very way you approach your work and daily living.
Diana Matteson, Art Therapist, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
The
Creativity Workshop ranks easily with the greatest experiences
of my life. I was actually quite overwhelmed by the nurturing aspect of
Shelley's and Alejandro's teaching. As a teacher myself, this is exactly
the type of impact I wish to have on my students - the sort of gentle
encouragement that empowers learners to experience a genuine sense of
achievement. The creative activities we covered over the four days were
some of the most challenging tasks I have ever attempted; if you want
to be pushed to the very edge of your creative limits, then this workshop
will deliver. I traveled from Australia with my young family to attend
the workshop, and it was worth every kilometer of the 40 hour round trip.
Fantastic.
Clayton Lachmund, Teacher, Toowoomba Grammar School,
Australia
Thank
you for a wonderful week in Provence. As a working poet
who was in a bit of a dry spell, I found the exercises very helpful and
also a lot of fun. As the 6 days progressed I felt myself shifting to
the right side of my brain and the ideas flowing. All of that would have
been enough of a gift, but in addition, I realized the exercises you had
us do would all be easily adapted to the creative writing class I have
taught for the past 10 years. I also plan to share some of the strategies
with my writing group that meets on a regular basis. Your office in New
York has also been very responsive and accommodating. I would not hesitate
to recommend this experience to my colleagues. I know the Provence workshop
will continue to feed my muse.
Nancy Miller, Poet, Phillips Academy, North Reading,
Massachusetts
Corporate and Business
The
exercises helped me to explore my creative side, which in my current
profession, I don't get to do very often. I highly recommend this workshop
for people who are just beginning to explore their creative talents.
Rencher Gutteridge, Field Operations, Chick-fil-A,
Inc., Atlanta, GA
The
methods taught in this workshop showed me how to apply my natural creative
talents in all areas of the workplace. I have already
used freewriting and free drawing in business applications to jump-start
a team in solving a time-sensitive problem through creativity. This stuff
WORKS!
Bill English, Management Consultant,Chick-Fil-A
Restaurants, Atlanta
I
have attended at least 10 creative seminars and this creativity workshop
is far above the others in its inspiration, positive spirit and techniques
for nurturing creativity. As the present and former President
of companies in photography, music, and sound creations, nurturing creativity
in myself and the culture of these organizations is critical to their
and my success..The Creativity Workshop changed me forever and moved me
forward in managing my creative companies, but more importantly in my
personal determination, commitment and creativity in my own projects.
This workshop is important for anyone who wants to better understand,
develop and celebrate their creativity in their personal or business life.
Barbara Roberts, President and CEO, Acoustiguides,
New York City
The
Workshop allowed me for the first time to really hear my own voice and
find a way of expressing it in a way that has been so freeing. From
the work we did, I now have loads of snippets from which to continue to
write and explore. I see this workshop as a transition point in my life
where a new and more powerful way of being will come in to its own. In
the Workshop I met some fantastic people who helped me to express myself
and enrich my experience and I will always appreciate those precious moments.
Nikki Kearns, Director, CRM Standard Bank,
South Africa
The
course was wonderful and made more inspiring by the magnificent setting
of Barcelona. I find myself thinking about creativity
every day.
Cherie Martin, Project Manager, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Shelley
and Alejandro take you on an adventure that ignites your creative spirit,
stretches your mind and opens you to greater possibilities and choices
in your life! It was truly an adventure for me in every way! A journey
to delightful Dublin- then encouraged to see, to smell, to taste, to feel
Dublin as a creative task. A journey into feeling spaces I had forgotten.
A journey of co-creation with strangers that became friends. A journey
that makes you want to play and see life in a whole new way.
Rita Haque, Branding and Marketing, Haq Centre,
Singapore
I
should like to thank you for an illuminating experience in your Creativity
Workshop in Dublin. Even though I have resumed my
usual busy working day, I have already put into practice the Workshop's
belief in daily practice-- taking twenty minutes or so to return to my
notebook and take a little mental journey, away from my desk and
business papers.
Now there are so many paths I want to explore and the workshop inspired
me to progress with various concepts I have been nursing for some time.
Your warmth towards us all and your love for what you are doing did indeed
make for a 'nurturing' ambiance.
Judy Spenser-Morris, Designer, Property Developer,
Newmarket, United Kingdom
I
have some wonderful memories of the Creativity Workshop.
Sitting on the floor listening to calm, wise and inspiring instructor,
Kirpal Singh; sharing stories with one and all, feeling energized and
relaxed at the same time. Florence is an exceptional venue!
Greta Thomas, Marketing Officer, City of Wodonga,
Victoria, Australia
Because I write for a living, I had forgotten
how to write for fun. I learned
how to get to that "fun" part of writing again at the workshop
-- writing without rules or consequences -- letting
words and ideas spill out -- taking off the handcuffs I've been wearing
in my corporate life. The bonus for me was being able to explore my creativity
in other ways: drawing to learn how my hand moves; photography to learn
how to look at things differently; working with classmates to learn how
to collaborate -- all in a place that was far, far away from my house,
my office, my commute, my schedule, my cell phone and my e-mail. Participating
in the Creativity Workshop helped me to see myself and my life from a
different perspective. As much as I love my work, and as good as I am
at my job, I can imagine myself doing something completely different --
I couldn't do that before I went to this workshop in Crete.
Amy
White, V.P. Internal Corporate Communications, Cardinal Health, Worthington,
Ohio
The
Creativity Workshop teaches techniques not taught in schools, which are
essential for
creative thinking. They are also priceless when applied
to the creative process of living.
Katie McCann, Trainer, London, United Kingdom
I
started as a skeptic, and ended up committed to coming back for more!
I began the course drawing a tiny gray squiggle in the top left of an
A3, and ended up entirely covering a 10ft x 2ft in rich colour and story,
wow, what a week! And I was not alone. Everyone I worked with was making
similar giant strides in their ability to express and communicate their
own personal vision.
Charles Houghton, ACII, Chartered Insurer, Norwich,
United Kingdom.
Too
often in the workplace, a fear of being judged, of "failure,"
or of appearing "foolish" to others stifles our most creative
thinking. The Creativity Workshop showed
me how to first examine, then overcome my personal insecurities so
that I am contributing with more freedom, boldness and confidence than
ever before.
Barbara Bazaldua, Director of Editorial,
Disney Consumer Products, Anaheim, California
Shelley
and Alejandro allowed the wheels to start turning for me. I've
been talking for years about writing "my book " but it was all
talk and no action. Since returning from their workshop I have a file
that is filling rapidly with ideas and the backbone is starting to take
shape. For me, the benefits of their guidance include increased confidence.
I've learned valuable techniques to get me through writer's block..It's
no longer something I fear as I've gained some practical tools to work
through it. As if those benefits weren't enough, I also met some great
people at the workshop and had a lot of fun. Hats off to Shelley and Alejandro
for their wisdom, patience and guidance.
Diane Pick, President, Negotiation Mastery, Inc.,
New York City
"It
showed me new ways to be creative to meet the multiple business needs."
"What
totally impressed me was just how much I feel that we accomplished while
at the same time coming away feeling refreshed."
"What impressed me was the creativity that
was brought out in us. It was an incredible time for us all."
"After the workshop my brain was so refreshed. My senses were sharpened."
" I feel like our team and the individual relationships are stronger
and deeper after this experience."
Lia van Braaten and the Members of the Global Design
Division, Procter & Gamble, Division Retreat
The
Creativity Workshop is one of the best ways to discover a new city.
Exploring
our creative spirits each evening opened my visual and kinesthetic senses
for the following day. Barcelona is a wonderfully beautiful city, enhanced
by the sensitivities that were stimulated in class. The participants were
as rich as the city and they so warmly shared their personal lives through
the creative writing and drawing exercises.
Nancy Welch, President, Welch Design Group, Madison, Wisconsin
>
These
days everyone craves thrillers like The Da Vinci Code, page turners with
mysterious plots that pay off with an ending both startling and salient.
My personal experience in your workshop was better, than The Da Vinci
Code plot. You figuratively took my hand and helped me perceive multidimensional
clues that literally revealed themselves on paper. Amazingly, I learned
that and more in only 3 hours a day. A great bonus to me was being in
dazzling Aix-en-Provence.
Merry Lynn Katis, President, Psychic Resources,
Inc., Carlsbad, California
The
contents of many workshops are often misrepresented when marketers attempt
to hook as many participants as possible; however, yours was faithful
to every word of its description. Your planning, experience,
talent, and dedication blended to create a wonderful flow. I left inspired
and energized.
Steve Adams, Small Business Owner, Nacogdoches,
Texas
If
your creativity needs a shot in the arm, a whack in the side of the head
or a kick in the backside do the Creativity Workshop.
I am fairly cynical about such programs having attended others. But my
cynicism quickly evaporated. Why? Four reasons really: 1.The Instructors
- welcoming, passionate, talented and committed to drawing out the best
in people. 2.The process and tools - challenging and at the same time
empowering and illuminating. 3.Time - to take a block of time from my
busy schedule to focus on developing me and my creativity. There is no
way I would do that in my everyday life. 4.The environment and other participants
- challenging, supportive, each on individual journeys but leaving open
the opportunities for paths to cross and to learn from and with each other.
It was great.
Wayne
Morris, Director of Future Edge - Organizational Improvement Consultancy,
New Zealand
The
exercises that we did in the workshop sessions were new and quite stimulating.
When my left brain was leading me down one path, the instructors' directions
said, no, it's the right brain's turn this time. I was totally amazed
at what came out on my paper and out of my mouth. In the process of doing
those exercises, so much emotion that had been held in-check came through.
After the workshop ended, I couldn't stop writing and sketching. I filled
up three journals over the next week!
Gwendolyn McCormick, Veterinarian, Danbury, Connecticut.
I
have taken this workshop twice and have found each time equally enlightening
and enriching. The experience allowed me not only to see
the world around me in a different way, it also paved the way for a deeper
understanding and perspective of myself. The environment the instructors
created stimulated my imagination and brought out parts of me I never
knew existed. As a therapist I found the journey into my own inner world
to be an invaluable experience. It enables me to be that much more available
to my clients and it paves the way for my own continuing exploration.
Sheila Coelho, Marriage and Family Therapist, Syracuse,
New York
The
Creativity Workshop was truly a reawakening. After decades
of mostly working on and developing the creativity of others, my own spring
was drying up until Shelley and Alejandro led me back to it.
Ramesh Balan, Editor-in-Chief, The Saudi Gazette,
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
For
my work in advertising, the workshop helps you explore kinds of creativity
you forget in the money oriented business world but is
necessary to it. I've been in advertising for 13 years now, working as
a copywriter, and you've opened new doors for me in my creativity on the
job as well as personally. I realized that other fields of my creativity
are as important for my profession and it's need for, as you say, imagination
muscle training as my primary occupation, writing. My colleagues at work
were thrilled as I presented the workshop and some of its Creative Work-out
exercises. We are all creative, that's the essence of homo sapiens, and
your workshop helps people see the potential that is present -alive or
dormant - in everyone. You reminded us how great it is to be child-like
in a creative sense. I really enjoyed the exercises; automatic drawing
and writing are my favorites. I think I've never smiled and laughed so
much!
Sasa Erzen, Copywriter, LUNA TBWA, Ljubljana, Slovenia
In
the warm days and golden light of Florence the Workshop provided a privileged
space to connect with an individual creative process.
In the nurturing atmosphere provided by Shelley
& Alejandro, we explored and developed our personal stores of images
and ideas, made connections that became friendships, and emerged energized
and inspired.
Ann Murphy, Psychoanalyst, Dublin, Ireland
I
would unreservedly recommend their course. Shelley
Berc and Alejandro Fogel taught their Creativity Workshop as American
Cultural Specialists under the United States Information Service auspices.
To say that they were extremely effective is a vast understatement. They
have abundant creativity, energy, and a wealth of skills.
Gloria Berbena, Assistant
Cultural Attache, US Information Service, US Embassy, Rome, Italy
There
were so many kindred spirits with such wonderful diversity and the workshop
was the right environment for us to share our insights and experiences.
As the days progressed the combined insight and experience of our leaders
gently unfolded. In each session we were encouraged to open ourselves
to new levels of imaginative possibilities. Something that was dormant
within me came back to life as I rediscovered my own creative spirit.
Barriers seemed to melt and my horizons in creative expression have begun
to expand. The whole experience began a new process that is opening new
vistas for me. I'm looking at things with wider eyes, and it is exciting.
Mitchell Dowalgo, Pastor, St. Albert the Great,
Newman Parish, Las Cruces, New Mexico
My
best friend and I met in NYC to participate in the Creativity Workshop.
I traveled from Germany, she came in from Virginia. We were able to explore
the corners of our minds where creativity had been pushed aside by busy
work and family demands. The sessions gave us a renewed sense of the daily
opportunities to express ourselves in thoughts, words, journal writing,
graphic and pictorial imaging. I have written more since attending Creativity
Workshop than I had in the decade prior!
Kim Oshirak, MD, Germany
The
Workshop was such a powerful experience for me,
something I never expected nor would I ever be able to repeat it.
Rolfe Werner, Engineer, Canberra, Australia
The
workshop helped me to reveal subtle yet powerful altered views on myself
and my creativity. I was swimming in my own imagination
and playing all day long, thanks to my previous corporate job and buying
myself time. Most importantly for me, the workshop taught me about boundaries
and creative structure. And through the gentle guidance and framework
provided by the instructors and through the trusting and open forum created
by the group, I found this route. Now my homework is to use it. And often.
Claudine O'Leary. Entrepreneur, London, United
Kingdom
This
is one workshop that has proven to be more personally impacting and practical
than I could have imagined. Since
returning home I've used many of the ideas and methods taught by Shelley
and Alejandro in my own writing and in behalf of others in my practice.
When I recall the time with them I think most of the warmth and acceptance
they extended to each of us in the workshop. They created such a positive
atmosphere, one than enhanced creativity and connection with one another.
I'm looking forward to the next time I can attend!
Denise
Mullen, Psychologist, Irvine, California
The
Creativity Workshop provides a unique opportunity for persons of many
different ages to make transitions in their lives. The
artist-teachers empower individuals by stimulating reflection, remembrances,
interactions, and by drawing upon the well-springs of creative energy
deep inside each of us. Using the psychology of Carl Jung and examples
of artists/writers of many periods, they help participants to see anew,
rather than by teaching writing, drawing, or painting. These teachers
provide a safe space and time with warm support for inner exploration
so lacking in today’s hectic world.
Janine C. Edwards, Ph.D., Teacher/Researcher,
Texas A & M University System
I
liken Shelley and Alejandro to Pied Pipers, leading workshop
participants along a path of creativity that opens both inner and outer
worlds to an extreme new awareness. The workshop in Barcelona was interesting
on a professional level as well as fully rejuvenating on a personal level.
Shelley and Alejandro are trustworthy guides on the varied paths being
traveled by the workshop participants. The workshop will charm you, challenge
you, and refresh the very way you approach your work and daily living.
Diana Matteson, Art Therapist, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
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